Field Trips as Valuable Learning Experiences in Geography Courses

Abstract

Field trips have been acknowledged as valuable learning experiences in geography. This article uses Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning model to discuss how students learn and how field trips can help enhance learning. Using Kolb’s experiential learning theory as a guide in the design of field trips helps ensure that field trips contribute to internalizing relevant geographical theory and concepts. Three types of field trips are presented: an informal survey of a neighborhood, a more formal scavenger hunt, and a virtual field trip using Google Earth.

Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.

—Kolb (1984)     

Baily’s Beads Atlas in 2005 – 2008 Eclipses

In the annular or total eclipses of 3 October 2005, 29 March 2006, 22 September 2006, and 1 August 2008, observational campaigns were organized to record the phenomenon of Baily’s beads. These campaigns were internationally coordinated through the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) at both its American and European sections. From the stations in the northern and southern zones of grazing eclipse, the eclipses have been recorded on video. Afterward, as many beads as possible have been identified by analyzing the video data of each observing station. The atlas presented in this paper includes 598 data points, obtained by 23 observers operating at 28 different observing stations. The atlas lists the geographic positions of the observing stations and the observed time instants of disappearance or reappearance of beads, identified by an angle measured relative to the Moon’s axis of rotation. The atlas will serve as a basis for determining the solar diameter. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Improved grid search method: an efficient tool for global computation of periodic orbits

We present an improved grid search method for the global computation of periodic orbits in model problems of Dynamics, and the classification of these orbits into families. The method concerns symmetric periodic orbits in problems of two degrees of freedom with a conserved quantity, and is applied here to problems of Celestial Mechanics. It consists of two main phases; a global sampling technique in a two-dimensional space of initial conditions and a data processing procedure for the classification (clustering) of the periodic orbits into families characterized by continuous evolution of the orbital parameters of member orbits. The method is tested by using it to recompute known results. It is then applied with advantage to the determination of the branch families of the family f of retrograde satellites in Hill’s Lunar problem, and to the determination of irregular families of periodic orbits in a perturbed Hill problem, a species of families which are difficult to find by continuation methods.      

Multiple solutions in preliminary orbit determination from three observations

Charlier’s theory (1910) provides a geometric interpretation of the occurrence of multiple solutions in Laplace’s method of preliminary orbit determination, assuming geocentric observations. We introduce a generalization of this theory allowing to take into account topocentric observations, that is observations made from the surface of the rotating Earth. The generalized theory works for both Laplace’s and Gauss’ methods. We also provide a geometric definition of a curve that generalizes Charlier’s limiting curve, separating regions with a different number of solutions. The results are generically different from Charlier’s: they may change according to the value of a parameter that depends on the observations.     

Geochronological framework and Pb, Sr isotope geochemistry of the Qingchengzi Pb–Zn–Ag–Au orefield, Northeastern China

The Qingchengzi orefield in northeastern China, is a concentration of several Pb–Zn, Ag, and Au ore deposits. A combination of geochronological and Pb, Sr isotopic investigations was conducted. Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb ages of 225.3 ± 1.8 Ma and 184.5 ± 1.6 Ma were obtained for the Xinling and Yaojiagou granites, respectively. By step-dissolution Rb–Sr dating, ages of 221 ± 12 Ma and 138.7 ± 4.1 Ma were obtained for the sphalerite of the Zhenzigou Zn–Pb deposit and pyrargyrite of the Ag ore in the Gaojiabaozi Ag deposit, respectively. Pb isotopic ratios of the Ag ore at Gaojiabaozi (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.38 to 18.53) are higher than those of the Pb–Zn ores (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 17.66 to 17.96; Chen et al. [Chen, J.F., Yu, G., Xue, C.J., Qian, H., He, J.F., Xing, Z., Zhang, X., 2005. Pb isotope geochemistry of lead, zinc, gold and silver deposit clustered region, Liaodong rift zone, northeastern China. Science in China Series D 48, 467–476.]). Triassic granites show low Pb isotopic ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 17.12 to 17.41, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.47 to 15.54, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 37.51 to 37.89) and metamorphic rocks of the Liaohe Group have high ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.20 to 24.28 and 18.32 to 20.06, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.69 to 16.44 and 15.66 to 15.98, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 37.29 to 38.61 and 38.69 to 40.00 for the marble of the Dashiqiao Formation and schist of the Gaixian Formation, respectively).Magmatic activities at Qingchengzi and in adjacent regions took place in three stages, and each contained several magmatic pulses: ca. 220 to 225 Ma and 211 to 216 Ma in the Triassic; 179 to 185 Ma, 163 to 168 Ma, 155 Ma and 149 Ma in the Jurassic, as well as ca. 140 to 130 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. The Triassic magmatism was part of the Triassic magmatic belt along the northern margin of the North China Craton produced in a post-collisional extensional setting, and granites in it formed by crustal melting induced by mantle magma. The Jurassic and Early Cretaceous magmatism was related to the lithospheric delamination in eastern China. The Triassic is the most important metallogenic stage at Qingchengzi. The Pb–Zn deposits, the Pb–Zn–Ag ore at Gaojiabaozi, and the gold deposits were all formed in this stage. They are temporally and spatially associated with the Triassic magmatic activity. Mineralization is very weak in the Jurassic. Ag ore at Gaojiabaozi was formed in the Early Cretaceous, which is suggested by the young Rb–Sr isochron age, field relations, and significantly different Pb isotopic ratios between the Pb–Zn–Ag and Ag ores. Pb isotopic compositions of the Pb–Zn ores suggest binary mixing for the source of the deposits. The magmatic end-member is the Triassic granites and the other metamorphic rocks of the Liaohe Group. Slightly different proportions of the two end-members, or an involvement of materials from hidden Cretaceous granites with slightly different Pb isotopic ratios, is postulated to interpret the difference of Pb isotopic compositions between the Pb–Zn–(Ag) and Ag ores. Sr isotopic ratios support this conclusion. At the western part of the Qingchengzi orefield, hydrothermal fluid driven by the heat provided by the now exposed Triassic granites deposited ore-forming materials in the low and middle horizons of the marbles of the Dashiqiao Formation near the intrusions to form mesothermal Zn–Pb deposits. In the eastern part, hydrothermal fluids associated with deep, hidden Triassic intrusions moved upward along a regional fault over a long distance and then deposited the ore-forming materials to form epithermal Au and Pb–Zn–Ag ores. Young magmatic activities are all represented by dykes across the entire orefield, suggesting that the corresponding main intrusion bodies are situated in the deep part of the crust. Among these, only intrusions with age of ca. 140 Ma might have released sufficient amounts of fluid to be responsible for the formation of the Ag ore at Gaojiabaozi.Our age results support previous conclusions that sphalerite can provide a reliable Rb–Sr age as long as the fluid inclusion phase is effectively separated from the “sulfide” phase. Our work suggests that the separation can be achieved by a step-resolution technique. Moreover, we suggest that pyrargyrite is a promising mineral for Rb–Sr isochron dating.     

金川铜镍硫化物矿床F1断裂系统演化及其意义

金川铜镍硫化物矿区构造活动频繁且复杂,查明矿区构造规律,是实现深部找矿突破的必经途径之一.文章在充分挖掘区域及以往勘查资料的基础上,通过野外实地调查,对矿区内成矿后断裂系统——F1断裂系统分析研究,发现F1断层角砾岩呈棱角状,深部产状北倾,断层发育在龙首山岩群一侧,无法仅靠现今的叠置关系解释F1的演化.结合潮水盆地研究...     

二维梯形沉积盆地放大效应的数值模拟研究

盆地效应作为场地效应的一种特殊类型,其对地震动的影响仍在持续研究当中。建立二维梯形沉积盆地模型,模型边界采用透射人工边界,利用显式有限元法作为求解方法。根据Buckingham提出的π定理定义了多个影响盆地效应的无量纲参数,包括盆地深宽比、介质波速比、盆地深度与入射波长之比、盆地开口宽度与入射波长之比。以Ricker子波作为输入波,研究SH波垂直入射盆地模型时,以上无量纲参数对盆地放大效应的影响。研究发现盆地深宽比越大盆地诱发的聚焦效应越明显,盆地深宽比越小盆地边缘效应越明显。在盆地的深宽比和入射波确定时,随着盆地开口宽度与入射波长之比不断增大盆地的最值放大系数逐渐从盆地中心移向盆地边缘,表现出越来越明显的边缘放大效应。其中波速比差异对放大系数的影响最大,波速比差异越大介质的波阻抗比越大,放大效应越显著。通过将影响盆地放大效应的参数无量纲化,使梯形盆地对地震动放大效应的研究的结论更具有普遍意义。     

利用常熟地震台同场地形变仪记录检测对比地球自由振荡信号

利用常熟地震台同场地观测的洞体应变仪、体应变仪、水管倾斜仪、垂直摆倾斜仪记录数据,采用小波变换与功率谱密度估计方法,检测2011年3月11日日本9.0级大地震激发的地球自由振荡信号,其中检测到47个球型基频振型（₀S₃—₀S₄₉）、15个环型基频振型（₀T₅—0T₂₅）以及部分球型谐频振型,与地球初步参考模型（PREM）理论频率值基本符合,表明检测结果较好。对比结果显示：水管倾斜仪检测球型振荡振型能力最强,垂直摆倾斜仪检测环型振荡振型能力最强;体应变仪可检测到清晰的环型基频振型,且信噪比较高;倾斜仪对自由振荡信号的检测能力优于应变仪。     

Using the quasar VLBI network for the fundamental time—positioning service of the GLONASS space system

Regular high-precision determinations of the Earth’s orientation parameters (EOPs) on the Quasar VLBI Network were begun in August 2006. The observations are performed within the framework of two national programs: daily sessions at three observatories of the Network to determine all five EOPs (the RU-E program) and 8-h sessions on the Zelenchukskaya-Badary and Svetloe-Badary baselines to determine the Universal Time (the RU-U program). The observations from August 2006 through May 2007 are analyzed. The rms deviations of the EOP values obtained in the RU-E program from the IERS C04 series are 1.1 mas for X _p and Y _p, 37 μs for UT1-UTC, and 0.7 and 0.6 mas for X _c and Y _c, respectively. These results closely match the prospective requirements of GLONASS. The rms deviations of the Universal Times obtained in the RU-U program from the IERS C04 series are 146 μs. We consider the immediate prospects for improving the accuracy of EOP determinations in daily sessions and for implementing the e-VLBI mode for an online determination of the Universal Time. Original Russian Text ? A.M. Finkelstein, E.A. Skurikhina, I.F. Surkis, A.V. Ipatov, I.A. Rakhimov, S.G. Smolentsev, 2008, published in Pis’ma v Astronomicheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2008, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 66–76.     

地表的分形测量及其大地构造学意义

以湖北红安地区为例,采用投影覆盖法(projectivecoveringmethod)对地表进行了二维分形测量,结果表明,地表面积具有双分形(bifractal)关系,即具有小尺度的结构分形(texturalfractal)和大尺度的构造分形(structuralfractal),分叉点(breakpoint)的尺度为3610m,分维值都在2～3之间且结构分维值大于其构造分维值。可见,地表形态具有分形性质,分维值可以指示地表形态的复杂程度。构造分维值可作为构造活动强度的一个指标,可为大地构造单元的划分提供定量依据。复杂地表形态主要是由构造活动(内营力作用)和各种复杂表生地质作用(外营力作用)引起的,前者主要控制大尺度的地形起伏,后者则塑造小尺度的地表形态。地表分维值可以指示地表的发育成熟度,该地区小尺度的结构分维值大于大尺度的构造分维值表明其处于地表形态的发育晚期。此外,地表的分形尺度可以来用确定构造活动尺度,从而指导构造地质与找矿勘探研究。