Transcript Powerpoint
Geological Predictions Michael Costa Kanika Bryant Heather Potersnak Matt Bishop Geological Predicting Mankind has been trying to predict what will happen to the earth since the dawn of the ages. We have been attempting to predict short-term events such as volcanic eruptions and even long-term events like new land masses developing. Short-Term Predictions Predicting volcanic eruptions has been around for thousands of years. People like the ancient Chinese to present day scientists have all been a part of this field. Most primitive people used eccentric ways to predict eruptions, but with modern science we have been able to use three major methods. Our problem is to find out which method is most accurate and reliable when predicting volcanic eruptions. We are also using a multiple working hypotheses for this problem. The Seismometer Method The first method is the Seismometer method. This involves using a seismometer to measure amplitudes and magnitudes which are commonly high in earthquakes. After looking at the data scientists can easily find a correlation between seismometer readings and volcanic eruptions in the area. The Tiltmeter Method The next method is the Tiltmeter method. This method is based on the use of a Tiltmeter which measures ground level tilt. Although this at first seems irrelevant to volcanic eruptions, scientists also saw a direct correlation between ground level tilt and eruptions. The Gas Emission Method The final method commonly used to predict volcanic eruptions is the gas emission method. By monitoring the gases emitted through the volcanoes vent, you can predict an eruption by looking at changes in gas quantity and chemical makeup. Changes in these characteristics had a definite correlation to volcanic eruptions. The Solution After thoroughly researching each method we have found that one in particular is the most accurate and practical. This is the Tiltmeter Method. We ruled out the seismometer method because before erupting, the earthquake trace wouldn’t follow its usual track, resulting in false data. Also, the gas emission method seemed like a good idea, but testing all the gas released by a volcano simultaneously would result in mounds of data that would need to be analyzed, which is unpractical. Long-Term Predicting: Mountain Building Problem Plate tectonics has, and will continue to alter the topography of the Earth’s surface. Hypothesis Geological phenomena associated with continental collisions will create extensive new or enlarged mountain ranges in several regions in the future. Plate Tectonics The idea of plate tectonics is a combination of two different theories, continental drift and sea-floor spreading. Continental drift is the movement of continents on the Earth’s surface, causing major collisions which also create mountain build-up. Seafloor spreading brings about new ocean crust through mid-ocean ridges, resulting in the widening of an ocean. Where will this take place? Tectonic activity will take place along all major fault lines. As a direct response to this plate movement, Africa will collide with Europe closing the Mediterranean Sea. Australia will in-turn collide with S.E. Asia, and California will slide northward up the coast to Alaska. What on Earth does this have to do with Mountains? Orogeny is the process of mountain building. This most commonly occurs when two tectonic plates collide. This being said, at each one of the previously stated collisions, a mountain will be formed. Such mountain ranges include the Mediterranean Mountains and the Indo-Atlantic Mountains. How will this effect N.C.? It may seem as though none of these events will directly effect the livelihood of North Carolinians, but if present day plate motions continue the Atlantic Ocean will eventually widen. This will of course cause the imminent disappearance of the Outer Banks and possibly the entire region of Northeastern North Carolina. Solution There is no resolution for preventing the collision of the earth’s plates, tectonic activity is inevitable. However the ultimate key lies within knowledge. The understanding of these events is pertinent, if one is knowledgeable then, he/she can prepare future generations for what is to come. Observe always that everything is the result of change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and to make new ones like them. -Marcus Aurelius Sources • A Guide to Rocks & Fossils by Busbey, Coenraads, Willis, and Roots. • http://www.scotese.com/earth.htm • http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/vw lessons/plate_tectonics/introductio n.html • http://www.wikipedia.org