Part 1: Exploring Oceanic Depths (Use the links, your book, and any reliable online resources)
First, watch this video https://youtu.be/D69hGvCsWgA about the discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Question 1. Choose 3 of the 6 questions right below to answer based on the video. (Don’t just say yes or no, answer in a way that we understand what it is you are answering)
What year were the deepsea vents first discovered and at what depth?
What was the temperature in Farenheight around these vents?
Were organisms found in these vents? Were most of these organisms tiny or large?
What type of gas was found emerging from these smokers and found within some of the organisms?
Since there is no light at all in these depths, the bacteria found cannot use photosynthesis. What is the name of the process they use to duplicate photosynthesis in the absence of light?
Are these hydrothermal vents rare or uncommon?
Question 2. With the discovery of these vents, what are the implications as far as our understanding of the origins of life on Earth?
Question 3. Using the video, textbook, or online source, list and describe 2 ways in which the exploration of deep-sea hydrothermal ecosystems can provide benefits to humans.
Question 4. Research one organism that lives in hydrothermal vent ecosystems and write a short paragraph about it. Be sure to gove the name, what type of organism (if not obvious by the name), if it has any prey or predators, and its adaptations for survival in this environment.
Next, Listen to this podcast https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186302916/Mariana-Trench with Hollywood director James Cameron and his descent to the Mariana Trench
Question 5. Choose 2 of the 5 questions right below to answer from the podcast.
What depth did Cameron’s submersible reach and where was the trench he explored located?
What was the name of Cameron’s submersible? Was he alone when he descended?
What was the water pressure at this level?
Were any life forms found during this descent?
Are descents to the Mariana Trench common?
Question 6. Would you want to descend into the Mariana Trench? Why or why not?
Question 7. Why do you think we know more about outer space than we know about the deepest parts of our oceans?
Question 8. Is there life in the deep ocean trenches? If so, give an example and answer as you did for question 4.
A Site you might find Interesting:
Deepsea Challenge (Cameron’s expedition) http://www.deepseachallenge.com/the-expedition/mariana-trench/
Part 2: Orogenies
Question 9. Select a mountain range (you might look here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_of_the_United_States for suggestions–these are just in the United States but you can use mountains anywhere in the world). Try to select mountains not described in detail in your textbook. Write 1-2 paragraphs describing this mountain range, including the name, location, geologic age given, what types of rocks/material the mountains consist of, and how the mountain range was formed. Is this a “growing” range (is it still being created like the Himalayas)?
Include an image of the mountain range from the Internet if you can.
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