Modeling plate tectonics for learning concord consortium. It allows you to create realistic fantasy worlds from your web browser. Gplates is a desktop software for the interactive visualisation of plate tectonics. Platec is a 2d terrain generator that uses a simplified model of plate tectonics to produce realistic heightmaps in real. Plate tectonics is regulated by driving and resisting forces concentrated at plate boundaries, but observationally constrained highresolution models of global mantle flow remain a computational challenge. At least flash player 8 required to run this simulation. It aims to use simple yet scientifically defensible models that may be easily understood by nonexperts and modified by developers. Tectonic interactive will test and certify the integration to ensure that the front end benefits from the scale of the tectonic platform. If continents of two plates collide, they fold creating mountain belts. An sdkapi is provided for app and web developers to connect to the tectonic platform.
Discover how to create new mountains, volcanoes, or oceans. Science objects are two hour online interactive inquirybased content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. Simulation practice i theory els evier simulation practice and theory 5 1997 777791 simulating tectonic plate movement i. This realistically illustrated, labeled resin model helps educators explain the functions and elements of plate tectonics. Sep 30, 2014 travel through deep time with this interactive earth. Platec is a 2d terrain generator that uses a simplified model of plate tectonics to produce realistic heightmaps in real time.
It also helps us understand why and where events like earthquakes occur and volcanoes erupt. Layered earth geology earth science simulation software and. Writing a tectonics simulator in a browser is hard stuff. Explain which types of plate boundaries create crust, and which destroy crust. Feb 21, 2016 this animation shows the plate tectonic and paleogeographic evolution of the earth back to 540 million years. Gplates enables both the visualisation and the manipulation of platetectonic reconstructions and. These representations also help teach magnetism, sedimentary layers, and thermoclines. Gplates enables interactive visualisation and manipulation of the plate tectonic reconstructions of geological and paleogeographic features through geological time. It looks like youre using a browser that supports webgl, but you just need to modify some settings, first. For teachers and students around the world, the phet project provides interactive simulations that are based on extensive education research and support more effective science education. Gplates is desktop software for the interactive visualization of plate tectonics. Observe animations of processes that occur along plate. In 2008 we launched layered earth, the most complete interactive.
From the seafloor to the tallest mountain range, every landform on earth has a story to tell that stretches back over geologic time. Gplates offers a novel combination of interactive plate tectonic reconstructions, geographic information system. Observe animations of processes that occur along plate boundaries. Bodzin,1,a david anastasio,2 rajhida sharif,2 and scott rutzmoser3 abstract learning with webbased geographic information system web gis can promote geospatial thinking and analysis of. This science object is the second of five science objects in the plate tectonics scipack. This resource can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Image from an interactive diagram by earthguide at scripps institution of oceanography. Gplates enables both the visualisation and the manipulation of plate tectonic reconstructions and. Like thesis, fun read about geology how build this software. Phet lab experiments represent real interactive, and researchbased simulations of physical phenomena from the phet project at the university of colorado.
Travis appveyor this is a library to simulate plate tectonics. It offers a novel combination of interactive platetectonic reconstructions, geographic information system gis functionality and raster data visualisation. Simulate and learn about the natural geological occurrences common on earth with the geology models. Computer exercises, with interactive simulations, fully mapped to top. The simulation above is from phet interactive simulations. We capitalized on advances in adaptive mesh refinement algorithms on parallel computers to simulate global mantle flow by incorporating plate motions, with individual plate margins resolved. Kinematics and dynamics of the earth, telegrafenberg a17, dl4473 potsdam, germany received 1 may 1996. Gplates is desktop software for the interactive visualisation of platetectonics. Layered earth earth science simulation and curriculum. Whenever a plate moves whether or not it is colliding with another plate, it receives a friction. Real time 2d plate tectonics simulation running on pentium 4 cpu and 1 gb. Image from interactive diagram by earthguide at scripps institution of oceanography.
This section provides access to a wide array of visualizations and supporting material that can be used effectively to teach students about plate tectonic movements. Further, the user can accelerate time to test different types of plate to plate interactions. Gplates enables interactive visualisation and manipulation of the platetectonic reconstructions of geological and paleogeographic features through geological time. Tectonic interactive secure voting and competitions platforms. Deduce the type of plate boundary given images or descriptions of surface features. Draw a time series for different types of plate boundaries and their motions, indicating the related surface features. The heat from inside the earth causes the material of the mantle to permanently rise up along the ocean ridges, resulting in the formation of a dense basaltic crust which slowly rolls away from the ridge, much like a rug being rolled up. Dec 18, 2012 looking for ways to deliver that aha moment in your high school biology, chemistry and physics lessons. Continental drift interactive simulations edumedia.
Earth science education in 2008 we launched layered earth, the most complete interactive simulation based earth sciences curriculum for k12 and college. Plate tectonics are a very complicated subject that shape the planet, they can be difficult to understand and study, so any virtual model or simulation can help. Plate tectonics, 540ma modern world scotese animation. Visualization by amit chourasia, steve cutchin visualization services, sdsc. Gplates is desktop software for the interactive visualisation of plate tectonics. This simulation allows the students to change several variables in order to explore how plates move on the surface of the earth. It offers a novel combination of interactive plate tectonic reconstructions, geographic information system gis functionality and raster data visualisation. Does the benefit of the simulation outweigh the failures is it still usable. From example worldengine a world generator is based on platetectonics. Plate tectonics crust lithosphere mantle phet interactive.
Gplates is a desktop software for the interactive visualisation of platetectonics. Return fullscreen f11 ocean shadows snow sediment plants satellite topographic map. Tectonic interactive provides an easytouse interface for broadcasters to set up and manage interactive tv events. We began software development by modeling divergent boundaries. Gplates is desktop software for the interactive visualization of platetectonics. In this investigation student use actual data and a cdrom computer simulation designed at the lawrence hall of science to investigate the geology of plate boundaries. Earths geologic wonders have been shaped over hundreds of millions of years by the movement and interaction of a set of tectonic plates that make up the outer layer o. Aug 03, 2015 platec is a 2d terrain generator that uses a simplified model of plate tectonics to produce realistic heightmaps in real time. Travel through deep time with this interactive earth. Gplates is an interactive plate tectonics visualisation program. Namely, a friction force is added to slow down plate movement and allow the simulation to converge. Plate tectonics interactive 3 activities and demonstrations 1 model earth a simulation of density contrasts within the earth groups of students are given a pair of plasticine spheres, of equal size.
Go directly to plate tectonics activity 114k requires shockwave take a hardboiled egg and crack its shell. Plate tectonics is an application that allows users to perform various simulations of different earth crusts interacting with a changeable environment. Even though plates move very slowly, their motion, called plate tectonics, has a huge impact on our planet. For example, asking students, how is this simulation an appropriate model for plate tectonics. Image from terashake visualization at the san diego supercomputer center. Plate tectonic animation earthguide online classroom. Phet interactive simulations university of colorado boulder topics. Interactive science simulations can add a fresh level of discovery and insight to your regular handson science programs, and give students the opportunity to practice and learn at home when classroom equipment might not be at hand. Search iris incorporated research institutions for seismology. Using a web gis plate tectonics simulation to promote geospatial thinking alec m.
This collection is not exhaustive but does represent some of the best sources for. Videos concise video lectures give background information on the earth and plate tectonics for teaching how earthquakes happen and how they are studied. I heard of a research project that was simulating plate tectonics using physicsbased rules, but i cant remember what it was, let alone if the software has been made publically available and will run on windows. Gplates offers a novel combination of interactive platetectonic reconstructions. Webgl is a technology that allows users to render graphics through the gpu from their webbrowser. The students can change the temperature, composition, and thickness of the plates and discover how different landforms can be created by plate tectonics. Gplates offers a novel combination of interactive platetectonic reconstructions, geographic information system gis functionality and raster data visualisation. This animation shows the plate tectonic and paleogeographic evolution of the earth back to 540 million years. This stunning tablet and ipad enabled resource gives you an interactive globe of the earth with a wide range of geographic, demographic and statistical maps. The volcanoes are found where plates oceanic plates are diving beneath another plate, thus they are close to 100 km away from convergent plate boundaries.
Forces, faults, and friction, which is what causes the earthquakes. Volcanoes are parallel to, and close to plate boundaries. Continental drift, seafloor spreading, and plate boundaries interactive animations simulate an overview of the theory of plate tectonics rock and mineral data crustal and sediment thickness, gamma dose, geological age, minerals production, rock types, seafloor age, soil regions and wind erosion are all modelled in layered earth. Explore theories and concepts of movement and energy transfer beneath the earths surface with this interactive lessons that covers topics including earths interior, types of heat transfer, continental drift, seafloor spreading, and the theory of plate tectonics. It provides a conceptual understanding of what plates are and how they move, contributing to a constantly changing surface. Where does this model fail at representing plate tectonics in many ways, but chiefly in scales of time and size. The goal of the interactive modeling environment and curriculum is to help students. In this timeline skills game, students show their knowledge of plate tectonics by following context clues to order events and win artifacts. Layered earth earth science simulation software and curriculum. Sep 08, 2016 this feature is not available right now. At each timestep, the simulation moves the two plates based on their velocities and applies forces. Using a web gis plate tectonics simulation to promote.
Layered earth integrates your earth science curriculum with software modelling tectonic plate. The interactive simulation offers the user the ability to manipulate the types of plates, the direction of movement, temperature, and thickness. Earth science education in 2008 we launched layered earth, the most complete interactive simulationbased earth sciences curriculum for k12 and college. Looking for ways to deliver that aha moment in your high school biology, chemistry and physics lessons. Being a library you want probably to use it inside some larger program. Gplates offers a novel combination of interactive plate tectonic reconstructions, geographic information system gis functionality and raster data visualisation. Gplates offers a novel combination of interactive platetectonic reconstructions, geographic information system. The tangible models help students grasp processes and information that would.
Layered earth earth science simulation software and. The simulator starts with a flat fractal map and splits it randomly into plates. Softwarewebapps stand alone software, interactive web tools, and downloadable apps to help you explore seismic data and earthquake topics. Plate tectonics form the oceans, continents, and mountains. Change temperature, composition, and thickness of plates. Explore how plates move on the surface of the earth. Visualizations include simple animations, gisbased animated maps, paleogeographic maps and globes, as well as numerous illustrations and photos. We capitalized on advances in adaptive mesh refinement algorithms on parallel computers to simulate global mantle flow by incorporating plate motions, with individual plate margins.
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