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From: Tectonic Fury Mission 4: Earth on the Move (pp: 122,123)
Exploring Our Oceans

In this culminating field assignment, students will analyze data and maps of volcanoes, earthquakes, and ocean floor topography throughout the world. They will analyze a map of a section of the Pacific Northwest which contains information on recently active volcanoes and probable seamounts identified by Dr. Walter Smith. They will then compare this map data to earthquake data in this region to recommend probable seamounts for further study. Once students have completed this analysis, they will explore other areas around the world to identify locations that could potentially contain active undocumented volcanoes.
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Exploring Our Oceans

Dr. Smith works with an Argonaut
Recall that your mission is to journey through the oceans and Earth's outer layers to its core to better understand the dynamic nature of our planet. Now that you have been fully briefed, it is time to analyze data and maps of volcanoes, earthquakes, and ocean floor topography throughout the world.

Since around 70 percent of Earth's surface is covered with water and is difficult to explore, much about the ocean floor is still relatively unknown. So, Walter Smith is trying to map and explore the entire ocean floor. To do so, he uses the Jason-2 and other satellites that measure changes in the height of the ocean surface caused by the gravity of the sea-floor geology below the surface. In fact, most of the oceans' geologic features currently presented in Google Earth™ are largely the result of Walter's satellite research and data. He hopes to make higher resolution maps as we explore the ocean with more advanced technologies.

Objectives: Analyze data of recently active volcanoes, probable seamounts, ocean floor topography, and earthquakes in a section of the Pacific Northwest. Develop and defend a recommendation for which seamounts should be researched further. Use mapping tools, such as Google Earth™, to collect data on other areas around the world that experience volcanic and earthquake activity. Work together as a class to determine areas around the world that should be focused on to further develop our understanding of the volcanic and tectonic history of Earth.
One goal of Dr. Smith's research is to map all of the seamounts on the ocean floor. Some of these seamounts are currently volcanically active, while many are old and not active. Knowing where the seamounts are located is just the first step in this research. The next step, determining whether they are active or not, is difficult. Some ways include listening for eruptions with listening arrays on boats, detecting earthquakes on or under the seamount, or diving down in a submersible to film an eruption or find evidence of a recent lava flow. Dr. Smith is helping to guide this future research with his maps, which can further develop our understanding of the volcanic and tectonic history of Earth.

In this activity, you will analyze a map of a section of the Pacific Northwest which contains information on recently active volcanoes and probable seamounts identified by Walter Smith. You will then compare this map data to earthquake data in this region to recommend probable seamounts for further study. Once you have completed this analysis, you will explore other areas around the world to identify locations that could potentially contain active undocumented volcanoes.

Materials
  • computer with Internet access and Google Earth™ installed

Field Prep
  1. Analyze the map in the data sheet which includes the following data:
    1. Volcanoes marked as recently active volcanoes by the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program (GVP). This project documents all known active volcanoes and their eruptions during the last 10,000 years.
    2. Volcanoes marked as probable seamounts by Dr. Smith. The volcanic activity of these features has not been determined, though many are presumed to be extinct.
  2. Determine the number of recently active volcanoes that were verified by the GVP on the map.
  3. Determine the number of probable seamounts identified by Walter Smith on the map.
  4. What percentage of the identified features on the ocean floor are classified as active volcanoes? What percentage are classified as probable seamounts?
  5. Develop a hypothesis as to why the two percentages identified in step 4 are different.
  6. Describe the geologic topography and landforms at and around the recently active volcanoes and probable seamounts.
  7. Describe the distribution of the active and probable locations on the land and in the ocean. Do there seem to be any patterns in their distribution? If so, explain.
  8. Analyze the USGS map of earthquake activity in this region.
  9. Compare and contrast the earthquake locations map to the locations of the probable seamounts. Since earthquake activity under or around a probable seamount may be an indicator that it is active, determine any seamounts or groups of seamounts that would be good candidates for further research. Defend your answer.
  10. Share and compare your results with your class.

Mission Challenge

Your mission is to identify areas of the ocean or land that could potentially contain undocumented active volcanoes based on currently known volcanoes, earthquake data, topography, and the location of tectonic plates.

  1. Open Google Earth™. Turn on the Volcano and Earthquake layers within the Places of Interest or Gallery layer folders. You can also download the USGS layer of recent earthquake activity and plate boundaries from the JMC.
  2. Locate the Pacific Northwest region which you have been analyzing using Dr. Smith's map. Zoom into different areas of this region to further your analysis of the volcanoes, earthquakes, and topography of this area. Even though many of the probable seamounts identified on Dr. Smith's map are not identified in Google Earth™, describe the sea-floor topography at and around the seamounts in this region.
  3. Locate two to three areas in the ocean or on land which have volcanic activity that you would like to study further.
  4. Determine the type and elevation of the volcanoes in each area you have selected to research. Click on each icon on the map to get more information.
  5. Zoom into these areas to analyze the earthquake activity around each research area.
  6. Click on some of the earthquakes to determine the date of occurrence, magnitude, and depth.
  7. If you have downloaded the USGS layer from the JMC, determine the location of the nearest plate boundary and the locations of any recent earthquakes in your research area.
  8. Analyze the ocean floor topography around your research areas to identify any features which could be probable seamounts. Compare these to the seamounts on the map in the Field Prep.

Mission Debrief
  1. Using the locations of earthquake activity, current volcano activity, ocean floor topography, and plate boundary location, identify specific locations that may contain undocumented volcanoes.
  2. Make a recommendation for each potential study site.
  3. Share your recommendations with your class.
  4. Aggregate and analyze all group recommendations and rationale for studying each.
  5. Determine which recommendations and ration-ale may provide the best location for starting further research.

   Journal Question  
Analyze the advantages and limitations of using maps and mapping tools, such as Google Earth™, for geologic research. What recommendations would you make to other researchers when using maps as a tool during their research?

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