Lab 3 Assignment_Online (2)
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Georgia State University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
1113L
Subject
Geography
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by ElderResolveStingray9
Lab 3: Plate Tectonics
GEOG 1113L – Introduction to Landforms Lab
Name: _Joey Cook____________
I.
The Saga of Supercontinents
1.
What has driven the Earth’s advances and setbacks, explosions of life, and its extinction events?
Through paleogeography, we can tell that continental movement has driven Earth’s advances and setbacks, explosions of life, and its extinction events throughout its history.
2.
What mid-20
th
century discovery solidified the theory of continental drift? What is the significance of this feature?
Scientists discovered underwater mountain ranges which all had volcanic activity.
3.
Another primary mechanism of plate tectonics is called subduction, where oceanic crust slides under continental crust and begins to melt and mix with the mantle.
4.
Kenorland was one of the Earth’s first supercontinents that formed 2.5 billion years ago and was
not much bigger than Australia.
5.
Which supercontinent existed at the same time as the Earth’s first animals? Did they live on the land?Pannotia existed at the same time as the Earth’s first animals. They did not live on the land.
6.
How many supercontinents were mentioned in the video?
8 supercontinents were mentioned.
7.
What caused the two major extinctions of Pangaea?
Volcanic activity caused the two major extinctions of Pangaea.
8.
How fast are the continents moving?
The continents are moving 2.5 cm a year.
II.
Plate Boundaries
Open the PowerPoint “Lab 3 Part II_Plate Boundaries”. Read through the definitions and hints on the first slide of the PowerPoint. Draw at least two convergent boundaries and two divergent boundaries on the map using the “Draw” tab in the second slide of the PowerPoint. Make your divergent
boundaries green and your convergent boundaries red
. Draw arrows on each side of your boundaries to indicate which direction the plates are moving. Upload your completed PowerPoint activity along with your completed lab assignment document to the Lab 3 assignment submission folder on iCollege.
III.
The Tectonic Cycle
Use the diagram below to help you answer the question. 1.
In your own words, describe the lifecycle of Earth’s tectonic plates. Be sure to use the labels in the image to help you provide as much detail as possible. There are 3 main stages in the life cycle of tectonic plates. In the first stage, the formation stage, the lithosphere cracks, and magma surges up to the crust which solidifies. The second stage, the aging stage, features moving tectonic plates, which interact and may even
develop divergent and convergent boundaries. The last stage, destruction, typically happens at convergent boundaries. Plate collide with one another until subduction occurs, destroying
the plate. IV.
Tectonic Scavenger Hunt
Visit the link below and explore the contents of This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics. You
can begin by clicking “Preface” or “Historical Perspectives”, then click the arrows at the bottom of each page to advance forward or go back. You should visit each of the “Sidebar” pages and images as well. Answer the questions below that go along with the reading. Link: https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html
1.
How many tectonic plates are there? (Hint: You’ll have to count!)
There are 17.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
2.
Explain the difference between the previously accepted geological theory, “catastrophism” and the accepted theory of today, “uniformitarianism”. Catastrophism is the belief that changes to Earth’s geography were sudden, while uniformitarianism is the belief that the changes to Earth’s geography occur the same today just under the same fundamentals. 3.
What are two reasons Alfred Wegener was convinced of continental drift?
The fit of Africa and South America and presence of fossil reasons in both continents convinced Alfred Wegener of continental drift. 4.
Where is the lithosphere thinnest?
The lithosphere is thinnest under oceans and in areas with volcanic activity. 5.
What is the composition of continental and oceanic crust, and how do the two relate to each other in terms of density and thickness? Continental crust has granitic rocks while oceanic crust has basaltic rocks. The oceanic crust is denser but less thick. 6.
What new data was Alfred Wegener unable to discover because of his untimely death?
Wegener was unable to discover the central valley in the Mid-Atlantic ridge. 7.
What did the Australian polar dinosaur fossils provide evidence of?
Polar dinosaur fossils provide evidence that they survived a volcanic winter and that Australia had drifted north.
8.
The ocean floor contains what magnetic mineral that can distort compass readings? The ocean floor contains magnetite.
9.
What sort of data does this mineral (from question 8) provide when observed in a volcanic rock?
Magnetite can make basalt magnetic too.
10.
Where do earthquakes concentrate the most? Earthquakes concentrate the most in Wadati-
Benioff Zones. 11.
Because our 4.5-billion-year-old Earth is constantly cycling oceanic crust, how old is the oldest oceanic crust still on Earth’s surface today?
A.
Thousands of years old
B.
Billions of years old
C.
Millions of years old
D.
Hundreds of millions of years old
12.
Instead of sunlight, what source of energy does the deep ocean survive on near mid-ocean ridges?
The deep ocean survives off energy from volcanic magma. 13.
How many trenches are a part of The Ring of Fire?
15 trenches are a part of the ring of fire. 14.
What caused the formation of the Himalayas and when?
A collision between Indian and Asian tectonic plates.
15.
What is a transform boundary and where do you find them?
The boundary between two plates sliding in opposite directions. 16.
What and where is the fastest rate of plate movement?
The East Pacific rise has the fastest rate of plate movement. 17.
What are the three techniques used to study the earth’s surface and which one is best for measuring tectonic movement and why?
VLBI, SLR, and GPS are the three techniques.
18.
What created the Hawaiian island chain?
A hotspot created the Hawaiian island chain. 19.
What is the significance of Loihi?
Loihi could be the next Hawaiin island should it continue to grow. 20.
What two main sources provide heat within the earth?
Radioactive decay and residual heat provide heat within the earth. 21.
In your own words, what is one piece of information you found interesting from the “Extraterrestrial plate tectonics?” section?
I found it interesting that scientists think convection on Io might be possible but not divergence.
22.
In your own words, what is one piece of information you found interesting from the “What went
on before the break-up of Pangaea?” section?
I thought it was interesting how the map showed that much of California was formed through submarine deposits. 23.
In your own words, what is one piece of information you found interesting from the “Plate tectonics and people?” section?
I thought it was interesting that Mt. St. Helens is in a subduction zone.