• University of New Mexico, Main Campus

• ENVS 1130

Lab 5 – Earth in motion:

Using Satellites to Understand Plate Tectonics

Part 1: The ground is moving?

1. Using the information displayed on the map, what is a correct observation (not interpretation)? (bold, change

font color, or remove wrong answer)

GPS stations are spaced regularly across the United States.

The plate boundaries along the West Coast are causing the GPS stations there to move faster.

The GPS stations cause some areas to have more earthquakes than other areas.

The arrows in western North America are mostly larger than the arrows in eastern North America.

2. What are two or three things that you’re wondering after making observations of the arrows showing GPS

station motion on the map? Note that the motion is due to slow motion of the ground, not earthquakes.

Two things that I am wondering after making observations of the arrows showing GPS station motion on the map is why

are there more arrows along the West Coast and why are most of the arrows pointing in what seems to be a circle or

path?

3. What does the horizontal (x-) axis show and what are the units?

time in years position in millimeters motion in millimeters per year

4. What does the vertical (y-) axis show and what are the units?

time in years position in millimeters motion in millimeters per year

5. Read the text on the previous page. What would the east position numbers do over time if the station is moving

westward?

They would increase. They would decrease. They would remain the same.

6. In what direction is BEMT moving (the two left graphs)?

north and west north and east south and west south and east

7. In what direction is SBCC moving (the two right graphs)?