T186 Climate Literacy in Formal and Informal Education, for Policy Makers and the Public, and Measures of Impact

Tuesday, 27 September 2016
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Mile High Ballroom 4D

GEOLOGY OF THE SEVEN SUMMITS: A THEME-BASED COURSE FOR TEACHING TOPICS FROM TECTONICS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Paper number: T186-13
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Authors

Abstract

Geology of the Seven Summits provides an opportunity for students to virtually explore and learn about the geology of the highest mountain peak on each of the seven continents: Everest (Asia); Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Elbrus (Europe); Vinson (Antarctica) and Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania). Reaching the summit of these mountains is considered a great challenge in mountaineering and much more has been written about summit attempts than their geology. The Seven Summits are partially to fully ice-covered and their origin represents the combination of active tectonic and volcanic processes. A range of geomorphic processes that involve ice, water, and mass wasting also shapes these mountains. The course uses readings, maps, photographs, and satellite images to understand the geology of the Seven Summits, as well as several other 8000-meter peaks in the Himalayas (e.g., K2, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna). All these peaks are experiencing climate change and satellite images show both the thinning and retreat of glaciers. For example, the melting of ice and snow on Everest causes flooding and is also having an impact on the availability of freshwater throughout Nepal and India. Students meet and interview climbers that successfully completed the Seven Summits and examine rock samples collected from the summits. While this course is for students in Buffalo State's Honors Program to satisfy a general education natural science requirement, the Geology of the Seven Summits could be considered an alternative to a more traditional physical geology course. This presentation shares resources and suggests strategies for teaching geology using the Seven Summits.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-282733

© Copyright 2016 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.