PHSC 112 Lab 6

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California State University, Chico *

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300

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Geography

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Apr 3, 2024

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Name ~\\h\lAr'\ ~\;Y\\\o Date h \ r).-;l Procedure Lab #6 Plate Tectonics Part A Plate Motion and Ev·d One of th , ence . e most striking th· hke puzzle pieces. Th mgs abo_ut_ the geography of the continents today is how they appear to fit together shifting into th . e reason for this is clear: they once were connected in the past and have since separated eir current positions Open the bro ws e · coast!' f r version of Goo gle Earth and zoom out to an eye altitude (camera) of ~10,000 miles. Examine the scie t'.;es O ~a st ern South America and Western Africa and notice how well they match in shape. There are 1 really important rock deposits in southern Brazil, South America and Angola, Africa that show the nort ernmost glacial deposits on the ancient continent of Pang~ which indicates these two areas were once connected. - 1. Based on the shape of the two coastlines, give the present-day latitude and longitude of two sites along the coasts of these countries that used to be connected when the two continents were joined as a part of Pangaea (note: zoom in and out on the two coastlines to view the area. Also please be aware there are multiple correct answers): a. Brazil: • I i. Latitude: '\ , I ii. Longitude: '3'-i 0 ol.{ '-"' b. Angola i. Latitude: l\' 'J.J,., 1 '51'' S ii. Longitude: \ ;• s,.; t,J r v> 2. Measure in centimeters the distance (map length) between the two points you recorded in the previous 7 question. Hint: use the ruler icon along the left-hand too/bar. 5 111 ll,I. ,t,q _ 7-.. lt,¥1 Cl'T\ a. Distance (in centimeters) = S1 I , \ \Ql ''ol ll °" '200 , w.J, \)0(/ - 7 r · b. This portion of Pangaea broke apart 200,000,000 years ago. Using the distance you measured above, calculate how fast (the rate) South America and Africa are separating in cm/year. (Hint: the formula to use here is Rate= Distance/Time). SHOW YOUR WORK. Examine the Western Coast of South America, the Eastern Coast of Asia, and the Pacific Ocean. If South America and Africa are separating and the Atlantic Ocean is growing, then the opposite must be occurring on the other side of the earth (the Americas are getting closer to Asia and the Pacific Ocean is shrinking). It begs the question, when will the next supercontinent form? To determine this, we need a bit more information. 3. Measure the distance between North America and Mainland Asia in centimeters? (Hint: measure across the Pacific at 40° N latitude, between Northern California and North Korea) a. Distance (in centimeters) = \ \) S4tcl\<.o00 b. Using the distance above, and the rate calculated in question 3, determine the time it will take to develop a new supercontinent. (Hint: the formula Rate= Distance/Time, can be reworked to Time = Distance/Rate). SHOW YOUR WORK. , \o)\.i~C\(goo -.. ,v~:111.1~2.·q_ '}., 'Qucm 8

b. Label t · . . . Figure 6. 12: Map view of the Hawaiian Islands. 2. Next, label the ages of each of the islands. These ages were determined through radiometric dating of the lava flows on the islands. / Big Island of Hawaii: 0 years old (Active) b. Kauai: 5.1 million years old c. Maui: 1.3 million years old 9. Molokai: 1.8 million years old e 1 Oahu: 3.7 million years old 3. In Google Earth, measure the distance between the islands. To do this, measure from the center of each island and its adjacent island in centimeters. (Hint: numbers will be large) a. Distance between the Big Island and Maui (in cm}:\ ) 'l . IS120()(X)cw-i b. Distance between Maui and Molokai (in cm} : ~~ ~ q 't-M -- <o 3 S Cl QcPC.""' c. Distance between Molokai and Oahu (in cm} : \\) • t_p'()C1 t.tr\ -:. \\)~C)O) Ch" d. Distance between Oahu and Kauai (in cm} : l1C\.C\'?>'ilT\ ::: 179q"5C()(X.M 4. Look closely at each island in Google Earth and record the maximum elevation in centimeters. (Hint: elevation can be determined by placing your cursor over a point and reading the elevation on the lower right of the image by the latitude and longitude. The elevation units can be changed in your settings. To locate the highest point on the islands, tilt the image or use the 3D button. Convert meters to centimeters by multiplying by 100.) a. Big Island of Hawaii, max elevation (in cm}:!,\ 2.07 .1 M,.l lJ:r- I-\W7i.0 (.\'Y\ b. Kauai, max elevation (in cm} : lA I O (p')" rn -,.. lDD -:. vl O(t) 1 'fU)l h'"\ '2 0'-\ oO O C 11'\ c. Maui, max elevation (in cm} : ; 1 0'--10 fr\ f. \ 00 -:.. :J ' d. Molokai, max elevation (in cm}: \ 3\pS )( \ 00 :. I JlP soO ( \I"\ ,1,- ,, I J. c,O r rf'- e. Oahu, maxelevation(incm} : \Z..11...m1-\w · \,-, ' 10

/ 5. Consider the . ages and positions of the i I . tectonics and hotspots. In what I ~- and~ listed above along with what you know about plate nt .... i genera irect1on Is the Pacific Plate moving? -...::::.J Northwest b. Southeast c. Northeast d. Southwest 6. How fast was the Pacific plate . d . Island and Ma,i> Use mcwong ,nng the last 1.3 mm ion yea cs between the focmation of the Big . · the measurements you made from one island's center to the other Calculate your answer m cm/year. (Hint: Rate== Distance/Time). SHOW YOUR WORK. . ,e; ~ UX() cxn "':,.oJ}~,'lO'\~H~ \f ' ""1-;~i~,uoO 7. How fast was the Pacific plate moving between the formation of Oahu and Kauai? Use the measurements you made from one island's center to the other. Calculate your answer in cm/year. (Hint: Rate== Distance/Time). SHOW YOUR WORK. 8. Zoom out and examine the dozens of sunken volcanoes, referred to as extinct seamounts, to the northwest of Niihau, these are named the Emperor Seamounts. As one of these volcanic islands on the Pacific Plate moves off the hotspot it becomes inactive, or extinct, and the island begins to sink as it and the surrounding tectonic plate cool down. The speed the islands are sinking can be estimated by measuring the difference in elevation between two islands and dividing by the difference in their ages. Note, this method assumes the islands were a similar size when they were active . a. cal'"late how fast the Hawaiian Islands are· sinking, by "5ing the ages and elevations of M'"i and K'"al. (Mnt, ,ate = distance/time). SHOW YOUR WORK. - \ 0 ~o - _ <. \,)A 7" ,J 'L s. \ Y,)\\\\lfi'\ Q000QOOO - C~N/Cl( _,, \• l)\\\\G" uwO:\ _ soot. m ~\) ·\ : - I • Ql)/ l ("'\ -\1.>Z..S"O0 b. When will the Big Island of Hawaii sink below the surface of the ocean? (Hint: use the~ cal'"lated abcwe, ignocing possible changes in sea level, and the ma, ele,ation of th• Big ISiand in centimeters; time= distance/ rate). SHOW YOUR WORK. .. Ak ./ \1 . -;.. \ • ':)\o\,\ 'f- \ I) 1...\-( IA <' t, (.p l\ '( \ J\ 1• ' '\ u •<.

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