Is it feasible to
map the entire sea floor using conventional echo sounder
(acoustic pulse) data? How long would this take for normal
research vessels traveling at about 12
knots?
Is the entire sea surface exactly "
sea level " (zero elevation)?
Are there
irregularities in the elevation of the sea surface? What features
do these sea surface irregularities mimic?
What
technology can be used to accurately measure these bumps and dips
on the sea floor?
What is a
gravity anomaly ? (hint: an anomaly is something that differs
from the norm. They talk about them here and even explain what they
are. They just don't say "a gravity anomaly is _________", so it takes
some thought. If you have
trouble ask me.)
What effect do
masses of earth material have on local gravity and elevation of the
sea above mass anomalies? What happens to the sea surface above a
seamount? Above a trench?
Looking at these global
gravity anomaly maps based on satellite altimetry, which colors
represent stronger-than-normal gravity and which colors represent
weaker-than-normal gravity areas?
What are some of the
practical applications of satellite altimeter mapping of sea floor
gravity/bathymetry?
WWW1B: Sampling the Sea Floor
What tools are
used by scientists to obtain samples of unconsolidated sediments from
the sea floor?
What type of research vehicle do scientists use
for direct observation and sampling of the sea floor? How many
people can these vehicles accommodate?
When scientists want to sample the oldest
sedimentary rocks in the ocean, what tools do they use? What type
of research
vehicle is needed?
What sort of information is provided by the
geophysical tool called seismic surveying?
WWW1C: Oil and Gas in the
world and in Michigan
What does the term natural resource
mean? What are the three regions with the largest oil resources
(over 160 BBO; hint, look at the map)? How does this compare to
where most of the natural gas resources are?
What is "crude oil"?
How does this relate to "snake
oil"? What, according to geologists, is the source of crude oil?
What percent of Michigan's energy
needs are met by petroleum products?
What was the trend for unleaded gasoline prices
in Detroit from 1993 to 1999? What has it been from 2002 to 2006?
states?
What are the trends in oil
production
in the "Lower 48"?
What are the "per
capita"
trends in oil and gas use? Look at Fig. 18.29 in the text (p.
458). What does this suggest about the actual trens in oil and
gas use?
Look at the US DOE (Dept. of Energy) projections
for gas prices in 2005 and through 2025. How well did they do in
the sort term (prices in August/Sept. 2005)? What might you
expect for the long term (in 2025)?
National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite mapping
program
