Students work with authentic GPS time series plots to determine the magnitude and direction of movement for given GPS stations, and calculate the amount of slip that occurred during the Parkfield earthquake. The instructor's presentation and worksheet are required for this activity. This activity can be completed with or without computers.

Instructor Presentation (v: May 2011) [ppt: 15mb] [pdf]
This presentation guides learners through provides a brief overview of GPS time series plots; in Part I, students analyze real time-series data of two GPS stations to determine plate tectonic motion and then in Part II, they investigate deformation at two GPS stations in California.

Student Worksheet and Computer Instructions (v: May 2011) [pdf] [doc] ; in Spanish (v. Sept 2008) [pdf] [doc]

Teacher Guide w/ Answer Key: (v: May 2011) [pdf] [doc] ; in Spanish (v. Sept 2008) [pdf] [doc]

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

Current GPS times series plots for SBCC (v. May 2011) [png] and BEMT (v. May 2011) [png]

Additional Resources:

As preparation for this activity, work with students through the Introduction to Reading GPS Time Series Plots

The activity: Introduction to Reading Time Series Plots and this activity: Exploring Plate Motion and Deformation in California Using GPS Time Series Plots have been tied together in a single Lesson Plan (v.June 2008) [materials] This lesson plan also includes an answer key.

Earlier Versions