Introduction

A combined effort between Steve Kluge at Fox Lane High School and myself ended with the development of a poster presentation at the Northeastern Sectional GSA Meeting demonstrating the usefulness of the powerful, yet user friendly, program of Google Earth.

NOTE: The GE tours here are all 'works in progress', contributed to this site by colleagues, teachers, and students. Feel free to take and modify, edit, expand, and improve any of them, and (please!) send them to Steve Kluge or Eric Fermann to be posted on this site or on it's mirror site at Fox Lane.

Poster Abstract

The increased availability of detailed satellite imagery creates a unique opportunity for Earth Science students to study landforms and landscapes, enabling them to literally broaden their horizons by including not only individual geologic features, but also boundaries and transition zones between regions dominated by different geologic processes. Since its release in the summer of 2005, GoogleEarth has provided an uncomplicated means of combining satellite imagery with geological and geographic information in dramatic fashion. While satellite visualization tends to grab the student's attention, it remains necessary to integrate these techniques into lessons that include inquiry-based learning activities. The authors have collaborated by beginning to create topical earth science lessons and laboratory activities using the free GoogleEarth software to enhance the conceptual understanding of topics ranging from plate tectonics, volcanoes, glacial geology, erosion and deposition in river systems, and meteorite impacts. These new exercises allow educators to keep up with advances in technology and supply students with the modern tools necessary to understand the fundamentals of geological processes.

Download the poster here:

I have broken the poster into 4 parts due to its large file size. Each file below is a .jpg file of significant size. Larger .pdf files are available, but are not convenient to post on the website.

Part 1 - Abstract/Introduction (1.9 MB jpg)
Part 2 - Useful Features (~2.3 MB jpg)
Part 3 - Application (~2.7 MB jpg)
Part 4 - More Useful Features/Summary (~2.3 MB jpg)

Using Google Earth

To use the links below, you must have Google Earth installed on your computer. If you don't have Google Earth, you can get the free software here. Follow the directions on their web page to install the program onto your computer.

How to Use Google Earth

I put together a small (25 page) 'manual' to introduce Earth science teachers to some of the techniques that make this program so usefull for classroom demonstrations. Feel free to download it here.

GE Manual for Earth Science Teachers (~1 MB pdf)

Google Earth Layer Sites

As the usefulness and interest in Google Earth grows, new layers are continuously being developed. Two sites I find very useful are:

• The GoogleEarth Community
• Google Earth Hacks (not associated with Google Earth)

More sites will be added here as I find them.

Useful Google Earth Layers

When I come across a particularly useful layer, I will post a link to it here.

• impact craters
• population density

Most of the following links are *.kmz files. Some are pictures (.jpg) or Microsoft Word (.doc) files. To view any of the *.kmz links below, save the appropriate link to your computer (right click...save as...). Open the file in Google Earth.

NEW YORK STATE

• NYS Landscapes (Thanks, Eric Fermann) (.kmz)
• Catskill Field Trip (FLHS Advanced Geology class) (.kmz)
• Detailed Kaaterskill Map BIG file! (.kmz)
• Fox Lane HS in Bedford, NY (.kmz)
• Fiords in Newfoundland, Iceland, and Norway (.kmz)
• Finger Lakes tour (Thanks, Michael Breed) (.kmz)
• Schunnemunk Mt., NY (.kmz)
• Hudson Highlands, NY (geologic map overlay) (.kmz)
• Lizards (!) in the Hudson Highlands (.kmz)
• High Peaks of the 'Daks (.kmz)

TECTONICS (Volcanos, Earthquakes)

• Cascade Volcanos (.kmz)
• Crater Lake (.kmz)
• Kauai (.kmz)
• Hawaiian "Chain" Hot Spot scars (Thanks, Dave Robison) (.kmz)
• Nevado Del Ruiz (Thanks, Dave Robison) (.kmz)
• Mr. Poole's Tectonics Test (Thanks, Marlon Poole) (.kmz)
• Annotated Tectonics Tour (Thanks, Marlon Poole) (.kmz)
• Ring of Fire (Thanks, Eric Fermann) (.kmz)
• Mt. Augustine Alaska (.kmz)

Sample lessons/activities from the GOOGLE EARTH WORKSHOP at Purchase College, SUNY (1/7/2006)

• Exploring Subduction Zones Activity, and accompanying GE's: Cascades (.kmz) , Andes (.kmz) , Aleutians (.kmz) . You'll also need this Sumatra Earthquake profile poster for this exercise.
• Craters! Activity, and accompanying GEs: Manicougan Crater (.kmz), Barringer Meteor Crater (.kmz) , Crater Lake (.kmz) , Mt. St. Helens (.kmz)
• Angle of Repose Activity
• Glacier National Park (.kmz). Fly around the park, create your own annotated tour, and send it to me to be posted here.

NEGSA IMAGES, DOCUMENTS

• Angle of Repose image
• Cascades overview image
• Crater Lake large image
• Cascades and Crater Lake composite image
• Impact and Caldera size comparisons

GROUNDWATER

• Sinkholes on the French coast (Thanks, Matt Wasilawski) (.kmz)
• Karst in southern China (Guangxi Province - home of magnificent tower karst, solution valleys, etc. BROWSE AROUND!) (.kmz)

GLACIOLOGY

• Alaska glaciology (Thanks, Garrett Armbruster) (.kmz)
• Glacial Valley Tour Uinta Mts., Utah (Thanks, Brandt Kayser) (.kmz)
• Holy Cross, CO (APG glaciology lab) (.kmz)
• Fiords in Newfoundland, Iceland, and Norway (.kmz)
• Drumlins near Sodus, NY (.kmz)
• Static Peak with profile and gradient exercises (.kmz)

IMPACT STRUCTURES

• Barringer Impact Crater (.kmz)
• Manicougan Impact (Canada) (.kmz)

MASS WASTING

• Slumgullion Slide (APG mass wasting lab) (.kmz)
• Bluebird Canyon slide area (.kmz)

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

• Valley and Ridge (APG structural geology lab) (.kmz)
• Geology of New Milford Quad, CT (to accompany Cameron's Line Kayak Field Trip) (.kmz)
• Palisades Sill in the Triassic Lowlands (.kmz)

BEACHES, ETC

• Opposing longshore drift directions, Atlantic City (jpg)
• Beaches and Longshore Drift (.kmz)