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Introduction
Discussion
Concepts explored
in this eTrip
Lesson Plans
Video Clips
Web Links
Introduction

The geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone are surface manifestations of larger geological processes—the study of which has attracted scientists for more than 100 years. This 55 minute interactive program discusses how early studies were conducted in the park and illustrates that scientific research is an ongoing process. Students will learn how research methods change with technological advances and examine current investigations into the geologic forces of the vast living laboratory of Yellowstone National Park. Research scientists, appearing in video clips, discuss recent findings, while in-trip activities reinforce student learning.

The Ask an Expert Message Board is available from February 15 through 17, 2006. Resource experts will be available to answer your students’ questions. The questions and answers will remain accessible after the message board has been deactivated.

For a list of education standards applicable to this field trip, please visit the Standards Page.

If time permits, students may wish to attend the Park Orientation program before taking this electronic field trip.

Mysteries in the Living Laboratory

Will the Yellowstone volcano erupt in the near future? What physical evidence of past and ongoing volcanic activity can be found on the park’s landscape? What geologic hazards are associated with the Yellowstone volcano? How are scientists monitoring changes in the park’s volcanic system? How have scientific research methods changed in the last 100 years? Are scientific investigations of the Yellowstone volcanic system beneficial to the general public?


Concepts explored in this eTrip
  1. Scientific research is a human endeavor that is ongoing and based on the portrait of P. Norris“state of the knowledge.”
  2. Scientists formulate and test their explanations of nature using observations, experiments, models, research, and evaluation.
  3. Scientists may differ from one another about interpretation of the theory being examined.
  4. The earth processes observed today are similar to those that occurred in the past and those that will continue to occur in the future.

Lesson Plans

A seismometer records ground movement. Pre Electronic Field Trip
Caldera Demonstration

Post Electronic Field Trip
Around Yellowstone
Charting the Unseen
Ground Zero

Glossary

Video Clips

There are five video clips in the Flash/high bandwidth version of this field trip. They appear on pages 7, 32, 37, 41, and 44. You can use the following links to launch them in Windows Media Player format.

The Value of Science
Windows Media Player
Transcript

A Short Voyage Toward the Center of the Earth
Windows Media Player
Transcript

Sizing Up Siesmographs
Windows Media Player
Transcript

X-Rays of the Earth
Windows Media Player
Transcript

Research in Yellowstone
Windows Media Player
Transcript

Free player: Windows Media


Web Links

Earthquakes
   http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/index.html
   http://www.mines.utah.edu/~rbsmith/RESEARCH/YellowstoneEarthquakes.html
   http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/ABC/
   http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq1/
   http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/

Geology
   http://www.mines.utah.edu/~rbsmith/RESEARCH/UUGPS.html
   http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geology/rocks/glossary/
   http://geology.com/dictionary/glossary-d.shtml

Geothermal Features
   http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/geothermal

Hotspots and Volcanoes
   http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/
   http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/hotspots.html
   http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/history.html
   http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/About/What/Monitor/monitor.html
   http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/yellowstone.html
   http://www.mines.utah.edu/~rbsmith/RESEARCH/Yell.Hotspot.Deformation.html
   http://www.mines.utah.edu/~rbsmith/RESEARCH/YellowstoneHotspot.html

Science and Research in Yellowstone National Park
   http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/yellowstone/
   http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/monitoring.html#leveling
   http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/gallery_monitoring.html
   http://www.uwm.edu/~rcuhel/ynp/SPYRPAPR.htm
   http://serc.carleton.edu/dev/research_education/yellowstone/index.html
   http://www.nps.gov/yell/publications/yellsciweb/
   http://www.nps.gov/yell/publications/pdfs/investigatorsindex.htm

References
   Book References

These sites represent some, but not all, of the resources found online. If you know of other sites you would like to share with students and educators participating in this electronic field trip, please contact us so that we can post them.

Partners
National Science Foundation logo. Visit the NSF website.
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.0307709
Yellowstone Park Foundation logo. Visit the Foundation's website.
Funding for this trip was provided by generous grants to the Yellowstone Park Foundation.