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Collection: DLESE Community Service Center (SERC)
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- Abstract: This set of online activities helps students learn properties of ocean waves, wind-wave relationships and properties of tsunamis. The second part of the module explains the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and its impacts on global climates. Activities includes simple calculations, discovery learning, and using multiple choice self-testing. The module uses a combination of satellite imagery, simulations, animations and drawings to present relationships between atmospheric and oceanic processes.
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- Abstract: This resource contains general information about the location and activity of volcanoes in Alaska, including St. Paul and St. George Islands.
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- Abstract: This website features descriptions of volcanic features and events in Idaho's three geologic regions. Descriptions include integrated definitions and links to related topics. The site also incorporates links to the geologic time scale, Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field and more in-depth information about Idaho volcanoes
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- Abstract: In this homework assignment, students consider the balance of forces on a hillslope using the Factor of Safety by calculating shear stress and shear strength for an example hillslope and formulating an expression for the factor of safety in an Excel spreadsheet. Students then use this spreadsheet to conduct a sensitivity analysis for the purpose of assessing which variables are most important in determining hillslope stability. A series of short answer questions guide students through this process and a series of reflection questions give students the opportunity to consider assumptions and applicability of the factor of safety to the real world. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: This 30-page PDF was prepared by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and provides detailed information about the water supply available on St. Paul Islands. The site presents the results of an aquifer test and estimates potential yield from current wells. Tables, diagrams and well logs are included.
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- Abstract: In this activity, students explore how different sediment properties influence slope stability. They make piles of sediments with varied grain size, angularity, and water content and measure the maximum slope at which the grains are stable. The results are then used to examine the nature, frequency, timing, and causes of landslide events in Seattle. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: Vector operations are crucial for the understanding of many processes affecting surface conditions in the atmosphere and the oceans. Gradients, dot and cross products, and the Laplacian of surface variables (e.g., pressure, temperature, moisture, salinity, wind and ocean currents to name a few) are concepts that create considerable angst for students in meteorology and physical oceanography classes. The purpose of this activity is to teach vector concepts within the context of the atmospheric and oceanic environments to enhance the students' understanding of vectors and vector operations through their application to physical processes. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: This webpage provides information about the Assiniboine Tribe that resides on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The site features a detailed account of the history of the tribe.
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- Abstract: This sequential set of in-class and homework problems concerns applications of the First Law of Thermodynamics. In the homework, students are first asked to compute and plot potential temperatures of specified adiabats. In a second assignment, the potential temperature from an observed sounding is computed and plotted to develop a framework for understanding the stratification of the atmosphere. These activities are intended to help students discover the importance and utility of conservation principles derived from the First Law of Thermodynamics. In addition, they provide a first step in evolving from the p-V diagrams the students have seen in their physics coursework toward the thermodynamic diagrams used in meteorology. This activity was peer reviewed by participants at the 2004 Teaching Quantitative Skills in a Geoscience Context Workshop at Carleton College. The website provides teaching notes and tips, downloadable materials, and suggestions for activity assessment.
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- Abstract: This BBC News clearinghouse website provides a wide variety of information regarding Hurricane Katrina. Information includes news stories, scientific analysis and background, eyewitness accounts, photo galleries, pressing questions, hurricane animations and more. Information has been updated frequently.
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- Abstract: This exercise is designed to help students get their brains around big numbers using real world examples. The real-world examples are focused around money issues such as the national debt and budgeting. There are questions for students and some guidelines. These exercises are one of several that were produced for the National Numeracy Network under a grant from the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation through the National Council on Education and the Disciplines. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: This site contains materials to help teach a Chance course, an NSF-sponsored quantitative literacy course that was cooperatively developed by the Chance Team. The goal of Chance is to make students more informed, critical readers of current news stories that use probability and statistics. Links to Chance news, the course, video and audio, teaching aids, and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: In this exercise, students analyze climate data to find areas in the southern United States that are now close to having conditions in which the malaria parasite and its mosquito hosts thrive. Then they attempt to forecast when areas might become climatically suitable. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: This resource describes the Columbia River Basalt Group. The site features brief discussions of the stratigraphy and age of the group, as well as the group's vent system, volumes and eruption rates, and magma supply rates. This CRBG description is an excerpt from the ICG Field Trip T106: Cenozoic Volcanism in the Cascade Range and Columbia Plateau, Southern Washington and Northernmost Oregon: American Geophysical Union Field Trip Guidebook T106, p.21-24.
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- Abstract: This problem set is designed for a junior/senior level course and addresses several quantitative skills that are important in geochemistry and petrology. The exercise uses geochemical data for average quartz monzonite and diorite from the Mineral Mountains in Utah. The students do mass balance calculations and are asked to relate their calculations to continental crust formation. The activity was peer reviewed by participants at the 2004 Teaching Quantitative Skills in a Geoscience Context Workshop at Carleton College. This webpage includes an overview of the activity and downloadable teaching materials and tips.
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- Abstract: This report features procedures for implementing cooperative learning in courses that stress quantitative problem solving. The objectives of the report are to offer ideas for using cooperative learning effectively in technical courses, to give advance warning of the problems that might arise when CL is implemented, and to provide assurances that the eventual benefits to both instructors and students justify the perseverance required to confront and overcome the problems encountered.
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- Abstract: In this activity, students explore Daisyworld, a model of a self-regulating system incorporating positive and negative feedbacks. The model explores the effect of a steadily increasing solar luminosity on daisy populations and the resulting planetary temperature. The activity was developed to introduce upper level undergraduate students to the concepts of dynamical systems modeling. The exercise guides students through some of the mathematics behind the modeling. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
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- Abstract: This web site provides a pro-environment position on geothermal energy development. The site offers environmental principles that should be adhered to, and points out the environmental benefits of geothermal energy. There is also a useful discussion of geothermal energy, where geothermal resources are located, the current state of geothermal development, and recommendations for the siting and operation of geothermal power plants.
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- Abstract: This website provides a table of urban population, land area and density data for hundreds of cities, wards and neighborhoods worldwide. Data includes population per square mile, population per square kilometer, city area per square mile, city area per square kilometer, the year the data was gathered, and additional notes regarding land area and urban density.
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- Abstract: This activity features a demonstration (with full class participation) to illustrate radioactive decay by flipping coins. The activity visually shows students the concepts of exponential decay, half-life and randomness. This activity is ideal for large lecture classes. The site provides teaching tips, a detailed description of the activity, and links to additional references and resources.
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