GEOL 4 Santa Monica College Plate Tectonics Lab 2 Report

Overview

Plate Tectonics Lab

Overview

In this section of the lab, you will have the opportunity to apply your understanding of plate tectonics to real places on Earth’s surface, connecting what you can see on the surface (e.g. mid-ocean ridges, oceanic trenches, volcanoes, etc.) with the interpretation of these features according to the Theory of Plate Tectonics.

Instructions:

1. Use a computer, laptop, or tablet with a large screen. I do not recommend using a smartphone.
2. Open Google Chrome
3. Type in the following URL: https://earth.google.com/web/
4. Find the Voyager Icon in the upper left-hand corner and click on it (as shown below)

1. Click on “LAYERS” (as shown below)

1. Scroll down and click on “10,000 Years of Volcanoes” to “turn on” the locations of volcanoes that have been active over the last 10,000 years. Note: they will appear as red teardrop-shaped symbols.

1. The image of Earth that you see allows you to see the topography (shape of the land) and the bathymetry (shape of the ocean floor) so that you may identify the major features on Earth’s surface (i.e. mid-ocean ridges, oceanic trenches, etc.).
2. Each question in this lab will guide you to a general location on Earth’s surface using a specific location.
   1. NOTE: the location that you type into the search bar is only meant to direct you to a GENERAL region.
   2. You will have to ZOOM OUT/ZOOM IN to see the features visible in that general area.
3. Look for the major features that you learned about in the Plate Tectonics Chapter to help you determine what type of plate boundary exists in that region.
   1. Remember, that these features are explained by Plate Tectonics.
   2. For example, you can’t see a Divergent Boundary on oceanic lithosphere, but you can see a mid-ocean ridge, which the Theory of Plate Tectonics interprets as a Divergent Boundary on Oceanic Lithosphere.
   3. You will also have to return to the Voyager Icon and follow the process outlined above to turn on the volcano layer after you have found your desired location to determine if there is recent (i.e. in the last 10,000 years) volcanic activity associated with that feature, and therefore, plate boundary.
4. Answer the following questions.

Check the following pdf.doc for the entire document/question.