Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum module/Geology of National Parks course. Students calculate percentages …
Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum module/Geology of National Parks course. Students calculate percentages and percent differences to compare various measures of fumaroles, mud pots, hot springs and geysers in this introduction to hydrothermal features at Yellowstone NP.
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This is a laboratory-style investigation wherein students examine the petrography and major-element …
This is a laboratory-style investigation wherein students examine the petrography and major-element geochemistry of 6 samples of mid-ocean ridge basalt and related differentiated lavas recovered from the Cleft segment of southern Juan de Fuca Ridge, a medium spreading-rate MOR in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Lava types range from basalt to dacite.
After some initial background information on basalts, the MOR environment, and the study area students investigate four thin sections, beginning with typical basalts and ending with a dacite. They are led through a series of directed questions that help them gain familiarity with commonly occurring minerals and textures in mid-ocean ridge lavas. Questions direct students toward the interpretation of quench-related textural features and crystallization sequence, as well as a few other textural observations and petrographic techniques. After proceeding through the initial four thin sections and associated questions student are then asked to undertake "full thin-section descriptions" of the remaining two samples.Â
After investigating the thin-sections and determining a possible crystallization sequence from the petrographic data gathered (plagioclase followed by olivine followed by augitic clinopyroxene followed by pigeonite), students examine a P-T phase diagram to constrain possible pressures of formation. Discovering that crystallization pressures were low (less than ~ 0.75 GPa) students then examine a phase diagram of the olivine-plagioclase-augite-quartz system (olivine-quartz-augite ternary, projected from the plane of plagioclase saturation) [Walker, 1979]. Students draw 2 possible liquid lines of descent (LLD) onto the diagram, and then use their petrographic observations to qualitatively plot the samples along that LLD, determining a relative sequence of chemical evolution for the suite of samples. Lastly, given those determinations, student graph the major element data for the lava suite to infer paths of chemical evolution and the effects of fractional crystallization (possibly coupled with magma mixing).
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Using string, bubble gum, and a model of a GPS station, demonstrate …
Using string, bubble gum, and a model of a GPS station, demonstrate how GPS work to pinpoint a location on Earth.Precisely knowing a location on Earth is useful because our Earth's surface is constantly changing from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate motion, landslides, and more. Thus, scientists can use positions determined with GPS to study all these Earth processes.
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Students were asked to compare their estimates of public opinion on several …
Students were asked to compare their estimates of public opinion on several current issues to the actual values obtained through the analysis of National Surveys. The objective was to explore a common social attribution error and to acquire familiarity with data sources and on-line analysis tools.
In this activity, students develop and apply linear, exponential, and rational functions …
In this activity, students develop and apply linear, exponential, and rational functions to explore past and projected U.S. population growth, carbon footprint trend, ecological overshoot, and effectiveness of hypothetical carbon dioxide reduction initiatives.
SSAC Physical Volcanology module. Students build a spreadsheet for an iterative calculation …
SSAC Physical Volcanology module. Students build a spreadsheet for an iterative calculation to find volume of bubbles and hence porosity, permeability and gas escape as a function of depth.
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As densely populated urban areas continue to expand, human activity is removing …
As densely populated urban areas continue to expand, human activity is removing much-needed greenspaces from our communities; in turn, we are also removing critical buffers that are needed to combat air and water pollution, leaving cities vulnerable to a variety of health issues and potential infrastructure damage. In August of 2017, the Greater Houston area experienced a catastrophic flooding event, with Hurricane Harvey being designated as the wettest tropical cyclone ever recorded in US history. With many areas receiving 40" or more of rain, the rising flood waters had nowhere to go in a city covered in concrete, a barrier to natural infiltration. This caused over $125 billion in damage, with flood waters inundating hundreds of thousands of homes and displacing more than 30,000 people. In 2018, Katy High School responded by restoring an acre of public campus property to native Texas Gulf Coast prairie. The prairie will ultimately serve as an outdoor classroom for students, a greenspace for community outreach, and also as a natural retention area for future flooding events. Urban greenspaces, like the KHS Tiger Prairie, are mini-ecosystems that can potentially mitigate billions of dollars in flood damages while conserving precious habitats for native species; these pocket prairies not only model of conservation best-practices, but they also provide multiple, quantifiable ecoservices to communities. The KHS Tiger prairie will serve as a model for this activity, allowing students the opportunity to calculate the quantifiable cost-savings of incorporating native landscapes in their communities. Students will analyze recent precipitation and infiltration data, make predictions on which locations in urban areas have the most potential for restoration, and reflect on the societal and economic barriers to current conservation efforts.
In order to give Introductory Geology (Physical Geology) undergraduate non-majors students experience …
In order to give Introductory Geology (Physical Geology) undergraduate non-majors students experience and confidence in using basic algebra to calculate very simple stream flow properties, we use a prework assignment prior to the Rivers and Streams Lab. Prework is a worksheet assigned 2 weeks in advance, which asks students to calculate velocity and discharge as well as unit conversions and calculations of stream load. The questions are put into the context of activities they completed earlier in the semester during visits to the stream (on campus) so questions are relevant to their previous experiences. The prework timeframe gives students the opportunity to seek extra help from their instructor prior to the lab period in which they will make additional measurements, similar calcualations and interpretations of their data.
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In this problem set students construct a P-T phase diagram for the …
In this problem set students construct a P-T phase diagram for the aluminosilicate polymorphs based on experimental phase equilibria and application of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. The problem set uses unit cell volume, molar entropy, and phase equilibrium data culled from the primary literature. It leads students through the exercise in step-by-step fashion starting with a brief explanation of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. The main goals are to help students understand how thermodynamics can be useful for solving real geologic problems, to provide some insights into the nature and construction of P-T phase diagrams, and to provide experience in dealing quantitatively with real data.
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Students have to determine the dimensions of a Quaternary rhyolite flow from …
Students have to determine the dimensions of a Quaternary rhyolite flow from a topographic map, employ a mineral thermometer to establish magma temperature, calculate density of the magma from its chemical composition, and use the Jeffreys equation relating flow velocity and viscosity.
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In week one of the exercise students determine stream discharge by doing …
In week one of the exercise students determine stream discharge by doing some tedious, but simple hand calculations using data sets provided by the instructor. The following week is designed to be more hands-on. Here, they collect their own field data and create a spreadsheet to perform the calculations more efficiently and accurately. By collecting the data themselves, students gain a more thorough understanding of how stream discharge is both measured and computed; they also learn how the results can be used to determine groundwater baseflow. The fact they do hand calculations prior to creating the spreadsheet helps build their math skills and reduces the "black-box" effect that often develops when using software for data analysis. Students also gain valuable experience creating spreadsheets and learn how this tool can be used to perform repetitive computations more efficiently and with less error. Finally, this exercise asks students to consider the accuracy of their replicate field measurements through a series of questions related to their standard deviation and percent error calculations.
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The four exercises give students an opportunity to use their knowledge of …
The four exercises give students an opportunity to use their knowledge of graphs, algebra, and maps to solve simple geological problems.
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This textbook is intended to support courses that bridge the divide between …
This textbook is intended to support courses that bridge the divide between mathematics typically encountered in U.S. high school curricula and the practical problems that natural resource students might engage with in their disciplinary coursework and professional internships.
This course develops logical, empirically based arguments using statistical techniques and analytic …
This course develops logical, empirically based arguments using statistical techniques and analytic methods. Elementary statistics, probability, and other types of quantitative reasoning useful for description, estimation, comparison, and explanation are covered. Emphasis is on the use and limitations of analytical techniques in planning practice.
Students analyze the interplay between science and politics on the issue of …
Students analyze the interplay between science and politics on the issue of drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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This assignment exposes students to racial inequalities in their own communities and …
This assignment exposes students to racial inequalities in their own communities and helps them to identify the impact of racial segregation on quality of life. The big ideas in this assignment are racial inequality, residential segregation, and environmental justice.
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Students create a STELLA model of the radioactive decay process. (Note: this …
Students create a STELLA model of the radioactive decay process.
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Groups of 3-4 students work in parallel on different radiocarbon data sets …
Groups of 3-4 students work in parallel on different radiocarbon data sets in this project assignment; the content described here would comprise one group data set including a brief descriptive statement and bibliographic reference, raw data including errors, background lecture notes, and an example final poster presentation.
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This activity leads students through derivations of the equations associated with radiometric …
This activity leads students through derivations of the equations associated with radiometric dating.
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Related Links
Radioactive Decay
Exponential Growth and Decay
Peter Kohn - James Madison University
Christopher Gellasch - Uniformed Services University
Jim Sochacki - James Madison University
Scott Eaton - James Madison University
Richard Ford - Weber State University
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