GLG410--Computers in Earth and Space Exploration
Lecture 4
Three earth science problems to solve with a spreadsheet
I have chosen 3 earth science problems for you to explore using a spreadsheet. They are bit trickier than they may seem at first, but they represent what I consider to be everyday kinds of work that I do with a spreadsheet. The three problems are presented as word problems mostly and your challenge is to implement them in Excel. Make sure you understand the earth science problem first on paper before you touch the computer!
- Rotation calculator
This exercise has you build a little calculator. It requires a tidy spreadsheet and chart layout and the use of variables ("names").
- Plotting a tape and compass transect
This exercise has you map out the transect that two students took for a stratigraphic profile. It uses data measured with a tape and compass. It requires a tidy spreadsheet and chart layout and the use of variables ("names").
- Simple analysis of topography (pencil and paper and spreadsheet)
This exercise has you play with some topography along the San Andreas Fault to make a surface map in Excel, but it also has you use Excel as a calculator and simple plotter to convert measurements made with a ruler to a true topographic profile.
These three problems will be due on September 8, 2011 at the beginning of the class posted as a page with links to the Excel files on your website. The assignments should be turned in as well formatted and labeled spreadsheets as links from your assignments page web site. Remember that you can link to a file like a spreadsheet using the standard HTML link tag:
<a href="filename.xls">filename.xls (or whatever you want the link text to say)</a>
GLG410/598 Computers in Earth and Space Exploration
Last modified: September 6, 2011.