GPS monitors deformation in subduction zone: Part B, using real data

6min 46s Novice

Instructional video shows how to conduct 5-step student activity to build gum-drop GPS station, learn how GPS works, then model and graph the GPS movement.

Part A, covered the steps to build and use a gumdrop GPS station.

In this video, Part B, students learn how to read time-series plots and understand how we know the ground is moving.

Demonstration by Roger Groom, Mount Tabor Middle School, Portland OR. Winner of the 2009 NAGT Earth science teacher award.

Related Animations

GPS Records Variable Deformation across a Subduction Zone

Subduction zones show that there are 3 distinct areas of movement in the overlying plate:

  1. constant movement above the locked leading edge,
  2. see-saw pattern of back-&-forth movement above a zone that alternately locks then slips, and
  3. no movement far inland above the deeper part of the diving oceanic plate.
Animation Novice

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