NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2011 — page 1 of 3

Assessment Schedule 2011

Science: Describe geological processes affecting New Zealand ( 90731)

Evidence Statement

Q Evidence Achievement Achievement with Achievement with Merit Excellence

ONE The Kermadec Trench is oceanic crust Description of the Explanation of the Full discussion of the subducting under oceanic / tectonic processes tectonic processes similarities and continental crust. The Pacific Plate for one area. for transform fault differences of the subducts under the Australian Plate, and subduction Kermadec Trench, which drags the plate downwards thus OR zone. Macquarie Ridge and resulting in a trench. the Alpine Fault. Comparison of the OR The Macquarie Ridge is similar to the processes. Eg: In the Kermadec Kermadec Trench in that it is a Explanation of one Trench the Pacific Plate subducting plate boundary. tectonic process (oceanic crust) is The difference is that the Australian Eg: The Kermadec AND comparison subducting under the Plate, oceanic, is subducting under the Trench is a of the processes. Australian Pacific Plate, continental. subducting plate Plate(continental crust). boundary, where the Eg: In the The Alpine Fault is a The Alpine Fault is continental crust Pacific Plate Kermadec Trench transform fault – this is to continental crust. It is a transform (oceanic crust) is the Pacific Plate where the two plates fault, which means the two plates are subducting under (oceanic crust) is (both continental crust) pushing into and past each other the Australian Plate subducting under are sliding past each (Australian to the North East and the (continental crust). the Australian Plate other other (Australian Pacific to the South West). (continental crust). to the North East and Eg: Kermadec The Alpine Fault is the Pacific to the South The north and south of New Zealand Trench and a transform fault – West). are similar (both subduction Macquarie Ridge this is where the two The Macquarie Fault processes), but the middle has very are subduction plates (both Zone is a subducting different tectonic processes occurring. zones while the continental crust) plate boundary, where Alpine Fault is a are sliding past each the Australian Plate collision zone and other. (oceanic crust) is transform fault. subducting under the Pacific Plate (continental crust). The Kermadec and Macquarie zones are both subduction zones, whereas the Alpine Fault is a transform fault. (Data from diagram used to support answer.)

NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2011 — page 2 of 3

TWO Geothermal areas are a result of Description of what Explanation of how Full discussion of how magma moving close to the surface of causes geothermal plate boundary leads plate boundary and the earth where it can heat up the areas. to the formation and hotspots lead to the underground waterways. OR location of the formation and location Description of the geothermal areas. of the geothermal areas The geothermal areas tend to be location in relation Eg: Geothermal areas where the subducting plates are deep to the plate Eg: Geothermal are a result of magma enough to melt and rise to the surface. boundary. areas are a result of close to the surface, This is why there is a lot of magma close to the where it can heat up geothermal activity around the Taupo Eg: Geothermal surface, where it can underground Volcanic Zone (TVZ). areas are a result of heat up underground waterways. Rotorua has magma close to the waterways. geothermal areas, due The geothermal activity around surface, where it can to the subduction zone Auckland is a result of the hotspot heat up underground AND off the east coast of activity bringing magma close to the waterways. Rotorua has New Zealand. surface of the earth. geothermal areas, When the subducting OR due to the plate gets deep enough, Rotorua is close to a subduction zone off it will melt and rise to subducting plate the east coast of the surface, where it boundary. New Zealand. heats the underground When the waterways. The OR subducting plate geothermal activity at Waiwera results gets deep enough, it Waiwera is a result of from/ close to will melt and rise to the hotspot in that hotspot the surface, where it region, not subducting activity of heats the plate boundary. The Auckland. underground hotspot is an area where waterways. the magma is superheated, and OR therefore sends up a mantle plume through The geothermal cracks in a thin crust activity at Waiwera that can then heat up is a result of the underground hotspot in that waterways. region, not the subducting plate boundary. The hotspot is an area where the magma is superheated, and therefore sends up a mantle plume(through cracks in a thin crust) that can then heat up underground waterways.

NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2011 — page 3 of 3

THREE P and S waves travel at different Description of P and Description of P and Description of P and S speeds, P waves at approx. 7 m s–1 S waves. S waves and waves. and S waves at approx. 4 m s–1 . explanation of how OR they can be used to Full discussion how Because of this difference in speed, Description of how work out the distance is worked out the the three distances distance. and how this is then seismologist can work out the intersect to give used to draw the three distance to the epicentre by using the epicentre. OR intersecting circles. time difference in arrival of the P and Description of P and S waves using using formula OR S waves and Eg: P waves are v = d / t Description of how explanation of how primary waves and Seismologists then require at least to work out distance the three distances travel at 7 m s –1 . three different stations to have from time interval can be used to find S waves are the recorded the earthquake. They work between P (faster) epicentre. secondary waves and out the distance from each of the and S (slower) . travel at 4 m s–1. stations. Eg: P waves are Because the waves They then use this data to draw a Eg: P waves are primary waves and travel at different circle of how far away the quake was primary waves and travel at 7 ms–1 . speeds, they will arrive on a map for each station. travel at 7 m s–1 . S S waves are the at the seismograph at Where the three circles intersect is the waves are the secondary waves different times. It is this epicentre of the quake. secondary waves and travel at 4 m s–1. difference in arrival and travel at 4 m s–1. Because the waves time that is used to Other properties of P and S waves travel at different work out how far away are: Eg: speeds, they will the epicentre was (using P waves , primary, longitudinal, The waves travel arrive at the formula (v = d / t). fastest, arrive first, can travel through at different speeds, seismograph at This distance does not solids and liquids, do little damage. they will arrive at different times. It is show the direction to the seismograph at this difference in the epicentre, so In comparison to S waves, secondary, different times. It is arrival time that is seismologists need to transverse, slower than P waves, this difference in used to work out have at least three arrive second, can only travel through arrival time that is how far away the values, which they can solids, do lots of damage. used to work out epicentre was (using then use to identify the how far away the formula v = d / t). epicentre. They do this epicentre was (using by drawing on a map http: / / www.oakton.edu / user / 4 / formula around the seismograph billtong / v = d / t). site at the specific eas100lab / lab10quake.htm calculated distance. The Eg: point where all three Draw 3 circles using circles intersect is the distance information epicentre. from 3 seismographs as radii; where they overlap gives the epicentre.

Judgement Statement

Achievement Achievement with Merit Achievement with Excellence 2 A 2 M 2 E