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TITLE Let's Bet on Sediments! Hudson Canyon Cruise--Grades 9-12 DOCUMENT RESUME ED 477 321 SE 068 059 TITLE Let's Bet on Sediments! Hudson Canyon Cruise--Grades 9-12. Focus: Sediments of Hudson Canyon. INSTITUTION National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC), Rockville, MD. PUB DATE 2002-00-00 NOTE 8p. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Curriculum Design; *Earth Science; Lesson Plans; *Marine Biology; Middle Schools; *Oceanography; Science Activities; Science Education; Teaching Methods ABSTRACT These activities are designed to teach about the sediments of Hudson Canyon. Students investigate and analyze the patterns of sedimentation in the Hudson Canyon, observe how heavier particles sink faster than finer particles, and learn that submarine landslides are avalanches of sediment in deep ocean canyons. The,activity provides learning objectives, a list of needed materials, key vocabulary words, background information, day-to-day procedures, internet connections, career ideas, integrated subject areas, evaluation tips, extension ideas, and National Science Education Standards connections. (KHR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Let's Bet on Sediments! Hudson Canyon CruiseGrades 9-12 Focus: Sediments of Hudson Canyon U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 Hudson Canyon Cruise Grades 9-12 Focus: Sediments of Hudson Canyon Focus Water enough to fill the 3 large jars Sediments of Hudson Canyon 1 Sediment Analysis Worksheet 1 Stop watch GRADE LEVEL 1 Magnifying glass 9 12 1 plastic spoon Part III Demonstration Extension: Focus QUESTION 1-10 gallon aquarium How is sediment size related to the amount of 1/2 cup of each of the 3 various sediments time the sediment is suspended in water? used in Activity One Water enough to fill the aquarium LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1 hair dryer Students will be able to investigate and analyze the 1 aquarium filter patterns of sedimentation in the Hudson Canyon Students will observe how heavier particles sink AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT Overhead Projector for Part I faster than finer particles. Students will learn that submarine landslides TEACHING TIME One 45-minute period (trench slope failure) are avalanches of sedi- ment in deep ocean canyons. SEATING ARRANGEMENT Cooperative groups of two to four Students will infer that the passive side of a continental margin is not as geologically quiet as previously thought. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS 30 ADAPTATIONS FOR DEAF STUDENTS Teaching Time: KEY WORDS Turbidites Turbidity currents Two 45-minute periods Sedimentation Shelf break Sediments Continental shelf MATERIALS North American Plate Continental slope Part I: Suspension Continental rise Exploring Ocean Frontiers: Hudson Canyon Deep sea fans Submarine canyon overhead. Active continental margin Graded bedding Part II:(per group of 2-4) Passive continental margin Avalanche 3 large jars with lids (e.g. Snapp le bottles) Topography 1/2 cup of each of the 3 various sediments U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Turbid Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION (pebbles, sand, silt) h_.r.CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as eceived from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Hudson Canyon Cruise Grades 9-12 Focus: Bathymetry of Hudson Canyon BACKGROUND INFORMATION submarine. Submarine canyons along the The two most notable topographic features of Atlantic coast usually have V-shaped profiles, the oceans are the continental margin and the steep walls, rock outcrops, flat floors, strong deep sea. Continental margins are described as currents, and deep-sea fans. Most are located either active or passive. Active margins are on the upper, steeper part of the slope. The found along plate boundaries where earth- canyons, which run perpendicular to the shelf, quakes and/or volcanoes are common. Passive cross the continental shelf and continental margins are not associated with plate bound- slope; some even cross the continental rise! aries and experience little volcanism and few Some, but not all, submarine canyons are earthquakes. They are found around the area of located off the mouths of major rivers. As these the Atlantic Ocean. The profile of the passive submarine canyons cut through soft surface continental margin includes the continental shelf, sediments and the harder layers beneath, they continental slope, and continental rise. expose a range of rock types and ages. The continental shelf is a broad, gently slop- During the Pleistocene era, when sea levels were ping platform that extends from the shoreline to low, the Hudson River extended across the the edge of the continental slope. Here, on the exposed area of what is now the continental shelf, there are thick accumulations of coarse shelf. Over time, the Hudson River eroded the and fine-grained sediments. In comparison, the land to form the Hudson Canyon. When sea continental slope is a shelf break with an level rose, the canyon was covered with water. abrupt drop. Sediments on the steep continen- Instead of emptying directly into the ocean at the tal slope are mostly soft mud, which is finer edge of the continental shelf, the Hudson River than sediments found on the shelf. When the then emptied into the Hudson Canyon. Today, the continental slope begins to flatten it is called landward margin of the Hudson Canyon has the continental rise. been filled with sediments, but the rest of it con- tinues to be eroded by ocean currents. The The continental rise is composed of thick accu- Hudson Canyon extends 240 km out to sea and mulations of sediment which have fallen from then continues for another 240 km across the the continental shelf. The sediments delivered continental rise (R. Maddock, 2000). by turbidity currents form deep-sea fans at the base of the slope. Some 78% of the world's When sediments such as sand, dirt, silt, and sediments are trapped within these three zones other fine particles become suspended in water (R. Maddock, 2000). These three zones are the by currents, the water becomes murky, or tur- thickest and most continuous along passive bid. Turbidity currents, down-slope movements continental margins. of sediment-laden water (Tarbuck & Lutgens, 1999), continuously erode many submarine The Hudson Canyon, located on the passive canyons such as the Hudson Canyon. These margin (Atlantic Coast) of the North American currents are set into motion when sand and Plate, is a deep steep-sided valley, called a mud on the continental shelf are loosened, per- z. Hudson Canyon Cruise Grades 9-12 Focus: Bathymetry of Hudson Canyon haps by melting of gas hydrates, an over- different sediment types using the Sediment steepened slope, or an earthquake. They then Analysis Worksheet. are mixed with the water to form a dense sus- 3. Have students predict which of the sediment pension. As this sediment-laden suspension types would reach the bottom the fastest and acts like an avalanche and flows down-slope, it the slowest on the Sediment Analysis erodes and accumulates more sediment. This Worksheet. erosion process is thought to be the major 4. Using a stopwatch, record on the Sediment force in growth of submarine canyons. As the Analysis Worksheet the time it takes a plastic turbidity currents lose momentum, they deposit spoon full of each sediment sample to fall to sediment as deep-sea fans at the bases of the the bottom of each large jar. submarine canyons. These deposits, called tur- 5. Have students record observations on bidites, are characterized by a decrease in Sediment Analysis worksheet and predict sediment size from bottom to top known as what would happen if you put all three sedi- graded bedding. As sediments settle to the bot- ments together in one jar. tom, coarser, heavier particles settle out first 6. Add 2 spoonfuls of each sediment sample to and are followed by finer sand and then finer one of the jars. clay. Since fine particles remain suspended in 7. Put a lid on the jar. the water column longer periods of time than 8. Shake the jar to create a sediment-laden sus- larger, denser particles, the finer particles are pension. carried out farther, often to the edge of the 9. Observe the action of all three sediments shelf, before they are deposited. together and record the observations on Sediment Analysis Worksheet. LEARNING PROCEDURE Part I Discussion: Part III Demonstration Extension: Using the "Exploring Ocean Frontiers: Hudson 1. Set up a 10-gallon aquarium in front of class. Canyon" overhead, explain the features of a 2. Fill thel 0-gallon aquarium with water. passive continental margin. Introduce submarine 3. TEACHER ONLY!! Turn a hair dryer on and canyons and the location of Hudson Canyon. use it to produce surface currents in the aquarium, and/or turn the filter on to pro- Part II Activity: duce turbidity currents in the aquarium. 1. Have student groups gather the following SAFETY PRECAUTION: DO NOT DROP materials: HAIR DRYER INTO AQUARIUM, A PERSON a. 3 large jars filled with water per group COULD GET ELECTROCUTED! b. 31/2 cup samples of sediments per 4. While the class is watching, pour all three group sediment samples into the aquarium. c.1 magnifying glass per group 5. Observe how the water currents affect the d. 1 Sediment Analysis Worksheet per student different type(s) of sediment.
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