Using GIS to visualise physical processes at different types of plate margin
I can use GIS Elevation Profiles to visualise physical processes at different plate margins.
- Year 10
- AQA
Using GIS to visualise physical processes at different types of plate margin
I can use GIS Elevation Profiles to visualise physical processes at different plate margins.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 3D GIS provides powerful ways to visualise what is physical at plate margins.
- GIS transects can be used to create Elevation Profiles to visualise topography and bathymetry.
- GIS Elevation Profiles can visualise physical processes at different plate margins.
Keywords
Bathymetry - the measurement of elevation for bodies of water, e.g. depth of oceans, seas, or lakes
Topography - the shape of Earth’s surface including land areas and the floor of the seas and oceans
Elevation Profile - a GIS tool which visualises changes in height above or below sea level along any transect line such as a river course
Common misconception
Students can find it difficult to grasp that Earth's crust and tectonic plates include the ocean floor, which has topography (e.g. mountains including volcanoes, valleys) just like the land areas.
Remind students (often!) that tectonic plates include the ocean floor. Apps such as 3D Scene can help to visualise this underwater topography, which we learn about by bathymetry. The story of Marie Tharp provides excellent disciplinary knowledge.
Equipment
The lesson will require students to have access to a suitable IT device, e.g. laptop. Some tasks would be facilitated by the students using a mouse for more effective and faster control of the cursor.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does GIS stand for?
Q2.How can GIS help us study plate margins?
Q3.What are the three main types of plate margins?
Q4.What happens at a constructive plate margin?
Q5.What landform is most commonly found at a destructive plate margin?
Q6.Which plate margin is most likely to cause earthquakes but not volcanoes?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the lesson's keywords with the definitions.
