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Plate Tectonics - Lab Assignment

This document contains a lab assignment on plate tectonics for an introductory physical geography course. The assignment has students label different plate boundaries on a global map, analyze earthquake data from USGS maps of South America and the continental US, and answer questions about plate tectonics concepts.

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curtis.colonestrada
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104 views

Plate Tectonics - Lab Assignment

This document contains a lab assignment on plate tectonics for an introductory physical geography course. The assignment has students label different plate boundaries on a global map, analyze earthquake data from USGS maps of South America and the continental US, and answer questions about plate tectonics concepts.

Uploaded by

curtis.colonestrada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

PLATE TECTONICS – Lab Assignment


*** Please submit only this document at the end of the lab period ***

Student Name ______________________________________________


Lab Section (e.g., 023) ____________________ Date _______________

Part 1: General Plate Tectonics


Look at the global plate tectonics map (Fig. 2) in your lab reading. Answer the following
questions.
1. What direction is the Pacific plate moving? [0.5]

2. What types of plate boundaries does the North American plate have? [1]

3. List two plates that are creating a convergent-subduction boundary. Which one of this pair
of plates is the subducting plate? [1]

4. List two plates that are creating a convergent-collision boundary. [0.5]

5. Where are most of the divergent plate boundaries located: in the oceans or on continents?
[0.5]

6. Name two plates that are creating a plate boundary at which you would see volcanoes.
What type of plate boundary is this? [1]

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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

Part 2: USGS Earthquake Viewer in South America


Go to https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/. You will see a map of the United States.
Scroll and zoom out in the map view so that you see the entire continent of South America. In
the top right corner is a symbol for settings that looks like a gear. Click on settings and under
“Earthquakes,” select “30 Days, Magnitude 4.5+ U.S.” At the bottom of the map view, click on
“Show Legend.”
Your map should look similar to the following screenshot:

1. What do the red lines represent? What do the dots represent? [0.5]

2. What mountain range is located along the west coast of South America? [0.5]

3. Click on an earthquake. A little box should pop up that provides information about your
selection. What 5 pieces of information are provided in this box? [1]

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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

4. On the following figure, draw the location of the plate boundary that runs along the
western edge of South America. [0.5]

5. Click on the locations of the earthquakes in the USGS mapper. Draw five dots on your map
to show the location of five earthquakes and write the depth of each earthquake (including
units) next to its location. [0.5]

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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

6. Do you notice any patterns related to the depth of earthquakes and their distance from
plate boundaries? Describe any patterns. (Use complete sentences.) [1]

7. Using what you know about oceanic and continental crusts, as well as the depth of
earthquakes at plate boundaries, list what type of plate boundary is along the western edge
of South America. Explain why you have chosen this type. (Use complete sentences.) [1]

8. Would you expect to see volcanoes along this plate boundary? If so, how do volcanoes form
at this type of plate boundary? [1]

9. On your map, draw possible locations for five volcanoes using upside-down V’s to represent
the volcanoes. [1]

10. Move your online map so that you can see the plate boundary located to the east of South
America (i.e., in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean). How does the number of earthquakes on
the western plate boundary compare to the number on the eastern plate boundary? How
do the depths of the earthquakes compare from one side to the other? [1]

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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

11. What do you think is the cause of the differences in the number and depth of earthquakes
between South America’s east and west plate boundaries? (Hint: Think about the different
types of boundaries). [1]

12. Complete the cross-section diagram (below) of the plate boundary along the western edge
of South America. (1) Label the name of each plate, (2) draw arrows depicting the
movement of each plate, (3) draw at least 3 X’s where an earthquake focus may be, (4)
draw and label the location of a volcano, and (5) draw and label where magma will form and
act as the fuel for the volcano. [2]

Part 3: USGS Earthquake Viewer in the Continental United States


Move your earthquake viewer map to the Lower-48 States of the U.S. In the map settings,
change the Earthquakes selection to “30 Days, Magnitude 2.5+ U.S.”
1. Examining the earthquake viewer map, what states appear to have the most earthquakes
the day you are observing? [0.5]

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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

2. Using basic reasoning, what processes could explain the number of earthquakes in
California? (Use complete sentences.) [1]

Read the “Overview” and “Myths and Misconceptions” sections of the USGS’s Induced
Earthquakes site at https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-
hazards/inducedearthquakes?qt-
science_support_page_related_con=4#qtscience_support_page_related_con
3. From measured data, have there always been large numbers of earthquakes in the central
United States, or is this a new trend? Explain. [1]

4. According to the USGS, what is the cause of the increased number of earthquakes? [0.5]

5. In Oklahoma, what is the primary type of water being forced into disposal wells? [0.5]

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INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY GEOG 1114

Bonus Question
Many people think that the ocean floor is deepest at diverging mid-ocean plates; however, it is
deepest at the trenches associated with subduction zones. A cross-section profile of a mid-
ocean ridge (figure below) shows that the highest elevation for each plate is at the spreading
center. Farther from the spreading center, the oceanic crust sinks. Why is the spreading center
higher in elevation than the rest of the plate? Hint: Think about temperature differences as you
move away from the spreading center. How would temperature affect properties of the plate?
[1]

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