Unit 1, Module 2
Formative Assessments #1:
Plate tectonic-scale observations of global variability in coastlines using Google Earth
Students are required to use Google Earth to fly to two different, predetermined locations and
answer a series of 5 different questions for each location. These questions require the students to make
observations about each of the indicated coastlines in the context of plate tectonic setting. Specific
questions are provided to guide the students in their observations. The questions are designed also to
introduce concepts that are covered in more detail later in module 2 and in module 3. Students will
demonstrate that they can make large-scale observations about an array of different coastlines across a
range of plate tectonic settings to further develop an appreciation for the global variability of coastlines.
Formative Assessment #1 Part 1.
Question
1A. Describe the
fundamental
morphologic
differences
between the sub
aerial (above sea
level) landforms of
the western and
eastern United
States within 500
km of the landwater boundary?
Hint: Is the
topography the
same for each side
of the United
States within this
2A.
Explain
what largescale
process is
likely
contributin
g toward
the
differences
in
topography
that you
notice.
Hint: What
are the
tectonic
3A. If you
were to
place each
coastal
margin into
the plate
tectonic
classificatio
n scheme
for coasts
which
categories
would each
fit into?
4A. The lighter
shading of blue on the
edge of the continents
indicates the shallow
water continental
shelves compared to
the darker blue
coloration beyond the
shelves that is used to
show the deeper water
of the center of the
oceans. What
difference(s) do you
notice between the
North American
continental shelf of
the western margin
5A. On the basis
of the reading
you have done
for plate tectonic
classification of
coasts provide
some ideas as to
why you think
there are
differences
between the
western and
eastern
continental
shelf? Hint:
What processes
can act to extend
500 km zone?
Explain the
differences if there
are differences.
differences
between
each
margin.
4 points
Thorough answer
describing the
morphologies of
each location.
3 points
Recognizes one
difference, does not
make additional
observations but
answer is complete
and thorough.
2 points
Very brief answer
with little thought
and/or no accuracy.
1 point
Does not recognize
any fundamental
differences.
Thorough
answer
describing
the reason
for the
differences.
Recognizes
contributing
process but
does not
use correct
terminology
.
Very brief
answer with
little
thought/acc
uracy or
appropriate
terminology
Does not
recognize
contributing
process.
0 points
No answer.
No answer.
and the eastern
margin?
a continental
shelf seaward
through time.
Thorough
answer
describing
the correct
categories
with rational.
Recognizes
the correct
categories
but does not
use correct
terminology.
Thorough answer
describing the correct
differences and
provides rational.
Thorough answer
describing several
reasons for why
these differences
exist.
Describes the correct
differences and
provides rational but
not thorough.
Recognizes
reasons but does
not articulate the
ideas well.
Very brief
answer with
little thought
and/or no
accuracy or
appropriate
terminology
Very brief
answer with
little thought
and/or no
accuracy.
No answer.
Very brief answer with
little thought and/or no
accuracy or appropriate
terminology
Recognizes
differences but
does not articulate
and is brief.
Very brief answer with
little thought and/or no
accuracy.
Very brief answer
with little thought.
No answer.
No answer.
Formative Assessment #1 Part 2.
Question
1B. What type of
plate tectonic
classification is
most suitable for
the eastern and
western margin
of this part of
Africa? Note
that each margin
faces a spreading
center.
2B. Using
the
measuring
tool in
Google Earth
(measuring
stick icon on
the top tool
bar) measure
the linear
distance
across the
continental
shelf on the
western
margin (shelf
is the light
blue area
adjacent to
the land) at
the latitude
of the Tropic
of Capricorn.
Assume that
the seaward
edge of the
shelf here is
at
approximatel
y 13 º 00’
00” E.
Provide your
answer in
3B.
Describe
what
happens to
the
continenta
l shelf
width to
between
the Tropic
of
Capricorn
and S 17º
00’ 00”
along the
eastern
margin of
southern
Africa?
4B. What is one process
that could explain the
differences in the
continental shelf that
you have observed
between the two
latitudes of the previous
question?
5B. Move over
to the western
margin of
southern Africa
at the latitude of
the Tropic of
Capricorn.
Zoom into an
eye altitude of
300 km and
examine the
shape of the
coastline and the
land area along
the coast
between the
Tropic of
Capricorn and S
24º 15’ 00”.
What do you
think is the
dominant
subaerial
environment
within 50 km of
the coastline?
Consequently
what type of
sediment do you
think is most
common along
this section of
the African
kilometers.
Is the edge of
the shelf here
very
pronounced
or appear to
have a
gradual
gradient into
the deeper
ocean. Note
you will have
to zoom in a
bit to see the
shelf and
shelf edge
more clearly.
4 points
Recognizes
correct type of
tectonic
classification and
provides detailed,
reasons and
rationales for the
classification.
Provides at
least two
observations
with thorough
descriptions
of each.
3 points
Recognizes
correct type of
tectonic
classification but
provides brief
rationales.
Provides at
least two
observations
with brief
descriptions
of each.
2 points
Recognizes
correct type of
tectonic
classification but
provides very
weak rationales.
Provides on
observation
with brief
descriptions
of each.
coastline? Does
the
configuration of
the shoreline
suggest that this
is an erosional
or depositional
coast?
Recognizes
fundament
al
differences
and
provides
detailed
description
and
observatio
ns.
Recognizes
fundament
al
differences
but
provides
brief/weak
description
and
observatio
ns.
Recognizes
only 1
fundament
al
difference
but
provides
detailed
Recognizes at least two
processes that could be
controlling the
morphology and provides
detailed explanations.
Answers all
questions with
detailed
responses.
Recognizes at least two
processes that could be
controlling the
morphology but provides
brief and limited
explanations.
Answers all
questions with
brief or
incomplete
responses.
Recognizes only one
processes that could be
controlling the
morphology but provides
brief and limited
explanation.
Answers some of
the questions with
brief or
incomplete
responses.
.
1 point
0 points
Recognizes
incorrect type of
tectonic
classification and
weak rationales.
No answer.
Answer is
inaccurate or
poorly
constructed
No answer.
description
and
observatio
ns.
Answer is
inaccurate
or poorly
constructe
d
No answer.
Very brief answer with
little thought and/or no
accuracy.
No answer.
Answers one of
the questions with
brief or
incomplete
responses.
No answer.
Unit 1, Module 2
Summative Assessment: Students will demonstrate an understanding of plate-tectonic coastline
classification and the role of second-order controls on coastline characteristics. The objective is to
fully develop their understanding of coastline variability in the context of the processes that affect
coastal geomorphology.
Students are given coordinates and geographic locations for three different locations and must navigate
to these locations using Google Earth. They must answer questions about the plate tectonic setting,
tectonic-scale processes, recognized the difference between submerged and emergent coasts, chose
photographs from Google Earth to support some of their answers, and evaluate the configuration of
shorelines to assess whether waves or tides are the dominant process of coastal evolution.
Summative Assessment Part 1
Question
Provide a
paragraph
justifying the
most
appropriate
Inman and
Nordstrom
(1971) tectonic
classification for
this location. Be
sure to check
Zoom in to an eye
altitude of 300k
and examine the
morphology of the
southern tip of
Greenland (area
south of N 61º 15’).
Provide 2-3
sentences
describing the
configuration of
In the Google Earth Layers
box turn on the Photos option
and you should see numerous
small boxes spread out across
different locations on the
map. These boxes indicate
photos that people have
uploaded to show the features
of that particular location.
Examine some of these photos
and pick one that shows
Do you
think that
this
coastline is
a
submerged
or
emergent
coastline?
Explain
4 points
out this
webpage to get
some additional
insight on
tectonic
boundaries
relative to
Greenland
http://pubs.usgs.
gov/gip/dynamic
/slabs.html and
this one
http://earthqua
ke.usgs.gov/lear
n/topics/plate_te
ctonics/plates.p
hp Keep in
mind that the
west coast of
Greenland faces
a formerly
active spreading
center and that
the east coast of
Greenland faces
the currently
active
Reykjanes
spreading
center that runs
through
Iceland.
the south
Greenland
coastline. What
process is
dominantly
shaping this
coastline and why
do you think so?
evidence supporting your
answer about the process that
is most dominantly affecting
the southern Greenland coast
best. Copy the image and
paste it into your document
that you will be handing in
along with a caption clearly
stating why you chose this
photo to support your claims
(e.g what is observable in the
photo that supports your
claim).
your
answer.
Recognizes the
correct type of
coastal
classification, is
thorough and
provides well
articulated
rationale.
Answer provides
numerous
observations and
provides thorough
explanation of the
process.
Includes a photograph that clearly
shows process and is described in
detail.
Identifies
correct type
of coast
with a
through and
well
articulated
explanation.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Recognizes the
correct type of
coastal
classification, is
thorough but does
not provide a well
articulated
rationale.
Recognizes the
correct type of
coastal
classification, but
is poorly
articulated.
Very brief answer
with little thought
and/or no
accuracy, tectonic
coastidentified.
Answer provides
Includes a photograph that clearly
limited observations
shows process but is only briefly
but provides thorough described in detail.
explanation of the
process.
Identifies
correct type
of coast
with a brief
explanation.
Answer provides
limited observations
and does not provide
thorough explanation
of the process.
Includes a photograph that clearly
shows process but is very weakly
described.
Identifies
correct type
of coast
with a weak
explanation.
Answer is inaccurate
or poorly constructed
No appropriate image is provided
and answer is inaccurate or poorly
constructed
No answer.
No answer.
No answer.
Identifies
incorrect
type of
coast with a
brief
explanation.
No answer.
Summative Assessment Part 2
Question
Examine the seafloor of the Gulf of
California, which is located between
Baja California on the west and the
mainland to the east. Provide some
descriptive observations about the
structure of the seafloor in the Gulf
of California. Is it regular and
smooth or irregular and blocky in
appearance? On the basis of the
tectonic map links provided to you
what tectonic process is taking place
here?
What type of tectonic coast would
the east side of Baja California be
considered? Explain why you
think this is the case.
4 points
Answer is descriptive and contains
several observations about the seafloor
and correctly and thoroughly identifies
the tectonics.
Answer is descriptive but contains few
observations about the seafloor and
Provides correct tectonic answer and
provides thorough rationale for the
answer.
3 points
Provides correct tectonic answer but
provides weak rationale for the answer.
2 points
1 point
0 points
correctly and thoroughly identifies the
tectonics.
Answer is descriptive but contains few
observations about the seafloor and
correctly and misidentifies the tectonics.
Very brief answer with little thought
and/or no accuracy.
No answer.
Provides incorrect tectonic answer and
provides weak rationale for the answer.
Answer is inaccurate and poorly
constructed
No answer.
Summative Assessment Part 3.1
Question
Find the Niger River Delta (N 04º 30’ E 06 º 6’) and examine the shoreline.
Now find the shoreline of the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta (N 21º 45’ E
89 º 15’). Which of these locations do you think is a wave dominated
shoreline? Which do you think is a tide dominated shoreline? Justify your
answers by providing observations about the configuration of each coast
4 points
Answers all of the questions correctly and provides thorough rationales for the
answers.
Answers all of the questions correctly but provides weak rationales for the answers.
Does not answer all of the questions correctly and provides weak rationales for the
answers.
Very brief answer with little thought and/or no accuracy and does not answer all of the
questions.
No answer.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Summative Assessment Part 3.2
Question
Go back to the Niger River Delta and fly out to an eye altitude of
approximately 1000 km. Notice how the shoreline in the area of the Niger
delta protrudes into the Atlantic Ocean. Also examine the bathymetry in
front of the subaerial part of the delta. Integrating your knowledge of plate
tectonics, sea level history during the last 18,000 years, and coastal processes
describe the plate tectonic setting and provide several descriptive sentences
explaining what events and processes have contributed toward the long-term
(last 18,000 years) evolution of this coast.
4 points
Integrated, well articulated and linked answer that identifies processes contributing to
the morphology and evolution.
Answer identifies processes contributing to the morphology but does not integrate
answers to fully explain the system.
Very brief answer that only identifies 1 process correctly.
Very brief answer with little thought and/or no accuracy and misidentifies the systems.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
No answer.
Summative Assessment Part 3.3
Question
Now go back to the Ganges-Brahmaputra River delta and fly out to an eye
altitude of approximately 1500 km. Examine the configuration of the many
rivers and drainage networks delivering sediment to the delta. Where do the
rivers originate? Why do the largest of the rivers extend to the north and
then suddenly turn toward the east or west? What type of plate tectonic
setting exists where the rivers originate? Explain whether you think that
this tectonic setting can influence the availability of sediment to the rivers
and ultimately the long-term evolution of the delta.
4 points
Answers all of the questions and provides a thorough, in depth and correct explanation
for all of the answers.
Answers all of the questions but does not provide a clear linkage of processes and
thorough explanation of all answers.
Very brief answer and does not answer all of the questions.
Very brief answer with little thought and/or no accuracy and misidentifies the systems.
No answer.
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points