A student's perspective on the new Alaska mini-term: a must!
Karen Selchick
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
When I signed up for the Living on the Edge mini-term on Geohazards in Alaska, my friends told me I was crazy. They reminded me that I am a meager five feet tall, which would be no match for a Kodiak bear. Oh, and they said, "Do you even like rocks? You're an English major!"
Living on the Edge -Alaska is a mini-term that focuses on geological hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers, which occur at areas where tectonic plates collide with each other. On the trip, we learned about what causes these hazards to form and how to recognize where they have occurred and the effects they had on the people.
One major topic was the massive 1964 earthquake which produced tsunamis and landslides. Learning about all the different causes of tsunamis, how to find how far the waves crashed and when they occurred, and then actually seeing photographs and listening to stories about how people's lives were affected by them left the biggest impression on me. I could not believe the devastation that was caused. It was so amazing to realize that a section of muck could be used to understand how the wave got there, how long it was there, and where it came from!
I found that being a geologist is a bit like being a detective. My father, a lawyer, finally understood my trip when I explained the science we did as an episode of Law and Order or C.S.I. An event occurs, the detectives piece together information and evidence to understand how, when and where it happened, and then the lawyers and judges determine if it is a fair and accurate assessment.
As geologists, we looked at specific events, such as the 1964 mega earthquake, and we examined the clues and evidence. We saw land displacement, layers of mud, tree growth rings, and we then made our case. Not only could we visibly see the effects earthquakes had on the land and vegetation, but we were also able to talk to people who have experienced earthquakes in Alaska and their aftershocks. In forensic work, this was like talking to the victims of the crime scene!
Living on the Edge -Alaska is a mini-term that focuses on geological hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers, which occur at areas where tectonic plates collide with each other. On the trip, we learned about what causes these hazards to form and how to recognize where they have occurred and the effects they had on the people.
One major topic was the massive 1964 earthquake which produced tsunamis and landslides. Learning about all the different causes of tsunamis, how to find how far the waves crashed and when they occurred, and then actually seeing photographs and listening to stories about how people's lives were affected by them left the biggest impression on me. I could not believe the devastation that was caused. It was so amazing to realize that a section of muck could be used to understand how the wave got there, how long it was there, and where it came from!
I found that being a geologist is a bit like being a detective. My father, a lawyer, finally understood my trip when I explained the science we did as an episode of Law and Order or C.S.I. An event occurs, the detectives piece together information and evidence to understand how, when and where it happened, and then the lawyers and judges determine if it is a fair and accurate assessment.
As geologists, we looked at specific events, such as the 1964 mega earthquake, and we examined the clues and evidence. We saw land displacement, layers of mud, tree growth rings, and we then made our case. Not only could we visibly see the effects earthquakes had on the land and vegetation, but we were also able to talk to people who have experienced earthquakes in Alaska and their aftershocks. In forensic work, this was like talking to the victims of the crime scene!
Be the first to comment on this story