USING ONLINE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM AND SEISMIC DATA FOR CLASS ROOM EXPLORATIONS

Online data from several large-scale tectonic and geophysical projects such as EarthScope's Plate Boundary Observatory and the USGS's live internet seismic server are excellent for class room explorations. High resolution (sub centimeter positions every 30 seconds) global positioning system data reveals both changes in position (northing and easting) and elevation (vertical) at more than one hundred permanent stations located mainly in the western 1/3 of the United States. This data can be used to determine velocities along faults and see changes related to earthquake events. The vertical velocities from Plate Boundary Observatories can be used to explore glacial isostatic rebound in north-central North America. Stations in the Yellowstone-Teton area show significant motion. The station in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park has a northing velocity of 9.25 mm/y, easting velocity of 12.25 mm/y and a rise of 30 mm/y since June 2004. This data can be used in resolution of vector problems and can be used to stimulate discussions such as: how much of the vertical rise is the result of glacial isostatic rebound and how much is result of tectonism and the magma chamber?

Helicorder displays (simulated seismograms) from over 230 domestic and international seismic stations are updated every 15 minutes on the Live Internet Seismic Server . These displays show most local (central U.S.) earthquakes and large quakes globally. The displays can be used to show changes in earthquake wave forms with distance and identify shadow zones for large earthquakes.