The learning activities are hands-on exercises in which we will make examples of the types of maps that we'll be making while at sea. These includes plotting ship tracks on a mercator projection, making a thematic map describing recent seismic activity on the Big Island, and making a contour map.
1. In this activity, you will first draw a mercator projection coordinate system, then plot land, and finally draw on tracks which a ship can travel. Please go to the USGS Learning Web's Navigation Activity 1, and follow their directions.
2. In a thematic map, only one type of data is shown. We will plot a thematic map showing the seismicity of the Big Island. Use different symbols or colors to characterize the different values. Answer the questions for each step as well. Here are the mapmaking directions:
Materials:
Colored pens or pencils, Ruler, Scrap Paper, and map PDF file.
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| Download this file to your computer and print out the activity page. |
a. Study the data to learn what information you have and determine the range of values. You may want to reorganize the data into a new list or table. What are the highest and lowest magnitude values, or range of the data? What is the average magnitude? What is the highest and lowest earthquake depths? What is the average depth of the earthquakes?
b. Consider generalizing or grouping the data to simplify the mapping. You may decide that you do not need to plot the entire data set to see patterns in the data. Decide on symbols to use, color, etc.
c. Plot the data by latitude and longitude coordinates on the base map. Use a ruler to help estimate locations between latitude and longitude. Choose a descriptive title, and make a scale and legend for the map.
d. Discuss the pattern revealed from mapping the data. Where does seismicity occur? Are there any patterns that correlate with earthquake depth or magnitude? Label the five volcanoes making up the Big Island, and their rift zones. Where are the earthquakes located, and why do you think they are occuring there?
Plot these Earthquakes on the base map of Hawaii that you printed out.
DATE LONGITUDE LATITUDE DEPTH
YRMODA HRMN deg W deg N km MAGNITUDE
| 940103 0057 155° 13.04' 19° 21.85' 33.18 2.0 |
| 940106 1958 155° 14.63' 19° 23.03' 3.64 2.4 |
| 940110 0233 155° 17.43' 19° 24.19' 1.84 2.3 |
| 940110 0235 155° 17.11' 19° 24.27' 2.07 2.5 |
| 940110 1220 155° 17.41' 19° 24.29' 2.23 2.7 |
| 940115 1736 155° 17.24' 19° 23.99' 0.29 2.1 |
| 940115 1801 155° 17.01' 19° 24.32' 1.52 2.2 |
| 940121 2123 154° 58.73' 19° 22.14' 8.42 2.4 |
| 940201 0001 155° 18.04' 19° 15.47' 34.48 5.2 |
| 940201 0006 155° 17.70' 19° 19.00' 28.68 3.1 |
| 940201 0007 155° 18.13' 19° 18.00' 31.87 2.8 |
| 940201 0009 155° 17.03' 19° 19.37' 30.47 2.2 |
| 940220 2234 155° 45.11' 19° 48.97' 38.46 2.1 |
| 940302 0216 155° 14.48' 19° 23.32' 3.63 2.2 |
| 940302 0216 155° 14.48' 19° 23.32' 3.63 2.2 |
| 940307 1109 155° 29.95' 19° 26.99' 10.20 3.0 |
| 940310 0101 155° 15.90' 19° 25.58' 1.83 3.1 |
| 940324 1620 155° 22.12' 19° 40.13' 14.70 3.3 |
| 940326 0513 155° 19.03' 19° 25.48' 4.54 2.6 |
| 940328 0249 155° 14.58' 19° 23.38' 3.76 2.0 |
| 940408 0059 155° 51.45' 19° 37.85' 14.37 2.3 |
| 940417 1207 155° 13.63' 19° 19.49' 9.16 2.8 |
| 940429 1339 155° 11.65' 19° 20.35' 9.13 2.7 |
| 940430 0306 155° 11.49' 19° 20.34' 9.70 2.2 |
| 940430 0306 155° 11.49' 19° 20.34' 9.70 2.2 |
| 940430 2013 155° 13.32' 19° 19.76' 9.67 2.2 |
| 940503 0308 155° 26.31' 19° 18.80' 10.13 2.3 |
| 940522 0750 155° 36.59' 19° 54.87' 11.01 4.2 |
| 940522 2206 154° 51.67' 19° 27.51' 6.50 1.4 |
| 940522 2228 154° 52.04' 19° 28.93' 6.70 1.7 |
| 940525 1027 155° 5.70' 19° 21.30' 7.16 2.1 |
| 940602 2043 155° 37.54' 19° 23.69' 0.47 2.0 |
| 940629 0146 155° 39.22' 19° 25.29' 3.38 2.0 |
| 940727 1528 155° 4.84' 19° 22.05' 8.23 2.2 |
| 940729 1756 155° 3.84' 19° 20.57' 8.70 4.5 |
| 940729 1938 155° 3.78' 19° 20.71' 7.62 2.5 |
| 940824 0024 155° 22.47' 19° 49.53' 23.76 3.0 |
| 941003 2257 154 59.39' 19° 24.40' 10.42 1.8 |
| 941026 0441 155° 12.85' 19° 18.24' 10.69 3.0 |
| 941110 1746 155° 13.45' 19° 19.45' 9.10 2.5 |
| 941114 0859 155° 13.27' 19° 19.35' 9.94 3.4 |
| 941118 1848 155° 26.30' 19° 23.77' 3.77 2.2 |
| 941121 1910 155° 6.77' 19° 20.36' 9.53 4.3 |
| 941205 2150 155° 7.13' 19° 20.57' 6.93 2.6 |
| 941207 2242 155° 8.01' 19° 20.04' 8.08 3.4 |
| 941208 1459 155° 7.80' 19° 19.84' 8.95 4.9 |
| 941209 0432 155° 29.87' 19° 22.31' 9.93 2.2 |
| 941219°1748 155° 20.87' 19° 17.02' 8.16 2.5 |
| 941230 1725 155° 37.68' 19° 24.99' 2.58 2.6 |
3. Make a contour map of a portion of the Puna Ridge. Remember that a contour line marks the locations at which the same water depth is found.
Materials:
Water depths (13) along the Puna Ridge
Colored pens or pencils, Ruler, Scrap Paper
 |
| Download this file to your computer and print out the activity page. |
a. Choose an appropriate contour line interval by examining the water depths present; what is the depth range? Remember you don't want too many, nor too few contour lines, but enough so that you can accurately render the bathymetric character of the seafloor. What contour interval did you choose and why?
b. Draw each contour line. Depending on the contour interval you choose, you may want to use different colored pencils, or thicker or dashed lines to delineate the major depth intervals. When drawing the lines of equal depth, try to contour from the shallowest to the deepest depths so that you don't get confused. You may want to first draw major contour lines (with a large depth interval) and afterward draw the more-closely spaced contours (with smaller interval spacing) to fill in the details. Choose a descriptive title, and make a scale and legend for the map.
c. Discuss the bathymetric character of the seafloor. Where are the shallow or deep portions, and what is the shape of them? Are there any seamounts, ridges or valleys, steep slopes, and how high are they?
