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NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2011 — page 1 of 3 Assessment Schedule 2011
Science: Describe geological processes affecting New Zealand ( 90731)
Evidence Statement
Q
Evidence
Achievement
Achievement with
Merit
Achievement with
Excellence
ONE
The Kermadec Trench is oceanic crust
subducting under oceanic /
continental crust. The Pacific Plate
subducts under the Australian Plate,
which drags the plate downwards thus
resulting in a trench.
Description of the
tectonic processes
for one area.
Explanation of the
tectonic processes
for transform fault
and subduction
zone.
Full discussion of the
similarities and
differences of the
Kermadec Trench,
Macquarie Ridge and
the Alpine Fault.
The Macquarie Ridge is similar to the
Kermadec Trench in that it is a
subducting plate boundary.
The difference is that the Australian
Plate, oceanic, is subducting under the
Pacific Plate, continental.
The Alpine Fault is continental crust
to continental crust. It is a transform
fault, which means the two plates are
pushing into and past each other
(Australian to the North East and the
Pacific to the South West).
The north and south of New Zealand
are similar (both subduction
processes), but the middle has very
different tectonic processes occurring.
OR
Comparison of the
processes.
Eg: The Kermadec
Trench is a
subducting plate
boundary, where the
Pacific Plate
(oceanic crust) is
subducting under
the Australian Plate
(continental crust).
Eg: Kermadec
Trench and
Macquarie Ridge
are subduction
zones while the
Alpine Fault is a
collision zone and
transform fault.
OR
Explanation of one
tectonic process
AND comparison
of the processes.
Eg: In the
Kermadec Trench
the Pacific Plate
(oceanic crust) is
subducting under
the Australian Plate
(continental crust).
The Alpine Fault is
a transform fault –
this is where the two
plates (both
continental crust)
are sliding past each
other.
Eg: In the Kermadec
Trench the Pacific Plate
(oceanic crust) is
subducting under the
Australian
Plate(continental crust).
The Alpine Fault is a
transform fault – this is
where the two plates
(both continental crust)
are sliding past each
other other (Australian
to the North East and
the Pacific to the South
West).
The Macquarie Fault
Zone is a subducting
plate boundary, where
the Australian Plate
(oceanic crust) is
subducting under the
Pacific Plate
(continental crust). The
Kermadec and
Macquarie zones are
both subduction zones,
whereas the Alpine
Fault is a transform
fault. (Data from
diagram used to
support answer.)
NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2011 — page 2 of 3 TWO
Geothermal areas are a result of
magma moving close to the surface of
the earth where it can heat up the
underground waterways.
The geothermal areas tend to be
where the subducting plates are deep
enough to melt and rise to the surface.
This is why there is a lot of
geothermal activity around the Taupo
Volcanic Zone (TVZ).
The geothermal activity around
Auckland is a result of the hotspot
activity bringing magma close to the
surface of the earth.
Description of what
causes geothermal
areas.
OR
Description of the
location in relation
to the plate
boundary.
Eg: Geothermal
areas are a result of
magma close to the
surface, where it can
heat up underground
waterways.
OR
Rotorua is close to a
subducting plate
boundary.
OR
Waiwera results
from/ close to
hotspot
activity of
Auckland.
Explanation of how
plate boundary leads
to the formation and
location of the
geothermal areas.
Eg: Geothermal
areas are a result of
magma close to the
surface, where it can
heat up underground
waterways.
AND
Rotorua has
geothermal areas,
due to the
subduction zone off
the east coast of
New Zealand.
When the
subducting plate
gets deep enough, it
will melt and rise to
the surface, where it
heats the
underground
waterways.
OR
The geothermal
activity at Waiwera
is a result of the
hotspot in that
region, not the
subducting plate
boundary. The
hotspot is an area
where the magma is
superheated, and
therefore sends up a
mantle
plume(through
cracks in a thin
crust) that can then
heat up underground
waterways.
Full discussion of how
plate boundary and
hotspots lead to the
formation and location
of the geothermal areas
Eg: Geothermal areas
are a result of magma
close to the surface,
where it can heat up
underground
waterways. Rotorua has
geothermal areas, due
to the subduction zone
off the east coast of
New Zealand.
When the subducting
plate gets deep enough,
it will melt and rise to
the surface, where it
heats the underground
waterways. The
geothermal activity at
Waiwera is a result of
the hotspot in that
region, not subducting
plate boundary. The
hotspot is an area where
the magma is
superheated, and
therefore sends up a
mantle plume through
cracks in a thin crust
that can then heat up
underground
waterways.
NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2011 — page 3 of 3 THREE
P and S waves travel at different
speeds, P waves at approx. 7 m s–1
and S waves at approx. 4 m s–1 .
Description of P and
S waves.
Because of this difference in speed,
the
seismologist can work out the
distance to the epicentre by using the
time difference in arrival of the P and
S waves using using formula
v=d/t
Seismologists then require at least
three different stations to have
recorded the earthquake. They work
out the distance from each of the
stations.
They then use this data to draw a
circle of how far away the quake was
on a map for each station.
Where the three circles intersect is the
epicentre of the quake.
Other properties of P and S waves
are:
P waves , primary, longitudinal,
fastest, arrive first, can travel through
solids and liquids, do little damage.
In comparison to S waves, secondary,
transverse, slower than P waves,
arrive second, can only travel through
solids, do lots of damage.
http: / / www.oakton.edu / user / 4 /
billtong /
eas100lab / lab10quake.htm
OR
Description of how
the three distances
intersect to give
epicentre.
OR
Description of how
to work out distance
from time interval
between P (faster)
and S (slower) .
Eg: P waves are
primary waves and
travel at 7 m s–1 . S
waves are the
secondary waves
and travel at 4 m s–1.
Eg:
The waves travel
at different speeds,
they will arrive at
the seismograph at
different times. It is
this difference in
arrival time that is
used to work out
how far away the
epicentre was (using
formula
v = d / t).
Eg:
Draw 3 circles using
distance information
from 3
seismographs as
radii; where they
overlap gives the
epicentre.
Description of P and
S waves and
explanation of how
they can be used to
work out the
distance.
OR
Description of P and
S waves and
explanation of how
the three distances
can be used to find
epicentre.
Eg: P waves are
primary waves and
travel at 7 ms–1 .
S waves are the
secondary waves
and travel at 4 m s–1.
Because the waves
travel at different
speeds, they will
arrive at the
seismograph at
different times. It is
this difference in
arrival time that is
used to work out
how far away the
epicentre was (using
formula v = d / t).
Description of P and S
waves.
Full discussion how
distance is worked out
and how this is then
used to draw the three
intersecting circles.
Eg: P waves are
primary waves and
travel at 7 m s –1 .
S waves are the
secondary waves and
travel at 4 m s–1.
Because the waves
travel at different
speeds, they will arrive
at the seismograph at
different times. It is this
difference in arrival
time that is used to
work out how far away
the epicentre was (using
formula (v = d / t).
This distance does not
show the direction to
the epicentre, so
seismologists need to
have at least three
values, which they can
then use to identify the
epicentre. They do this
by drawing on a map
around the seismograph
site at the specific
calculated distance. The
point where all three
circles intersect is the
epicentre.
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
2 A 2 M 2 E