The Earth Operates as a System.

Hydrosphere

Geosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere

solar

A “big picture” example of earth system interactions

This example will emerge naturally by answering the question:

Did the uplift of the Himalayan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau cause the Indian Monsoons to become more intense?

Hydrosphere

Geosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere

solar

What is a core?

• As particles eroded from land, erupted from volcanoes, or derived from sea life (fossils), settle out of the water, they form mixed composition layers on the bottom of the ocean.

• The ocean sediments have been accumulating on the sea floor, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top, since the formation of the ocean basin.

• A core is a cylinder of this sediment (or rock) removed by drilling the subsurface sea floor.

173-1069A-9R-3, 67-94 cm.

http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/173_IR/VOLUME/CHAPTERS/CHAP_08.PDF

173-1069A-10R-3, 129–149 cm.

What can you learn from core samples?

• Climate change: sediments on the seafloor record changes in earth’s climate

• Plate tectonics: Determining the ages of different parts of the ocean floor and examining the rocks beneath has helped marine geologists reconstruct the history of movement of tectonic plates and their embedded continents.

• Energy resources: On the sea floor and below lie sources of energy, including petroleum and frozen methane deposits.

• Evolutionary biology: the microfossil record in the sediments contains vivid examples of the evolution of life on earth.

From: Out to Sea, Teacher’s Guide, ODP 2004

What can you learn from core samples?

The answer to the question:Did the uplift of the Himalayan Mountains and

Tibetan Plateau cause the Indian Monsoons to become more intense?

How are you going to answer it?

• ODP Mountains to Monsoons Interactive CD activity– Take on the role of a researcher on board the

JOIDES Resolution– Assist with marine sediment sample analysis

and interpretation• Paleomagnetics• Sedimentology• Micropaleontology (2)• Climatology

How is this activity relevant to middle school science?

• Brings real world investigations into the classroom: You too can do science!

• Integrates technology in science

• Models the nature of scientific investigation– Strand: Scientific Investigation, Reasoning, Logic

• Essential Content Knowledge – Standard 6.3: Ocean-Atmosphere circulation

• Before you begin:– Worksheet get it and read the questions

• As you proceed:– Take Notes on the worksheet questions

• Reflect on each research assignment– What is the question being addressed?– What scientific methods are used to address it?– What are the results you collected?– How are these results interpreted?

• Explain how you chose the final drill site.• Sketch and describe a time line of geologic events.

– Show how plate tectonic motion caused mountain uplift, which caused the monsoons to intensify.

• How is this relationship a good example of earth system interactions?