Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons Blue Marble Matches: Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons PRESENTER: Paige Valderrama Graff paige.v.graff@nasa.gov Jacobs/JETS @ NASA Johnson Space Center

Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons Blue Marble Matches: Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons

Today we will: Identify common characteristics to describe features in images. Identify geologic processes and features and how they form on Earth. Create a list of criteria/descriptors to identify geologic features. Build a planetary comparison feature grid.

PLANETARY BODY COMPARISONS: BLUE MARBLE MATCHES CONTEXT FOR ACTIVITY: NASA explores planetary bodies, including Earth, to better understand our Solar System. How do scientists determine what geologic features exist on other planets? It starts with making good observations, developing criteria, and using what we know about Earth. PLANETARY BODY COMPARISONS: Use Earth as your home laboratory!

BEING DESCRIPTIVE Listen to the image description and try to identify the image being described.

BEING DESCRIPTIVE What were good descriptive characteristics (descriptors) or good ways to describe the features in these images.

So what are these images all about?

4 Geologic Processes: So what are these images all about? WIND WATER VOLCANIC IMPACT

So what are these images all about? Which images would you pair together that represent the same geologic process. 4 Geologic Processes: 1) WIND: Images ___ and ___ 2) WATER: 3) VOLCANIC: 4) IMPACT:

E X A M P L E So what are these images all about? Which images would you pair together that represent the same geologic process. 4 Geologic Processes: 1) WIND: Images ___ and ___ 2) WATER: 3) VOLCANIC: 4) IMPACT: Images _3__ and _8__ E X A M P L E

BLUE MARBLE MATCHES Developing Identification Criteria Aeolian Fluvial Impact Volcanic (Wind) (Water) You will work with a set of sample images representing each of these geologic processes.

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID First we will work on the top part of your planetary comparison feature grid: EARTH new

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID 1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category. 2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image.

BLUE MARBLE MATCHES EXAMPLE: PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID 1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category. 2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image. EXAMPLE: Image sample matched with KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME. KEY WORDS: Ripple-like, particles grouped together SAND DUNES

3 1 BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID Features 1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category. 2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image. KEY WORDS: Ripple-like, particles grouped together SAND DUNES 3 Features 1 Feature (2 images)

3 1 BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID Features 1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category. 2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image. KEY WORDS: Ripple-like, particles grouped together SAND DUNES 3 Features 1)Sand Dunes 2)Wind Streaks 3)Yardangs 1)Valley/Drainage Network 2)Channel 3)Delta 1)Volcano 2)Caldera 3)Lava Flows 1 Feature (2 images) 1)Impact Crater

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID

PRACTICE YOUR KNOWLEDGE: For Each Of The Following Images Discuss: 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Sample Answer: Process: Impact Key words: Circular feature, raised rim, smooth flat floor (you don’t need all key words, but at least some of them – directly from their word cards they have be en working with) Feature: Impact crater

1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Channel

1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Wind streaks

1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Lava flows

1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Volcano or caldera

1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Sand dunes

1) What Process? 2) What Key Words? 3) What Feature? Impact crater

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID First we worked on the top part of the planetary comparison feature grid: EARTH NOW let’s figure out what processes and features exist on other worlds.

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID FOR YOUR PLANETARY WORLD… Place images under the correct geologic process category. Write name of feature on POST-IT and put with image. Write key words to support your feature identification.

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID FOR YOUR PLANETARY WORLD… Place images under the correct geologic process category. Write name of feature on POST-IT and put with image. Write key words to support your feature identification. NOTES: A. There is not an “even” # of images or features per category. B. Focus in on what you feel is the “main” feature in each image. C. Think about what you may be unsure about. D. You may run out of space on your grid for a given process.

PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID SHARE YOUR RESULTS What planetary world did you investigate? What processes exist on this planetary world? (wind, water, volcanic, impact??) Point out 2 identified features are you MOST CONFIDENT about. (sand dunes, delta, lava flows, impact crater, etc.) Point out 2 identified features you are LEAST CONFIDENT about (& why). (sand dunes, delta, lava flows, impact crater, etc.) State 1 inference you can make about this planetary world.

Supplemental Components Getting students actively involved with NASA exploration and discovery. http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ares/eeab/ Student Investigation Resources Launchpad Activities Getting Started Standards-aligned, inquiry-based, hands-on activities. Resources that help facilitate student-led investigations about Earth and/or planetary comparisons. Modeling the Process of Science Interacting w/ Scientists Educator Trainings Data Requests Team Wiki Pages Supplemental Components Team Presentations

Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons Blue Marble Matches Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons Activity available for download at: http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/education/eeab/BMM.cfm Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science We want to share our work, activities, & discoveries with you!