Earth Science Digest!
:
Issue #1, November 20,2012
Earth
Science
Digest!
Table of Contents
Page 1: Irken Ship Crash-lands and
Leaves Soldier on Earth
Page 2: Continental Drift
Page 3: How Plates Collide- an
interview with Professor Membrane
Page 4: Plate Tectonics- an
Interview with Earthman
Page 5:An Alien View- an Interview
with Zim himself
Etiam
Earth:
Through Alien Eyes
Pages 6 and 7: Citations
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Irken ship crash lands and
leaves soldier on Earth
By Dib Membrane
In a small suburb on the planet Earth lives an
uninvited visitor- an alien stranded when his ship
crashed. Stuck here for an indeterminate amount of
time, surely Earth citizens have something to fear in this situation, and I can safely say
that he poses a great threat. Who’s to say he won’t begin sucking our brains out with
hoses? Or replacing us with his own kind? There is a serious threat here, and I urge you
not to take it too lightly…
When attempting to reach the subject, a battalion of lawn gnomes shot at the reporter. No
further investigations have been made for fear of the reporter’s well being.
Earth Science Digest!
Issue #1, November 20, 2012
Alfred
Wegener
Supports His
Theory
We talked with Alfred
Wegener about his ideas on
continental drift theory.
So, Alfred, I’m sure the readers
would appreciate hearing about your
now-accepted theory of continental
drift.
Readers, eh? Well that’s a welcome
change. When I first came out with
my theory no one believed me… But
anyway, my theory was called
continental drift, and I had perfectly
good evidence to back it up!
What was this evidence?
There were four main parts. The only
reason nobody believed me was
because I couldn’t supply a
mechanism for the plates’
movements.
Well what was your evidence?
First, I noticed that certain species of
fossils were found all around the
globe, even though the animal’s
descendants may only be found in
certain continents today. This led me
to believe that the continents were all
connected at some point. (1)
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That seems to be logical. How about
other evidence?
I also saw that there was evidence of
glacial activity in areas this seemed
absurd, such as India. The only logical
explanation was that there had been a
glacier and that it melted when India
moved up farther north. (1)
I see. Go on.
There is more evidence, like similar
rock types on continents as far away as
South America and Africa, also showing
that they were connected. (1)
And lastly?
The very location of the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, and the way it consistently
creates seafloor told me that it was one
of the places where the continent
Pangaea split in pieces. (1)
It’s really too bad that nobody
understood this like we do now! Thank
you Mr. Wegener!
Earth Science Digest!
Issue #1, November 20,2012
How Do Plates Collide?
We interviewed Professor Membrane for the facts!
The places where plates meet are referred to as boundaries. There are three different types of boundaries, as
shown above (5). What do you know about boundaries between plates, Professor?
At divergent boundaries, the plates are moving away from each other, or diverging. Divergent boundaries under
the ocean are sites of seafloor spreading (4). This seafloor spreading occurs because of magma “upwelling from
the mantle” (4).
What other types are there?
Convergent boundaries are boundaries where the plates are moving towards one another. This can occur at
continental-continental, oceanic-continental or oceanic-oceanic boundaries. (4).
Can you elaborate please?
At continental-continental boundaries, the two continental crust plates push towards each other, the tension
between the two causing mountain ranges like the Himalayas. This same thing can occur at oceanic-oceanic
convergent boundaries as well because the plates are the same density. (4).
And the last one, oceanic-continental boundaries?
At an oceanic-continental boundary, the difference in density causes the denser plate, the oceanic plate, to be
subducted underneath the continental plate. The oceanic plate takes water with it, lowering the temperature of
melting and creating a pocket of hot magma, which generally emerges as a volcano, like those in the Pacific Ring of
Fire.
What about the last type of boundary?
Transform boundaries, like the San Andreas Fault in California, are places where two plates are sliding past each
other. These create earthquakes like the ones this area is so famous for (4).
Thank you for your time and knowledge Professor!
Anytime, son.
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Earth Science Digest!
Issue #1, November 20, 2012
Plate Tectonics In
General With Earthman
By Dib Membrane
If you’ve been under a rock for the past two hundred years, or have just arrived on Earth, your knowledge of
plate tectonics may be lacking. First dreamed up in 1858, this theory attempted to describe why things such as
volcanoes and earthquakes occur (1). We brought in Earthman, a super-cool, super-smart superhero to give
us some answers.
Plate tectonics theory states that the Earth’s crust is made up of pieces. These chunks of crust float on a liquidlike portion of the mantle. How can this be proved, Earthman?
Plate Tectonics Theory is supported by four main arguments: the presence of paleomagnetism on the seafloor,
seismic waves and how they move through Earth’s interior, fossils, rocks, where they are found, and mapping
of the seafloor (rift valleys and ridges [4]).
Could you maybe go into a bit more detail?
As the ocean floor radiates out from rift valleys, the crust ages as it moves outward. The newest crust is found
towards the rift (4). Every so often the Earth’s magnetic field will reverse. When the Earth’s magnetic field
points north to south, every rock created during that period will also be oriented north to south. When the
field swaps, running south to north, and new rocks are polarized this way as well (8). These “stripes” radiate
out from rifts symmetrically. Earth’s crust is subducted, though, and this prevents the Earth from expanding,
also limiting the new crust: “Because of this recycling process, no oceanic crust older than about 200 million
years exists on the surface of Earth.” (4)
Discovery of the Mid Atlantic Ridge was a huge step for mankind. In 1974 the American submersible Alvin,
coupled with the French Cyana and Archimêde dove into the Mid Atlantic Ridge, “where geologists believed
two great plates of the Earth’s crust… are pulling away from each other… allowing magma to flow into the rift
and the seafloor to enlarge or spread.” (11). This team ended up proving that the rift is widening as much as
one inch per year, in turn helping prove Plate Tectonics Theory. (11).
This is very fascinating!
Indeed. The other evidence, including the fossils and Earth’s interior are quite simple. There are the same
types of rocks in vastly different places, like South America and Africa. This proves they were once one.
And as for the inside of our planet, seismographs, meant to study earthquakes, were used to find out how fast
the seismic waves of an earthquake will travel through the inside of the Earth. But when used, there were
sections of the inside that seemed more dense than others, almost guaranteeing that there were layers on the
inside of Earth.
Alright. Thanks for taking the time from your day, Earthman!
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Earth Science Digest!
Issue #1, November 20,2012
Zim Gives His Opinion:
Earth, Wonderful
System or Not-So-Hot?
We finally managed to reach the alien for
an interview. This is what he had to say.
So, Zim, what do you think of the Earth so far?
“There definitely seems to be
something great happening
here,” Said Zim, the alien, when
reached for comment. “I’m still
in the processing stage, but
when I find out exactly what
makes this planet tick, it will BE
MINE!”
I’m fascinated by the idea of a volcano. Vast
destructive powers lie in their hearts. (12)
Okay… Well why do you think they’re so cool?
First of all, not all volcanoes are located on
boundaries. For example, the lava flow that created
the Hawaii Islands is over a hot spot (12).
A “hot spot”?
Yes. These are places where magma has broken
through the crust that aren’t on boundaries. These
helped prove continental drift because of the
formation of island arcs like Hawaii. (12)
I get it now! What’s your favorite volcano?
That’s a hard choice! There’s so many in the Ring of
Fire…
What’s the Ring of Fire?
The Ring of Fire is a sort of ring where the plates
around the Pacific plate have subducted and
formed many volcanoes. (12)
Now that I know all about volcanoes, what exactly
makes up a volcano? And what’s that stuff that
comes out the top?
The stuff coming out of a volcano is mainly lava.
Known as magma when it’s beneath the crust, the
Earth’s internal convection currents work to warm
the asthenosphere and give fresh hot magma
constantly. (12)
Thank you Zim!
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Earth Science Digest!
Issue #1, November 20,2012
Literature Cited
(1) "Alfred Wegener and Plate Tectonics." Alfred Wegener and Plate Tectonics. N.p., n.d.
Web. 19 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/images/gaia_chapter_3/wegener.htm>.
(2) "Continental Drift." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/platetectonics/2.php>.
(3) Darkwave. Invader Zim: Zim. Digital image. Fanpop.com. Buzzmedia Entertainment,
2011. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fanpop.com/spots/invaderzim/images/24751900/title/zim-photo>.
(4) "Earth's Interior." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda
Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Science In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.
(5) O'Connell, Tony. Plate Tectonics. Digital image. Atlantipedia. Atlantipedia, 30 May
2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2012. <http://atlantipedia.ie/samples/plate-tectonics/>.
(6) Plates. Digital image. The Geography Site. NGFL, 22 Feb. 2006. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.
<http://geography-site.co.uk/pages/physical/earth/tect.html>.
(7) )"Plate Tectonics." World of Earth Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth
Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Science In Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.
(8) Professor Membrane. Digital image. Invader Zim: Characters. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov.
2012. <http://home.comcast.net/~rubberpiggy/invaderzim/characters/>.
(9) Simons, Rikki. Invader Zim. Digital image. Rhumbaghost.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov.
2012. <http://www.rhumbaghost.com/invader_zim.html>.
(10)
Types of Plate Boundaries. Digital image. Csupomona.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 9
Nov. 2012. <http://geology.csupomona.edu/drjessey/class/Gsc101/Plate.html>.
(11) "Underwater Exploration." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Gale Science In Context. Web. 14
Nov. 2012.
(12) "Volcano." World of Earth Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner.
Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Science In Context. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.
(13)
Zim Over World Wallpaper. Digital image. BlingCheese. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov.
2012. <http://www.blingcheese.com/wallpaper/view/7/invader+zim+wallpaper.htm>.
Earth Science Digest!
Issue #1, November 20,2012
Literature Cited Continued
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