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cycles
Geophyscial Cycles
The surface of the earth does not hold still. Continents and islands have been coming together, splitting apart, folding, sinking, rising, and rotating for millions of years. They are propelled by forces deep within the earth.
In recent years, the ability of satellites to send back photographs of the entire surface of the earth has greatly enabled geologists and other scientists to learn more about the geophysical cycles that form our planet.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about geophysical cycles.
Places To Go 
People
To See Things To Do Teacher
Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about geophysical cycles.
Cascades
Volcano Observatory
Travel to the Cascades Volcano Observatory to find out about Mount St. Helens.
Travel to the Cascades Volcano Observatory to find out about Mount St. Helens.
Cave
Formation
Virtually visit a cave and discover the geological processes that form them.
Virtually visit a cave and discover the geological processes that form them.
The
Earth - Enchanted Learning
Learn about the crust, the mantle, and the core of the earth.
Learn about the crust, the mantle, and the core of the earth.
The
Formation of Pangaea: The Making of a Supercontinent
Visit Pangaea. At Pangaea, you can step right from Brazil into Africa.
Visit Pangaea. At Pangaea, you can step right from Brazil into Africa.
The
Great New Madrid Earthquakes
Travel to New Madrid, Missouri to learn about a series of some of the most destructive earthquakes ever recorded in North America that occurred in 1811 and 1812.
Travel to New Madrid, Missouri to learn about a series of some of the most destructive earthquakes ever recorded in North America that occurred in 1811 and 1812.
Inside
the Earth
Travel to the center of the earth. It's hot there. The temperature is thought to be about 7500 degrees Kelvin which is hotter than the surface of the sun!
Travel to the center of the earth. It's hot there. The temperature is thought to be about 7500 degrees Kelvin which is hotter than the surface of the sun!
Krakatoa
Krakatoa was an island between Java and Sumatra. A volcano erupted in 1883 and blew the island apart. The tsunami that the explosion generated killed 35,000 people in nearby islands. Find out what other effects that this huge explosion had on the rest of the world.
Krakatoa was an island between Java and Sumatra. A volcano erupted in 1883 and blew the island apart. The tsunami that the explosion generated killed 35,000 people in nearby islands. Find out what other effects that this huge explosion had on the rest of the world.
Mid-Atlantic
Ridge
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a line of volcanic mountains that runs along the rift (A rift is a place where the earth's crust is spreading open and new crust is forming. It is different than a fault.) between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is the longest and tallest mountain range in the world.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a line of volcanic mountains that runs along the rift (A rift is a place where the earth's crust is spreading open and new crust is forming. It is different than a fault.) between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is the longest and tallest mountain range in the world.
Museum
of the City of San Francisco
Travel back in time to San Francisco in 1906. Find out about the famous earthquake and fire that devastated San Francisco. Read eyewitness accounts, see actual photographs, newspaper clippings, and more.
Travel back in time to San Francisco in 1906. Find out about the famous earthquake and fire that devastated San Francisco. Read eyewitness accounts, see actual photographs, newspaper clippings, and more.
Plate
Tectonics
Visit the Earth's plates virtually. Each large plate touches 3 or more other plates. None can move without affecting all of the others. Plate movements are responsible for most of the earth's volcanoes, earthquakes, high mountain ranges, and deep ocean trenches.
Visit the Earth's plates virtually. Each large plate touches 3 or more other plates. None can move without affecting all of the others. Plate movements are responsible for most of the earth's volcanoes, earthquakes, high mountain ranges, and deep ocean trenches.
USGS Earthquake Information
Visit the San Andreas Fault. Do you know where the Wasatch Fault is in Utah? Find out the latest places where those plates are moving and those faults are shifting. From this part of the USGS site, use the map of the world that shows current earthquake activity.
Visit the San Andreas Fault. Do you know where the Wasatch Fault is in Utah? Find out the latest places where those plates are moving and those faults are shifting. From this part of the USGS site, use the map of the world that shows current earthquake activity.
Volcanoes
on Other Planets
Earth is not the only planet with volcanoes! Virtually travel to Mars and check out Olympus Mons which is the highest volcano in the solar system. It's about 16.5 miles high which is more than four times as high as Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest volcano on earth.
Earth is not the only planet with volcanoes! Virtually travel to Mars and check out Olympus Mons which is the highest volcano in the solar system. It's about 16.5 miles high which is more than four times as high as Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest volcano on earth.
People To SeeAlfred Wegener
Meet Alfred Wegener. He was the first to suggest that all the continents had once been one big continent. He concluded this because he found traces of tropical ferns in the Arctic. Find out more about Wegener.
Meet Alfred Wegener. He was the first to suggest that all the continents had once been one big continent. He concluded this because he found traces of tropical ferns in the Arctic. Find out more about Wegener.
Charles
Richter
Get to know Charles Richter. He is responsible for the Richter Scale that measures the size and magnitude of an earthquake.
Get to know Charles Richter. He is responsible for the Richter Scale that measures the size and magnitude of an earthquake.
United
States Geological Survey - Ask-A-Geologist
Geologists are scientists who study the earth. Ask them about plate tectonics.
Geologists are scientists who study the earth. Ask them about plate tectonics.
Things To DoPlate Tectonics Animations
Colorful animations of plate tectonics.
Colorful animations of plate tectonics.
The
ABC's of Plate Tectonics
Find out what happens when continents collide. In some places which are called divergence zones, the plates are pulling apart. In some places called convergence zones, the plates are pushing against each other.
Find out what happens when continents collide. In some places which are called divergence zones, the plates are pulling apart. In some places called convergence zones, the plates are pushing against each other.
All
About Plate Tectonics: Earth's Plates and Continental Drift
Investigate continental drift.
Investigate continental drift.
Plate
Tectonics
Plate tectonics explain why evidence of past glaciers can be found in deserts and why fossils of marine animals can be found in rocks far from the ocean. Find out more.
Plate tectonics explain why evidence of past glaciers can be found in deserts and why fossils of marine animals can be found in rocks far from the ocean. Find out more.
Ring
of Fire
Check out the Ring of Fire.
Check out the Ring of Fire.
Tushar
Mountains
Learn about Utah mountains. Mountain building is an active and ongoing process, and mountains are continuously being formed and worn down. We have a lot of mountains in Utah--the Abajo Mountains, La Sal Mountains, Pine Valley Mountains, the Uintah Mountains, and many more.
Learn about Utah mountains. Mountain building is an active and ongoing process, and mountains are continuously being formed and worn down. We have a lot of mountains in Utah--the Abajo Mountains, La Sal Mountains, Pine Valley Mountains, the Uintah Mountains, and many more.
University of Utah
Seismographic Stations
Find out about Utah's earthquake threat and Utah's active faults.
Find out about Utah's earthquake threat and Utah's active faults.
USGS: This Dynamic Earth
Plate tectonic processes cause volcanoes, earthquakes, and the formation of new land.
Plate tectonic processes cause volcanoes, earthquakes, and the formation of new land.
Volcano World Earth Science Lessons
Check out the excellent lesson activities from Volcano World about plate tectonics and the layers of the earth.
Check out the excellent lesson activities from Volcano World about plate tectonics and the layers of the earth.
Teacher Resources Lesson Plans/Webquests
- Earthguide Online Classroom
Interactive animations that explain key concepts and processes, plus other interactives and diagrams of related topics for K-12 teachers and students. - Plot
That Quake
An excellent lesson plan with many teacher
reproducibles such as maps.
Bibliography- Clark, John Owen Edward. Earthquakes to Volcanoes. New York: Gloucester Press, 1992.
- Drohan, Michele Ingber. Earthquakes. New York: PowerKids Press, c1999.
- Farndon, John. How the Earth Works. Readers Digest: Pleasantville, New York, 1992.
- Green, Jen. Volcanoes. Brookfield, Conn.: Copper Beech Books, 1998.
- Murray, Peter. Earthquakes. Chanhassen, MN: Child's World, c1999.
- Pipes, Rose. Mountains and Volcanoes. Austin, Tex.: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, c1998.
- Sattler, Helen Roney. Our Patchwork Planet: The Story of Plate Tectonics. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, c1995.
- Silverstein, Alvin. Plate Tectonics. Brookfield, Conn.: Twenty-First Century Books, 1998