Lectures, Presentations, Seminars, and Tutorials
Includes the handout, "How fast is your school or park moving" providing step by step instructions to explore GPS velocity vectors near your locale using the UNAVCO Velocity Viewer and instructions for viewing LiDAR imagery; and presentations given in the past on applications and new discoveries using geodesy, geodetic techniques, a review of Plate Tectonics, information about UNAVCO, EarthScope, US Array, and Plate Boundary Observatory. An overview of some of the new discoveries and research applications using Geodetic Techniques include to measure: plate motion, deformation, volcanic deformation / inflation / deflation, crustal loading from glaciers, isostatic adjustment, groundwater effects, hydrologic loading, atmospheric influences, examples of using InSAR and LiDar to measure: subsidence near New Orleans, fault slip after virtually 'stripping away vegetation', structural deformation pre-post earthquake.

Data for Educators One Pager
Contains information for educators on how to get started with using UNAVCO's GPS data.

Activities and Supporting Materials

Reading Time Series Plots Reference Key [pdf] ; in Spanish [pdf]

Visualizing Relationships Between Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Plate Boundaries in the Western U.S. Using EarthScope Jr.
Learners use the web-based data viewing tool, EarthScope Jr., or the included map packet to visualize relationships between earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate boundaries in the western United States. The instructor's guide, worksheet, and map packet are required for this activity; the computer instructions are required if using a computer. Includes the instructor presentation (in pdf and ppt formats), student worksheet, computer instructions, and map packet

Introduction to Reading GPS Time Series Plots : This activity provides a brief introduction to GPS and provides a student activity to practice creating and reading time series plots with simplified GPS data. Students graph how a tectonic plate (and the GPS unit attached to it) has moved over a five year time period by moving a GPS model across a North-East coordinate graph. After this activity, students are ready to explore authentic GPS data.

Exploring Plate Motion and Deformation in California Using GPS Time Series Plots

• Part I: Analyzing real time-series data of two GPS stations to determine plate tectonic motion
• Part II: Investigate deformation at two GPS stations in California

Accessing & Analyzing GPS Data to Visualize Subduction in the Pacific Northwest Students learn how to access GPS data, create Time Series Plots, plot velocity vectors on a map, and analyze regional plate motion in the Pacific Northwest. 2 files are needed: Instructor's Presentation and Activity Worksheet.

Yellowstone:

Will It Blow? Monitoring Yellowstone's Volcanic Activity: This lesson contains five separate activities to explore Yellowstone. A sequence is suggested that can be modified to fit your instructional needs.

Using GPS to Study Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes [PDF]
A two-page PDF overview of how researchers use GPS to learn more about our dynamic Earth. This document was developed by Jessica Murray and Becca Walker for K-12 teachers.

More Resources:

Google Earth KMZ with Geophysics Collections GPS velocity vectors, earthquake locations, volcano locations, plate boundaries, LiDAR, age of the ocean floor, and more!

Jules Verne Voyager and other tools Jules Verne Voyager, Jr. and EarthScope Voyager Junior are made for the classroom. Explore earthquakes, age of the ocean floor, volcanoes, relative motion, etc.

GPS Velocity Viewer See the GPS vectors of the world on this map. .

Data for Educators
Looking for interesting data to use in your course? We've worked with educators and scientists to identify GPS stations that illustrate various Earth science processes. The data are the same quality that many scientists use in their research and is in a MS Excel readable format called CVS.

LiDAR images of the Puget Sound Area Puget Sound Lidar Consortium more images available for Snoqualmie Valley (from: USGS) http://pugetsoundlidar.ess.washington.edu/lidardata/index.html#Topographic_images

LiDAR images for Yellowstone area and San Andreas Fault LiDAR images which load into Google Earth as kml or kmz files.