Tag: subduction

Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Ecuador Endures Massive Quake

WORLD This region, where the Pacific seafloor is shoving underneath South America, also produced the biggest earthquake ever recorded—and built the Andes mountains. (Scientific American) Use or video to better understand South America’s earthquakes. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including today’s simple MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas In our video “Earthquakes 101,” we learn that most … Continue reading Ecuador Endures Massive Quake

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Temporary Geography of a New Island

SCIENCE There’s a new island in the Pacific Ocean, thanks to the eruption of an underwater volcano. (Popular Science) Take a look at Hunga Tonga’s before-and-after geography with this fun interactive slider! Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including a link to today’s MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas Read through “Geology of the Deep,” our terrific 2013 … Continue reading Temporary Geography of a New Island

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Current Event Connection, Geography In the News

Not Just a Pretty Facet

SCIENCE Not Just a Pretty Facet A jewelry store is an archive of the Earth. Every gem fixed to every ring or necklace was forged deep inside our planet, according to its own recipe of elements, temperature and pressure. Discussion Ideas The article is about the importance of all jewels to the study of geology. However, Carl Zimmer, the New York Times science writer, focuses … Continue reading Not Just a Pretty Facet

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Classroom Ideas

Volcanoes & Airplanes? No Way.

Alaska_locator.jpgThis last summer, I traveled to Alaska to research resource management in three distinct locations: Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords National Parks. Of course, the scenery was incredible (Denali (Mt. McKinley) is the tallest peak in the North America), the wildlife amazing (I saw about 3-4 bears per day) and the experience exhilarating– but when the research was over, I was ready to get back home.

Some background: Alaska’s Aleutian Islands are an extremely volcanic region, formed by the convergence of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. In this case, the convergence is known as a subduction zone, meaning that one plate is pushed under another, usually resulting in seismic and volcanic activity.  

Cue the volcanic eruptions.

Continue reading “Volcanoes & Airplanes? No Way.”

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