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Earth in Reverse: Magnetic Wiggles on the Ocean Floor |
This Web Seminar, developed in collaboration with the National Science Digital Library
(NSDL) took place on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. In this program, the presenters discussed the Earth’s magnetic field and its
tendency to reverse polarity.
Dr. Chris Massell Symons, Researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
and Dr. Anthony Koppers, Associate Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics at
Oregon State University shared their expertise and experiences studying the phenomenon
of the Earth’s magnetic field and its tendency to reverse its polarity. The evidence
of magnetic field reversals are found in rock samples collected from the seafloor,
at the spreading, mid-ocean ridge. The signature evidence, found in these specific
rock samples, is referred to as magnetic wiggles. These magnetic wiggles reveal
that the Earth's magnetic field has reversed several times in the past. Dr. Symons
and Dr. Koppers then discussed the implications and applications of the data and
research.
Twenty (20) participants were present at the live Web Seminar, in addition to the
presenters, the NSDL moderator, and the NSTA staff. Participating educators represented
the states of California, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New
York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. Participants
received a one-year subscription to one of NSTA’s SciGuides for completing the evaluation
form at the end of the program.
Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:
- “I enjoyed the images and was very interested to learn that the magnetic
reversals are actually recorded on the ocean floor.”
- “Evidence for tectonic motion as it relates to earth studies and moving
continents is part of our middle school curriculum. This seminar not only
included clear evidence through the geologic "barcode" of magnetic
striping, but also excellent resources for us to use in our own classrooms”.
- “Being part of the California Content Standards in Earth Science, our
curriculum is articulated to this topic specifically as support for seafloor spreading/plate
tectonics. This (Web) Seminar was well focused to the
material that is being continually developed as more research yields
further refinement to this body of knowledge.”
- “I really like hearing directly from researchers, having them provide
graphic images and data, and the interactive aspect of the whiteboard”.
Thanks to the participants and the presenters for the learning opportunity, the
interactions and a job well done!
Websites
For more information contact webseminars@nsta.org
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Underwritten by NSDL |