Astro-Venture Geology Training Script

(The NASA logo appears and below it is the following disclaimer)

Note: The following information is collected for research purposes only. Your name is used within this activity only. The other information entered will be used only by NASA Office of Education to evaluate this product.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration presents:
(The Astro-Venture logo sweeps onto the screen letter-by-letter)

(Astro Ferret zooms onto screen riding his scooter and introduces himself and the Astro-Venture Geology Training module.)

Astro Ferret:
Congratulations! You have been accepted as a Junior Geologist at the Astro-Venture academy. I’m Astro Ferret and I’ll be your guide.
So, what is a geologist? Geologists are scientists who study the Earth and its history.
(The Earth appears next to Astro-Ferret and the continents move.)

There are many different types of geologists. Some geologists study volcanoes.
(Astro rides his scooter over the top of an erupting volcano. The word “Volcanologist” appears on the screen. Astro keeps riding)

Others study earthquakes.
(Astro rides his scooter between two columns of rock. The screen is shaking and small rocks are falling around Astro and his scooter. The word “Seismologist” appears on the screen.)

And still others study things like the geology on other worlds.
(Astro stops his scooter in front of a starry background and three planets appear. The words “Planetary Geologist” appear.)

Here, during Astro-Venture Geology training, you will learn about the important characteristics of Earth’s geology and how those features help make our planet habitable!
(Screen shows shots of the Earth’s interior, the carbon cycle, and pictures of an erupting volcano.)

So let’s get started with Astro-Venture Geology training!
(Astro zooms across the screen towards the left.)

(New screen, the following text appears:)
Welcome to Astro-Venture's Geology Training Module! As a Junior Geologist, your job is to change the geologic features of Earth and observe the effects. You will also explore how these features work together to help make a planet habitable to humans.
Please enter the names of all members of your team, or a team name in the text box. When you're finished, click the Enter button to get started!
(Text box appears. Enter names into the text box. When you’re done, press the Enter button.)

(New screen. The interface appears and an introductory animation is playing. The animation shows a zoom-in to Earth. Earth rotates once and stops. Image dissolves from full Earth to front-top quarter of Earth removed to expose inner structure.
Earth’s layers are colored as follows: Both inner and outer core are gray with a sharp gradient at transition zone. The mantle also contains a sharp gradient at the boundary where the lithosphere begins. The crust is very thin and beige-colored.
The center of the core is labeled at 6370 km, mantle/core boundary is labeled at 2900 km and the crust is labeled as 0 km.)
(A step-by-step tutorial shows students how to use the interface for the Geology Training module.)

Astro Ferret:
First choose a feature from the menu.
(Click on a main menu button—Core, Mantle, Crust)

Then choose a type of feature to cause a change on Earth.
(Sub menu choices are:
Core—liquid, solid
Mantle Motion—none, slow, fast
Crust Motion—none, high)

Next, click Play to see the effect on Earth.
(Click the Play button and animation will play.)

If you want to see the effect again, click the Replay button. If not, enter your observation into your Astro Journal and then click Enter. Be sure to take good notes. You’ll need them later!
(Enter observation into text box. After you have pressed the Enter key, a box pops up that gives feedback on what other scientists have observed for this same cause and effect.)

Want to know more? Check out the Astro-Facts!
(Explore background information in Astro-Facts.)

Great! Now click a new feature and continue your training!
(When each animation ends, enter your observation into the Astro Journal and press Enter. After entering your observation, you will receive Scientist Feedback on what happened.)

Summary of animations and Astro-Facts for each category follows:

CORE
Introductory Animations
Upon clicking the Core button, the Earth rotates and the top-half fades away. The planet is tilted 90 degrees towards the viewer. The inner and outer core are labeled and differentiated by a line. The boundary for the inner core is labeled at 1220 km and the boundary for the outer core is labeled as 2900 km. The outer core is moving slowly as convection cells and moving around the planet’s center in a counter-clockwise direction.
Upon clicking on the Liquid button, the outer core continues to rotate and convect. The graphic is labeled “Liquid Outer Core and Solid Inner Core.”
Upon clicking on the Solid Core button, the convection cells in the outer core disappear. The graphic is labeled “Solid Outer Core and Solid ”

Liquid Outer Core and Solid Inner Core:
The sun is emitting particles, labeled “Solar Wind.” The particles travel towards planet Earth. Earth’s magnetic field, labeled “Magnetic Field,” deflects the particles. Zoom into large-scale view of Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Very few particles are hitting Earth’s surface. Fade into surface scene with cows, pond, trees, mountains, and a swimming fish.
Scientist Feedback: Earth’s rotation and liquid outer core create a magnetic field, that with our atmosphere, protects life from harmful solar wind and cosmic rays.

Solid Outer Core and Solid Inner Core:
The sun is emitting particles, labeled “Solar Wind.” The particles travel towards planet Earth. The particles hit the Earth, the Earth is labeled “No Magnetic Field.”. Fade into a split screen with a screen shot of dead cow on right side and an alive, happy cow on the left. Astro Ferret is on screen. Ferret says, “Space radiation, like solar wind and cosmic rays, is dangerous to living things if it reaches the planet’s surface. Our magnetic field is created by the liquid outer core of the Earth and the planet’s rotation. It deflects these particles. But, some scientists think that Earth’s atmosphere might be able to protect us if there were no magnetic field.” AstroFerret points to the happy cow. “Other scientists disagree.” AstroFerret points to the dead cow. “In science, there are many quesitons that need to be answered. When you grow up, you can help answer questions like this one.”
Scientist Feedback: If there were no protection from space radiation, harmful solar particles and cosmic rays could cause cancer and mutations to life on Earth.

Astro-Facts for Core:
How do scientists study the interior of the Earth?
Even though it’s right under our feet, the interior of our planet is mysterious. Scientists can’t study it directly because we can’t dig deep enough into the planet to reach the inside. The deepest oil wells are only 6 km deep (less than 4 miles). Even the deepest research hole was only 12 km deep (about 7.5 miles). That’s not very much, considering the average thickness of the crust is about 40 km (almost 25 miles). The mantle extends down to 2900 km (1800 mi) and the center of the Earth’s core is over 6300 km deep (that’s almost 4000 miles away)! Using special instruments called “seismometers,” scientists study how seismic waves travel through the Earth to learn about the Earth’s mantle and core.

How does the Earth generate a magnetic field?
This is one those questions that scientists are still trying to answer. The Earth’s core is made of dense metals like iron and nickel. The very center of the core is solid, but the outer core is liquid metal. As the planet rotates between day and night, the liquid outer core rotates with it. The slow rotation of liquid metal in our core creates a current that causes Earth to act like a very large magnet. The Earth has north and south poles, just like any magnet does--even a refrigerator magnet! The effects of Earth’s giant magnet extend into space and create a magnetic “field” surrounding our planet. Ever try to push the opposite ends of two magnets together? It’s hard because they deflect each other. In a similar way, the Earth’s magnetic field deflects fast-moving particles (like the solar wind) from bombarding the planet’s surface.

What’s so great about a magnetic field?
When we use a compass to find our way out of the forest, we are using the compass to find the north pole of Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists also think that birds, butterflies, some fishes, and other animals use the magnetic field for directions when they migrate. The magnetic field is also responsible for the beautiful auroras that form from the interaction of space particles with Earth’s upper atmosphere in the northern and southern areas of our planet.

What’s so bad about space radiation?
Earth’s magnetic field and its atmosphere help to shield life on Earth from dangerous solar wind particles. It also protects us from cosmic rays, which are particles that are ejected when some stars explode. We need protection from this particle radiation because it can cause mutations in the DNA and lead to cancer. Some scientists think it could also interact in the atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer.

Does life really need a magnetic field?
Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere protect our planet from harmful solar wind and cosmic rays. If the magnetic field disappeared, would our atmosphere be enough to protect us? This is a topic that scientists are still researching. We know that radiation from space can be harmful, but we don’t know for sure if an Earth without a magnetic field can still protect life with only its atmosphere. The more scientific research that is done, the closer we are to answering this important question.

MANTLE
Introductory Animations
Upon clicking the Mantle Motion button, moving convection cells appear in the Earth’s mantle. The graphic is labeled at the mantle/core boundary as 2900 km and the asthenosphere is labeled at 350 km.
Upon clicking the Solid button, the convection cells disappear. The graphic is labeled “Solid Mantle (no convection).”
Upon clicking the Viscous button, the convection cells remain circulating at their current rate. The graphic is labeled “Viscous Mantle (slow convection).”
Upon clicking the Fluid button, the convection cells speed up. The graphic is labeled “Fluid Mantle (fast convection).”

Solid Mantle (no convection):
Screen shows eruption volcano, small amount of limestone in the ocean, and mountains in the background. The volcano stops erupting. The “Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide” meter decreases simultaneously with the build-up of limestone in the ocean. The limestone is labeled “Limestone (contains carbon).” At the same time the carbon dioxide meter is decreasing and the limestone is increasing, the most of the mountains erode away. The thermometer decreases and things become covered in snow.
Scientist Feedback: A solid mantle would stop volcanoes from erupting. Carbon dioxide would not be recycled into the atmosphere, eventually causing the planet to freeze.

Viscous Mantle (slow convection):
Screen shows eruption volcano, small amount of limestone in the ocean, and mountains in the background. The cycle continues as normal. The carbon dioxide meter and thermometer stay at normal levels.
Scientist Feedback: A viscous mantle would allow enough volcanic eruptions to keep carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to maintain a comfortable temperature for life.

Fluid Mantle (fast convection):
Screen shows eruption volcano, small amount of limestone in the ocean, and mountains in the background. The volcano increases output of ash. More volcanoes appear and erupt. The atmosphere becomes dark and smoggy from all the ash. It blocks the energy from the sun. The carbon dioxide meter rises. The sky is gray and vegetation dies. The thermometer begins to decrease and things become covered in snow.
Scientist Feedback: A fluid mantle would increase volcanism and cause ash to fill the air and block the Sun’s energy. The planet would freeze.

Astro-Facts for Mantle Motion:
What are the different parts of Earth’s mantle?
The Earth’s mantle is divided into three parts. The upper part of the mantle is solid and brittle. It moves along with the Earth’s crust. This is called the lithospheric mantle. Below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is the part of the mantle that contains a small amount of molten rock. The interaction between the asthenosphere and the lithosphere is what creates the magma we see in volcanic eruptions. Below the asthenosphere is the rest of the mantle, which is very hot and under a lot of pressure, but also very brittle. The mantle extends all the way down to 2900 km (1800 miles) where it meets the Earth’s outer core.

What’s convection?
Most of the Earth’s mantle is moving in a circular motion known as “convection.” As part of the mantle heats up, it rises towards the crust. Then, it cools down and sinks back towards the core. Think of boiling water on a stove. The rolling movements of the water are actually convection cells. As the water is heated by the stove, it rises to the top of the pot. There it cools and flows back towards the bottom of the pot. The Earth’s mantle moves in a similar way.

How can a solid “flow?”
The Earth’s mantle is solid, but it flows very slowly. It may help to imagine plastic putty (similar to Silly Putty™) as an example of a solid that flows. If you roll the plastic putty into a ball, lay it down on a desk and come back later, it flows from a ball shape into a flat shape. The Earth's mantle moves much more slowly, at a rate of 2-3 centimeters per year. This is about how fast your fingernails grow every year. To describe how something flows, scientists use the term “viscosity”. Viscosity means the resistance to flow. So, the slower something flows (compare molasses with water) the more viscous it is. For example, molasses is more viscous than water.

How does Earth’s mantle move?
There are two different theories about how Earth’s mantle moves. One theory says that the upper mantle and lower mantle move together as a single convection system. Another theory states that the asthenosphere has its own convection system separate from the rest of the mantle. (Insert picture) There is good evidence for both of the explanations. As with any scientific debate, more research and evidence must be presented before anyone can say for sure which theory is correct.

Why does ash cause cooling?
Volcanoes can cause planets to cool! During an eruption, gases and ash are put into the atmosphere. A large number of eruptions can cause a haze of ash in the air. This haze blocks the Sun's heat from reaching the planet’s surface and can cause freezing temperatures.

CRUST MOTION
Introductory Animations
Upon clicking the Crust Motion button, the screen zooms into the Earth and enlarges a “snapshot” of the crust. The snapshot fills the screen. The crust and upper mantle (lithosphere) are displayed and are shown with relative thickness. The crust is labeled at 40 km and the upper mantle is labeled at 100km. The entire area is labeled as the “lithosphere.” The graphic zooms into an oceanic ridge/rift system. The area is labeled as “seafloor spreading.” It is spreading at a moderate rate.
Upon clicking the None button, the seafloor movement stops. The graphic is labeled “No Movement (no seafloor spreading).
Upon clicking the Slow button, the seafloor spreading continues at the moderate rate. The graphic is labeled “Slow Movement (3 cm/yr to 5 cm/yr seafloor spreading).”
Upon clicking the Fast button, the seafloor spreading speeds up. The graphic is labeled “Fast Movement (greater than 15 cm/yr seafloor spreading).”

Lithosphere motion: None, No Movement
Screen shows a subduction area. There is no subduction movement. The volcano stops erupting. The carbon dioxide is settling from the atmosphere into limestone in the oceans. The carbon dioxide meter decreases. The mountains erode and the temperature decreases. The scene is covered in snow.
Scientist Feedback: No movement of the lithosphere would cause Earth’s surface to freeze. It would stop the cycle that provides carbon dioxide to our atmosphere.

Lithosphere motion: Slow, 3-5 cm/year seafloor spreading
Screen shows a subduction area with the lithosphere moving at a moderate rate. The volcano is erupting and carbon is being cycled from the volcano to the atmosphere to limestone. The carbon dioxide meter and thermometer remain at normal levels.
Scientist Feedback: A slow-moving lithosphere would maintain the recycling of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and keep the planet warm enough to support life.

Lithosphere motion: greater than 15 cm/year seafloor spreading
Screen shows the ocean ridge spreading rapidly. Ocean floor is building up so quickly, that it causes the oceans to flood. The scene fades into a subduction area and the lithosphere is moving very rapidly. The ocean floods the land as volcanism increases. Ash is building in the air.
Scientist Feedback: A fast-moving lithosphere would create ocean crust so quickly that it would cause the oceans to flood the planet. Volcanism would also increase.

Astro-Facts for Crust Motion:
How does the crust move?
The Earth’s crust and very top of the mantle form the lithosphere, which consists of large chunks or plates that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. These rocky plates move in relation to each other as they “float” over the rest of the mantle. Most of the mantle is solid rock, but under the extreme pressure and temperature deep within the Earth, it moves very slowly.

What is the carbon cycle?
The cycling of carbon through the Earth is very important to maintaining a habitable planet. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which traps energy and warms Earth to a comfortable temperature for life. Volcanoes release carbon dioxide (and other gases) into the air when they erupt. Rain and weathering carry the carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and into the ocean where it forms a rock called limestone. Eventually, the limestone rocks get pushed underneath a lithospheric plate in a process called subduction. As the plate is buried within the Earth, it causes melting in the asthenosphere. This melted rock can form magma and gases (including carbon dioxide), which are erupted back to the Earth's surface through volcanoes, starting the cycle once again.

How do we describe the structure of our planet?
There are two ways to think about the structure of the Earth. When scientists talk about our planet in terms of what it’s made of, they describe the rocky crust, the dense mantle, and the metal core. Another way to think about the Earth is to describe the way it moves. The crust and the very top of the mantle (together called the lithosphere) move as plates on Earth’s surface. The partially melted portion of the mantle that the lithosphere floats upon is called the asthenosphere. Then there’s the rest of the mantle, which reaches all the way down to the liquid outer core. Finally, at our planet’s center is the solid inner core.

(After viewing and submitting observations for all animations, Astro prompts you to take the Astro-Challenge.)

Astro-Ferret:
Excellent! You have completed your training. Click on me to take the Astro-Challenge.
(After clicking on Astro Ferret, a new screen appears.)

Hello there! Welcome to the Astro-Challenge! Now it is time to see what you have learned. Above my head, a question will appear. On the right side you’ll have several options to choose from. Click on the correct answer. Feel free to check your Astro Journal notes in the scroll bar below. Good luck!

Question 1.
Why is space radiation so dangerous?
a. It increases volcanic activity.
b. It slows mantle motion.
c. It can cause cancer and mutations in lving things.
d. It increases limestone formation.
(Correct answer: It can cause cancer and mutations in living things.)

Question 2.
If plants and animals were being damaged by solar wind particles, what geologic condition would generate a magnetic field to help protect them?
a. A liquid outer planetary core
b. A high rate of seafloor spreading
c. A solid outer planetary core
d. No volcanic activity
(Correct answer: A liquid outer planetary core)

Question 3.
Which of the following scenes would result if the Earth’s mantle motion increased?
a. Dry desert scene
b. Flooded scene
c. Snowy, cold scene
d. Fiery scene
(Correct answer: Snowy cold scene)

Question 4.
What would happen if the lithosphere were moving too fast (a fast rate of seafloor spreading)?
a. Cosmic rays would bombard life on Earth.
b. The oceans would flood the land and volcanoes would increase.
c. Nothing would happen.
d. The carbon cycle would stop and Earth’s temperature would decrease.
(Correct answer: The oceans would flood the land and volcanoes would increase.)

Question 5.
What two conditions stop carbon dioxide production, lowering Earth’s temperature?
a. No mantle motion and no crust movement
b. Fast mantle motion and fast crust motion
c. Solid outer planetary core and slow crust motion
d. No mantle motion and fast crust motion
(Correct answer: No mantle motion and no crust movement)

Question 6.
How does Earth’s geology support human survival?
a. It provides radiation for plant growth and creates ocean currents.
b. It protects us from the magnetic field and eliminates carbon dioxide.
c. It provides a magnetic field and the carbon rock cycle.
d. Convection of the mantle causes the Earth to rotate and creates the seasons.
(Correct answer: It provides a magnetic field and the carbon rock cycle.)

Question 7.
Which illustration most accurately represents the Earth’s interior?
a. Very large core, thin mantle, thin crust
b. Large core, medium mantle, thick crust
c. Large core, medium mantle, thin crust
d. Small core, large mantle, thin crust
(Correct answer: Large core, medium mantle, thin crust)

(Upon completion of Astro-Challenge, screen reads:)
Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Astro Challenge. Now you can print your Astro-Journal notes and your Certificate!

Astro Ferret:
Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Astro-Challenge! Now you can print your Astro Journal notes and Certificate!

(New screen displays certificate with all names that were entered in the beginning of the module. There are three buttons:
The button on the left says, “Print Certificate.” .If you click on the left one, it will print the Certificate.
The button in the middle says, “Print Astro-Journal.” If you click on the middle one, it will print the Astro Journal.
The button on the right says: “Don’t Print Anything.” If you click on the right one, a warning screen appears that reads:
“WARNING! If you don’t print your Astro-Journal or your Certificate now, you not be able to print them later!”
Two buttons appear. The button on the left says, “Go back to the print page.” The button on the right says, “I really don’t want to print.”
Follow the instructions and choose the buttons that suit your needs. When you’re finished, you will go to the Exit screen.)

Exit screen reads:

Astro Ferret:
Congratulations! You’ve been promoted to Senior Geologist! Click here to go back to the main page and explore more Astro-Venture.

(The Astro-Venture logo is on the screen. Two buttons appear. Astro Ferret stands in the left bottom corner and is pointing the top big button.
The big button on the top says: “Continue your Astro-Venture Training.” Clicking on this page will take you back to the Astro-Venture main page http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov
The bottom button says: “Back to the print page.” Clicking on this button will take you to back to the Print page.)