Geologic Time
In this vista, exercises have been developed to explore:
  • The difference between relative and absolute time
  • How fossils are used to tell time
  • Radioactive dating
  • The concept of deep time
  • New theories about Earth's history that emerged from understanding geologic time
  • Different geologic time scales
Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm
Learning Experience 2: experience2.htm
Learning Experience 3: experience3.htm

 Plate Tectonics
Participants/students will explore plate tectonics by:
  • Participants/students will explore plate tectonics by:
    Carrying out a plate tectonics simulation (game). The objectives are to
    (a) reconstruct the past history of plate motion through 4 reconstructions, and
    (b) explore the impact of plate motion on global geologic processes.
  • Learn how scientific observations, mathematics and computer technology can be integrated to help scientists model the past history of tectonic plate motion.
  • Observing how the motion of Earth’s tectonic plates over the last 750 million years has influenced the geology of Texas - PLATES animated geologic history of Texas, From Texas to Antarctica.
Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm
Learning Experience 2: experience2.htm
Learning Experience 3: experience3.htm

 Earthquakes

Participants in the course use a computer program developed by Alan Jones (SUNY Binghamton) to aid in the visualization of earthquakes and volcanoes around the world.

Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm


 Raised Coral Reefs

This vista is intended to convey the knowledge that our Earth is dynamic and that plate tectonics is an active process today.

Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm


 Tropical Ocean Thermometers
Participants/students use the results of the research of UTIG Senior Scientist, Fred Taylor, and his American, French and Australian colleagues to learn about recent climate fluctuations (El Niño events), climate change over the past 30,000 years, ocean chemistry, and atmospheric circulation. Examination of growth rings in corals (coral samples and X-radiograph will be provided). Specifically they will (1) identifiy El Niño events in xradiographs of a X-section of coral core from Vanuatu, and develop a predictive model of ENSO events based on the data; and (2) carry out an analysis of geochemical data from corals in order to determine past seawater temperatures.

Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm

 The Lost Continent

In the remote southern Indian Ocean, straddling the Antarctic Polar Front, lies a mostly submarine plateau one-third the size of the contiguous United States. The Kerguelen Plateau is one example of a unique type of Earth feature, a large igneous province (LIP). One of the least understood features in the ocean basins, LIPs are believed to be the surface manifestations of massive pulses of volcanism that originated deep within Earth’s mantle in association with narrow upwelling systems, known as mantle plumes or hotspots.

Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm
Learning Experience 2: experience2.htm

 Sea Level History

The stratigraphic record is replete with evidence that ocean shorelines have advanced and retreated throughout geologic time. UTIG researchers are involved in several projects to better understand changes in the Earth’s climate and related fluctuations in sea level through geologic time. Sediment cores collected by UTIG scientists beneath the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore New Jersey document these fluctuations through study of their sedimentary structures, microfossils, geochemistry and mineralogy, as well as associated seismic data. By understanding changes in past climate, researchers provide data essential to analyzing both natural and human-induced changes in our current climate system.

Vista Overview: vistaOverview.htm
Resources: resources.htm
TEKS* Covered: teks.htm
Learning Experience 1: experience1.htm
Learning Experience 2: experience2.htm