Download The Big Map Project: Big Maps, Big Concepts, Big Points

The Big Map Project: Big Maps, Big Concepts, Big Points
Objective: Create a pair of maps that identifies and describes features on the earth directly related to
sea floor spreading and continental drift. There will be quite a bit of information on these maps so be careful
and be neat.
As we have learned, the earth’s movements creates many landforms and geologic regions on the
earth’s surface. Remember, the earth is Dynamic (moving). In this unit, we have been trying to locate
these landforms and geologic regions. Using several types of maps (tectonic plate maps, regular old
maps, and maps of the seafloor). Using the maps that we have in class, the book & the internet, please
create a colorful, detailed map of the SEAFLOOR. Make sure all labels are legible or they will not be
counted.
Map:
1. Examine the maps from the projects (Boundary lab & USGS). Carefully draw and name the
plates on your map. Please be extremely neat and clear.
2. There are three types of boundaries between the plates (convergent, divergent and transform).
Identify where there are convergent boundaries by coloring them blue, divergent boundaries by
coloring them green and transform boundaries by coloring them red.
3. Choose one small section of any sea floor and describe the magnetic banding. (use different
colored pencils to show the symmetry of the banding on both sides of the divergent boundary)
4. Choose another small section of sea floor and identify where the sea floor is youngest and
where it is oldest.
5. Find and label Iceland on your map.
6. The San Andreas fault is the border between the North American plate and the Pacific Plate. It
runs from the gulf of California to San Francisco. Carefully draw in the San Andreas Fault (in
red).
7. Identify the location of Mount Saint Helens on your map.
Draw & Label the following Ridges/Rifts/Rises in green.
1. MidAtlantic
3. Pacific\Antarctic
2. Cocos
4. East Pacific
5. Chile
Draw & Label the following trenches in Blue
1. Java
3. Kuril
2. Aleutian
4. Japan
5. Mariana
6. Peru-Chile
7. Tonga
Draw & label the following faults/fracture zones in Red.
1. San Andreas
2. Galapagos
3. Clarion
4. Atlantis
Draw and label the following Mountain Ranges in ORANGE. Use the following symbol to represent
mountains: ∆∆∆∆∆
1. Andes
2. Himalayas
3. Cascades
Outline/Trace in orange and label the following islands:
1. Japan
3. Philippians
2. Fiji
4. Aleutian islands
Identify the following Hot Spots locations with a pink star
1. Hawaiian Islands
3. Canary
2. Yellowstone
4. Islands
Conclusion Questions: Using complete sentences and through explanations. Answer the following
questions on a separate piece of paper (may be typed). You may also use diagrams to support your
answers when you feel it is useful/appropriate.
1. Approximately how old do scientists believe the oldest sea floor is?
2. Iceland is highly volcanic. Explain why we would expect Iceland to be highly volcanic.
3. Explain how the Himalayas were formed (very detailed- what is causing the formation?) If you do
not know please read the bottom of page 281.
4. What is a primary difference between Island Arcs (the above islands) & Hot spots?
5. Examine the Andes Mountains. These mountains are primarily a range of volcanoes created by
subduction. Draw & Label a diagram showing a side view that would explain how the Andes
Mountains may have been created. In your drawing, name the rift, the trench, the oceanic plate
and the continental plate involved.
6. Look at the Aleutian islands (island arc). Draw & Label a diagram showing a side view that
would explain how the Aleutian Islands may have been created. In your drawing, name the plates,
the trench, the oceanic plates, and the islands involved.
7. Describe the three types of convergent boundaries and the types of geologic landforms that are
formed at each of these boundaries.
8. Describe what is occurring at a divergent boundary.