Earth's structure and Plate tectonics videos

NEW online videos. As well as the rock cycle, there are now videos about Earth's structure and Plate tectonics  All are fun to watch and to do.

Also there are two new professional development workshops, Investigating the Earth's structure and the plate tectonics story.

Geological time and the Anthropocene?

New ELI+ today 'What might be the marker for the ‘golden spike’ at the end of the Anthropocene? How is geological time subdivided and what are likely future human impacts on the Earth?'

 

One of the latest scientific debates is about whether or not a new geological time period should be recognised, called the Anthropocene Epoch. If it is recognised, this would be the time on Earth when human activity dominated the climate and the environment.

This ELI+ activity involves a class discussion focussed on how geological time periods are devised and what the future for the Earth might be.

Other activities related to Geological time may be found on our website.

Virtual Rock Kit for those stuck at home

Are you stuck at home? 

No rock specimens to examine? 

Try using our  

VIRTUAL ROCK KIT.

You can now view sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks as they appear in the landscape, in hand specimen. under hand lens magnification, in thin section and even in use. The thin sections can be viewed with plane polars or cross polars.
Once you know your rocks, you can try many of the Earthlearningidea activities or watch some of our new videos. The latter show all aspects of the dynamic rock cycle so your knowledge of the rocks from the virtual rock kit will be put to good use. You could try collecting some small pieces of your local rocks as you exercise and then identify them.

How does a reduction in pressure lower melting and boiling points?

Today's new Earthlearningidea is an ELI+ activity - 'Melting and boiling – the influence of pressure; how does a reduction in pressure lower melting and boiling points?'

This ELI is a demonstration of the reduction of boiling point due to reducing the pressure. This provides an analogy with rocks melting at a lower temperature when the overlying pressure is reduced, notably at a divergent plate margin.
Other activities related to pressure or to plate tectonics can be found by using the search engine or alphabetical index on our website.