Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
Damond
_Discussion5_Formulategeographicresearchquestionsandhypothesis.pdf
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 1/17
此讨论为计分作业：满分 10 分* 截止时间 7月19日
Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis 16 16
Overview
You will collaborate with your peers using this Canvas discussion board to formulate geographic research questions and hypotheses about geography patterns and processes. This assignment addresses Learning Outcome SLO 3 & Student Performance Objective SPO 6. See the syllabus for definitions and details.
Directions
For your Initial Post due by Sunday at 11:59 PM PST (5 points):
1. Post a reply to this discussion board a with a written paragraph (1 pts, 5 sentence minimum) reflection on a specific geography research question about the age of a place or item, and why you have the question. You must choose a natural physical geography feature or place, not a human-made or conceived place (e.g., no artificial lakes or the Bermuda Triangle!). Include an image of the feature or place, with a caption describing the image and a citation for the images source.
2. Your reply should use the language: "I have always wondered about _____________ because ______? How do scientists know the age of _________________? What evidence do scientists have about the age of ________________?
For your Response to at least 2 classmates due by Tuesday at 11:59 PM PST (2.5 point each):
1. Read your peers research questions and then reply to at least two of their questions where you provide a specific evidence based hypothesis to answer the student question. (2 pts each, 10 sentence minimum).
2. Your reply should include the following language: "I would like to address the research question ________________." "The best way to determine the age of ____________ would be to _____________." "Scientists know the age of _____________ because
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 2/17
搜索条目或作者
回复
of the following research _______________." "I used background information from _________ in my answer."
Discussion Guidelines
Read and respond to others' posts as well, keeping in mind some basic rules for netiquette (http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html) :
Be kind and respectful to others Use full sentences Don't use too much jargon Treat others online as you wish to be treated Use language that supports others
未读 已订阅
(https:// Timothy Van Kirk (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3788793)
星期四
I have always wondered about the age of the Grand Canyon. There are a few reasons for my confusion. For one, how do scientists determine the age of rock layers? Trees have rings indicating the number of years they have been alive; do rock have a similar mechanism for identifying age? In addition, the size of the Grand Canyon leads to my confusion. Something that large must have taken years to construct. Therefore, how can scientists pinpoint an age for the Grand Canyon when it likely spanned an large amount of time?
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 3/17
回复
(http Timothy Van Kirk (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3788793)
星期四
回复
Source: nps.gov
Caption: As seen above, the Grand Canyon is quite large. How can scientists pinpoint a formation date for something so big?
(http Taylor Post (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3767669)
星期四
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 4/17
回复
Hi Timothy! I am very thrilled you selected the Grand Canyon, as this natural wonder is very fascinating to me. With that being said, I would like to address your research question: "How can scientists pinpoint a formation date for something so big? "The best way to determine the age of rocks would be to look at rock layers. According to https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/grca-geology.htm (https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/grca-geology.htm) , in order "to look at rock layers, geologists use a diagram called a stratigraphic column. It shows the rock layers with the oldest on the bottom, and the youngest on the top. That means that the bottom layer was formed first, and every subsequent layer was formed later, with the youngest rocks on the top." Applying this method to the Grand Canyon, geologists are able to agree that "the youngest layer of the canyon—the Kaibab—is 270 million years old, while the oldest layers date back as far as 1.8 billion years," according to https://www.canyontours.com/guides/how-old-is- grand-canyon/. (https://www.canyontours.com/guides/how-old-is-grand-canyon/)
That is just one piece of the puzzle. Dating when the erosion and carving out of the rocks by the water form the Colorado River is another story, as scientists and geologists are still working to pinpoint dates. As Timothy suggested in his initial post, because of the vastness of the Grand Canyon itself, there really is not "one" date of when it was formed. The process of water carving out the canyon occurred over hundreds of millions of years. With that being said though, and also according to https://www.canyontours.com/guides/how-old-is-grand-canyon/ (https://www.canyontours.com/guides/how-old-is-grand-canyon/) , "research suggests that the Colorado River is estimated to have started eroding and downcutting the Grand Canyon at least 17 million years ago to as much as 70 million years ago, depending on who you ask and what section of the Grand Canyon you are asking about. The simple and most widely-accepted answer for when the Grand Canyon was eroded to its “current” recognizable state, and the one that’s included in the Trail of Time located at Grand Canyon National Park, is 6 million years ago. "
(https:// Taylor Post (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3767669)
星期四
I have always wondered about Niagara Falls because if the sheer vastness of the waterfalls, and also because Niagara Falls is one of the largest falls on the planet. With that being said, I wonder how scientists are able to study and understand the age of
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 5/17
由 Taylor Post (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3767669) 于 7月16日 18:15 编辑
回复
Niagara Falls, specifically how long ago this natural wonder was formed. Additionally, I wonder what evidence scientists have about the age of Niagara Falls, and specifically how, using what tools, were they able to find the age of these falls?
According to https://www.niagarafallslive.com/where_is_niagara_falls.htm (https://www.niagarafallslive.com/where_is_niagara_falls.htm) , "the waterfalls of Niagara Falls are located on the Niagara River which connects two of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The Niagara River serves as an international border between the USA & Canada. There are two distinctive cities: Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls New York, United States of America."
Image source: https://www.niagarafallshotels.com/ (https://www.niagarafallshotels.com/)
(http Timothy Van Kirk (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3788793)
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 6/17
昨天
回复
Hi Taylor,
I would like to address the research question "how do scientists study and understand the age of Niagara Falls?" According to the Niagara Falls State Park website, the best way to determine the age of Niagara Falls would be to identify a catalyst event that could trigger the formation of such a large waterfall. Scientists know the age of Niagara Falls because of the following research.
Scientists determined that the ending of the Ice Age helped trigger the formation of Niagara Falls. Over 12,000 years ago, melting ice began to drain into the Niagara River. Eventually, this water fell over the side of the Niagara Escarpment, forming what is now the falls.
However, the formation is a slow process that "still continues today." According to the state park website, the continuous freezing and thawing of the river increases erosion and moves the falls upstream. In this sense, Niagara Falls is still being formed today. Overall, scientists were able to date Niagara Falls based on historical events, like the ending of the Ice Age, that would provide enough water to form a waterfall.
I used background information from the Niagara Falls State Park in my answer.
Source: https://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/niagara-falls-state-park/history (https://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/niagara-falls-state-park/history)
(http Ziying Huang (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770337)
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 7/17
昨天
回复
Hi Taylor, I would like to address the research question “how scientists are able to study and understand the age of Niagara Falls, specifically how long ago this natural wonder was formed.” According to the information I found, Niagara Falls was formed at the end of the last ice age 12000 years ago. Scientists believe that during the ice age, the entire Niagara area was covered by glaciers. As the glacier melted and retreated, a large amount of water flowed into the Niagara River and gradually eroded the soil below. Shrinking ice sheets cut the basin into water-filled land, forming the Great Lakes. Excess water from the Great Lakes passes through the Niagara cliffs to form what is now the Niagara River and Niagara Falls. As a result, glacial activity and erosion have created the Niagara Falls.
I would also like to address the research question “what evidence scientists have about the age of Niagara Falls, and specifically how, using what tools, were they able to find the age of these falls?” Scientists know the age of Niagara Falls because they calculate and predict the rate at which glaciers retreat. By calculating the rate at which glaciers retreat, scientists believe Niagara Falls formed at least 7000 years ago, or at the earliest, 25000 years ago.
I used background information from toniagara.com in my answer.
Source: https://www.toniagara.com/blog/niagara-falls-man-made-natural/ (https://www.toniagara.com/blog/niagara-falls- man-made-natural/)
(https:// Siyi Dong (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3790276)
星期四
I have always wondered about Great Salt Lake (Utah) because it is amazing that how to form such a large salty lake in the inland areas. How do scientists know the Great Salt Lake formed 1 million years ago, and how did it form? What evidence do scientists have about its age? They discovered that Great Salt Lake was the remnants of Bonneville in prehistoric times, and can this prove that the Great Salt Lake was formed a million years ago? It is said that the Great Salt Lake used to be a freshwater lake, but how did it turn into a salty lake?
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 8/17
回复
(http Timothy Van Kirk (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3788793)
昨天
Hi Siyi,
I would like to address the research question "How do scientists know the Great Salt Lake formed 1 million years ago, and how did it form?" The best way to determine the age of the Great Salt Lake would be to examine historical events that could cause the formation of such a geological feature. Scientists know the age of the Great Salt Lake because of the following research.
The Great Salt Lake is actually only about 30,000 years old; it is the remnants of the ancient Lake Bonneville. Scientists were able to determine this age because of the ending of the Ice Age. As ice began to melt, the former Lake Bonneville began to shrink, until it formed what we call the Great Salt Lake. Today, one can see the erosion caused by Lake Bonneville in the terrain above the Great Salt Lake. This is the scientific evidence that researchers used to determine that Lake Bonneville melted to form the Great Salt Lake.
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 9/17
回复
I would also like to address the research question "How did the Great Salt Lake turn from a freshwater lake to a salt water lake?" As Lake Bonneville melted and shrunk, minerals from the ground mixed with the water, causing the salinity of the lake. In addition, there is no outlet for the Great Salt Lake, and small amounts of salt are brought in by incoming water. When the water evaporates, the salt is left behind.
I used background information from utah.com in my answer.
Source: https://utah.com/great-salt-lake-state- park/facts#:~:text=Great%20Salt%20Lake%20is%20the%20remnant%20of%20Lake%20Bonneville%3B%20a,saline% 20lake%2030%2C000%20years%20ago. (https://utah.com/great-salt-lake-state- park/facts#:~:text=Great%20Salt%20Lake%20is%20the%20remnant%20of%20Lake%20Bonneville%3B%20a,saline%20lake%2030 %2C000%20years%20ago.)
(http Hantong Zhao (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770262)
昨天
Hi, Siyi. I would like to address the research question, "how do scientists know that the salt lake formed a million years ago, and how did it form?" The Great Salt Lake is a remnant of Lake Bonneville in prehistoric times. About one million years ago, Lake Bonneville covered an area of 52000 square kilometers. In the subsequent glacial period, a large amount of fresh water was injected into the lake basin, then into the Columbia River through the Snake River, and finally into the Pacific Ocean. However, after the glacial period, the water level of the lake began to drop, and the water outlet was cut off, thus becoming an inland lake. Later, as the Baer River, the Weipa River and the Jordan River imported 1.1 million tons of salt into the lake basin every year, over time, the formation of today's inland large salt lake. I would like to address to research question "how did the Great Salt Lake change from a freshwater lake to a saltwater lake?" The original outlet of the river was blocked by the uplifted mountains and turned into an inland lake. Coupled with the intense evaporation of high temper. I used background information from britannica.com from my answer .
source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Salt-Lake (https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Salt-Lake)
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 10/17
回复
(https:// Daisy Rodriguez (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3709730)
星期四
由 Daisy Rodriguez (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3709730) 于 7月16日 21:38 编辑
The Denman Glacier
I have always wondered about The Denman Glacier in East Antarctica because this glacier is said by scientist will raise sea level up to 5ft, due from the impact of climate change. The warming air and the rising temperature of ocean sea levels are causing for this glacier to melt at a rapid pace. It is known to be the biggest and most aged glacier in all Antarctica ,so this leaves me with the curiosity of "How do scientists know the age of this glacier? and what type of equipment and methods did they use for this discovery? What evidence do scientists have about the age of The Denman Glacier? and When did they start their research ? "
https://weather.com/news/climate/video/antarcticas-massive-denman-glacier-retreats-3-miles-in-22-years (https://weather.com/news/climate/video/antarcticas-massive-denman-glacier-retreats-3-miles-in-22-years)
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 11/17
回复
(https:// Ziying Huang (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770337)
昨天
I have always wondered about Yosemite National Park because one of the hottest spots in Yosemite National Park is the glacier point. There is a waterfall with a drop of 740 meters, which is also the highest waterfall in North America. Speaking of Yosemite National Park, I have seen in the materials that the scenery in Yosemite National Park was born after the end of the glacial period about 10000 years ago. So I'm curious how do scientists know the age of Yosemite National Park? How did they know the formation and evolution of Yosemite park? What evidence do scientists have about the age of Yosemite National Park？
https://www.nps.gov/articles/airprofiles-yose.htm (https://www.nps.gov/articles/airprofiles-yose.htm)
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 12/17
由 Ziying Huang (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770337) 于 7月17日 15:30 编辑
回复
(http Hantong Zhao (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770262)
昨天
Hi, Ziying. I would like to address the research question, “How do scientists know the age of Yosemite National Park? ”In 1855, the first group of tourists visited Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park was soon protected by the government as more and more tourists came to Yosemite National Park on horseback and carriage. I would also like to address the research question,“How did they know the formation and evolution of Yosemite Park? ” Over the past 500 million years, the geological conditions of Yosemite have gradually evolved from the ocean floor to the rolling mountains, forming the steep Nevada mountains and the deep river canyon of Yosemite National Park. Three million years ago, glaciers brought by the Quaternary ice age covered valleys and valleys. This scraping and carving force made the remaining granite still show the direction of glacier movement. About 10000 years ago, when the last glaciers finally melted, debris blocked the valley and created Lake Yosemite. Tributary streams fall vertically off the cliff, giving birth to the waterfall in the park. The sediment continued to fill the lake through natural processes until it eventually formed the bottom of the Yosemite Valley. Yosemite was born when the great earthquake tipped the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Maasai River, which originated from the snow capped mountain tops, quietly cut a V-shaped valley between the mountains. In Yosemite Valley, it is covered by glaciers. The valley is U-shaped, and there are traces cut by glaciers on both sides of the cliffs. After the glacier retreated, the Yosemite Valley experienced many floods, and an alluvial plain was formed at the bottom of the valley. The geological evolution of Yosemite has continued, and the mirror lake is gradually filled with sediment like Yosemite lake. In 1996, happy island rock avalanches were still transporting 80000 tons of rock to the bottom of the valley at 160 miles an hour. I used background information from britannica.com from my answer. Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Yosemite-National-Park (https://www.britannica.com/place/Yosemite- National-Park)
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 13/17
回复
(https:// Hantong Zhao (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770262)
昨天
I have always wondered about curious about Yellowstone National Park because the natural landscape inside it really shocked me. How do scientists know the age and existence of Yellowstone Park? How do scientists know that Yellowstone Park is the largest lake, located in the center of the Yellowstone volcano, and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America? How was it formed? What evidence do scientists have to prove that Yellowstone is the largest and still active supervolcano in North America. It has erupted with great force many times in the past two million years? It is said that the world's most famous geyser in Yellowstone
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 14/17
由 Hantong Zhao (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770262) 于 7月17日 15:33 编辑
回复
Park is the Old Faithful geyser in the upstream Geyser Basin. How did it form?
Source: https://www.outsideonline.com/2404184/yellowstone-national-park-travel-guide (https://www.outsideonline.com/2404184/yellowstone-national-park-travel-guide)
(http Taylor Post (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3767669)
昨天
Hi Hantong, thank you for your post! I am very fascinated by Old Faithful, and never fully understood why this natural phenomenon occurs.
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 15/17
回复
According to LiveScience, "for a geyser to form there must be a volcanic heat source [magma], abundant ground water, and a geologic plumbic system (fractures, fissures, and other open spaces in rock) through which the heated water can escape. The water escapes when ground water is heated to boiling by the hot volcanic rock." As for the heat source for Old Faithful and the other geysers in the national park, according to LiveScience, "Yellowstone is one of the largest sources of geothermal heat in the world." With that being said, water enters below the surface of the Earth and usually sits in an underground "reservoir filled with superheated water," only to become heated enough and eventually erupts from underground and into the air by the geyser. Water is heated to hot enough levels on average 20 times a day, causing the geyser to shoot up water over 100 feet high.
As for when the geyser was formed, as Hantong mentioned and according to Yellowstone National Park Tips, it was "discovered in 1870 by the Washburn Expedition, Old Faithful geyser was named for its frequent and somewhat predictable eruptions, which number more than a million since Yellowstone become the world's first national park in 1872."
Sources:
https://www.livescience.com/4957-secret-faithful-revealed (https://www.livescience.com/4957-secret-faithful- revealed.html#:~:text=Yellowstone%20National%20Park's%20Old%20Faithful,of%20steam%20and%20superhot%20water.&text= For%20a%20geyser%20to%20form,the%20heated%20water%20can%20escape.)
https://www.scenic-safaris.com/blog/2017/05/what-makes-old-faithful-so-faithful (https://www.scenic- safaris.com/blog/2017/05/what-makes-old-faithful-so-faithful)
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/about-old-faithful (https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to- do/about-old-faithful)
https://www.livescience.com/18813-yellowstone-hot-water-source.html (https://www.livescience.com/18813- yellowstone-hot-water-source.html)
(http Ziying Huang (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3770337)
昨天
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 16/17
回复
Hello Hantong, I would like to address the research question “how was Yellowstone National Park formed?” The best way to determine the age of Huangshi National Park is to observe and investigate the geological structure or historical evolution of Huangshi National Park. The formation of the landscape in Yellowstone National Park is the result of geological changes in the past 150 million years. During these 150 million years, the earth's crust was compressed and stretched, and then through geological activities such as erosion, glaciation and volcanism, the natural landscape of mountains, valleys, and plains that we see today is formed.
I would also like to address the research question “It is said that the world's most famous geyser in Yellowstone Park is the Old Faithful geyser in the upstream Geyser Basin. How did it form?” As we all know, Huangshi National Park is located on the world's largest active volcano. Driven by underground energy for a long time, the surface is riddled with holes, with water sprayed everywhere and hot springs everywhere. And this comes from geysers created by geothermal. The topography of Huangshi National Park is basically concave, and the water melted by snow easily flows into the ground due to the terrain and then penetrates into the deep. The temperature there exceeds the boiling point of water. The water is continuously heated by geothermal energy. From cold to hot, it boils into steam. As the pressure increased, steam and spring water gushed out together, creating the scene of the fountain we saw.
I used background information from yellowstone. net in my answer.
Sources:https://yellowstone.net/geysers/#:~:text=Geysers%20are%20hot%20springs%20that,channels%20leading%20to% 20the%20surface. (https://yellowstone.net/geysers/#:~:text=Geysers%20are%20hot%20springs%20that,channels%20leading%20to%20the%20surf ace.)
(https:// STEVEN KEMBLE (https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/users/3337955)
昨天
I'll throw a few of these out here. Lets start with the Great Blue Hole in Belize. What is this landform? How old is it? How did it form?
7/18/2020 主题: Discussion 5: Formulate geographic research questions and hypothesis
https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1105361/discussion_topics/3998459?module_item_id=11971474 17/17
回复
