Geology Exam 1
earth sits in the Goldilocks region
earth lies in the Suns habitable zone. Which allows for liquid water
the life system support for humanity is the Earth
environmental ignorance, leads to problems for humans
geology is the study of solid earth
physical geology is materials and processes
historical geology is earths past based on the records
environmental geology is applying geologic information to the interaction between people and their environment
earthquakes and landslides are hazards
depletion of metals, water, and gas. we dig it, we mine it, we pump it
pollution is still a problem, produced by humans
production of waste, food becomes waste, carbon dioxide is pollution
more carbon dioxide makes the earth warmer
our waste is a bi product of global warming
as the atmosphere gets warmer, it holds more water
more rain and droughts happen because of the hotter atmosphere
earthquake is a natural problem
unnatural problem is pollution
problems made worse by humans are floods and climate change
mitigating must know how the earth system works
scientific inquiry and method is the universe behaves in a consistent and predictable manner
the goal of the scientific inquiry and method is to discover underlying patterns
scientific inquiry patterns make predictions and use the results to improve explanation
steps of the scientific method are collect data, develop multiple hypotheses, test them, scientific theory, law
law of superposition is younger sedimentary rocks lie on top of older ones
superposition can tell you the age of each layer
a scientific theory is not a speculation
all scientific explanations must be testable and falsifiable
our solar system consists of Sun, planets, moons (60+), belt of asteroids, millions of comets
mercury, venus, earth, mars, Jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, pluto is the order of the planets
our main problems on earth is that resources are not unlimited
Resources deplete due to population growth per capita consumption increase
Resource consumption increases as we grow in technology and grows as we industrialize
US makes up 4.6% of the global population?
the US consumes 30% of earths energy resources
1 American = 5 people on the planet
sustainability is the ability to maintain a system indefinitely
This is only possible if (and only if) growth and per capita consumption levels out is sustainability
David Brower said that rapid growth is cancer, humans are the cancer of the earth
Scientists knew that Easter island once had trees because pollen spores were found in the soil as well as bird bones
Easter Island had increased erosion because of deforestation for population growth
The 2015 Pluto flyby took 10 years to make happen
all planets align the same besides pluto
all planets have a smooth and predictable orbit
all planets orbit counterclockwise
inner planets are more dense than the outer planets
venus spins clockwise instead of counterclockwise like the other planets
The nebular hypothesis is that the solar system is condensed out of dust and gas cloud
tighter more condensed the gas means the high the velocity
nebular hypothesis cloud is made of mostly hydrogen, helium, and dust
nebular cloud hypothesis spins fast to form a disk
The Nebular Hypothesis Cloud created planets by the combination of particles
our solar system is in the milky way galaxy
the big bang theory explains the orgins of the universe
the universe is expanding outwards in all directions
all matter was once at a single point
the expansion of the universe began 13.7 billion years ago
our solar system is 4.6 billion years old
our universe is 13.7 billion years old
there is estimate 100 billion other galaxies
estimated 100 billion stars in our universe
earth needs an internal heat source to be habitable
geologic Time Scale says the law of superposition allowed all rocks to be put in proper order/sequence
actual dating/age comes from radiometric dating
it takes 11 days to count to 1 million
50 years of geologic time is 50 mm or 2 inches of sediment
1 million years of geologic time scale is 3200 feet of sediment
long periods of time allow slow processes to make great changes
Risk = probability times expected consequence
Human risk awareness partially depends on the type of process perception time
we are exposed to sun radiation everyday when we go outside
gases surrounding the earth is the atmosphere
all of the water on the surface is the biosphere
the biosphere is the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere
geosphere is concentric regions of matter that makes up Earth (atmosphere and hydrosphere)
population growth is the root cause of environmental problems
earths crust is broken up into separate plates
rigid plates move due to heat convection
heat convection causes layering
birds are here today and found during the mesozoic time period
earth has had 5 mass extinctions, we are currently on the 6th
massive volcanic eruptions are due to global climate change
massive volcanic eruptions bring carbon dioxide and dust into the atmosphere
Depletion of the ozone layer allows intense UV radiation into the atmosphere
we see very few impact craters because of erosion over time
coesite is only found in nuclear or impact craters
new data shows that large impacts still occur
astroids traveling at a great speed is an impact hazards
impact hazards create a large temperature spike and causes global cooling due to dust that blocks out the sun
impact hazards make the food chain collapse
elements were found at the asteroid impact that caused the extinction of dinosaurs were coesite and tsunami elements
risk mitigation= intercept and deflect
NASA DART experiment was the test to see our deflection of astroids and it was a sucess
the earths mantle is 1800 miles deep
earths crust is 5-20 miles deep
order is inner core, outer core, mantle (asthenosphere), and the crust
the crust and mantle makes up the plates and the lithosphere
the crust is made of rigid low density rocks
the crust is the outermost layer
the mantle is made of rigid rocks with medium density
the outer core is made of metallic liquid
the inner core is made of metallic solid with the highest density
two plates coming or crashing together makes moutains/volcanoes
The closer to the center of the Earth, the minerals are more plastic
rocks deform at the surface due to fracturing
the convergent boundary is compressed
the divergent boundary is tension
the asthenosphere is like a thin layer underneath the plates
granite makes up the continents
basalt is more dense than granite
basalt is created from divergent plate movements(oceanic crust)
granite is created from convergent boundaries (continental crust created)
the Himalayas are a recent example of subduction zone
Transform (shear) movements is when the plates slide past each other (grinding of plates)
Why are sea turtles having to swim further out into the Atlantic every year because the plates move farther apart
the movement of plate tectonics control everything
a mineral is composed of one or more elements
a mineral has a orderly internal structure, fixed chemical composition
All minerals have a unique combination of chemistry and structure
all minerals have different physical properties
hardest mineral is diamond, softest is graphite
when something is galvanized or coated in zinc it is rust proof
the physical property of quartz is transparent
quartz wont scratch
car wind shields are everyday use of quartz
a rock is composed of one or more minerals
igneous rocks form from the cooling of magma
Magma melting of older rocks into newer rocks is igneous rocks
igneous rocks make up 90% of earths crust
granite is iron poor
granite forms from the melting of basalt
basalt is iron rich
basalt forms from the melting of the mantle
sedimentary rocks form from the breaking down of older rocks
75 percent of sedimentary rocks are exposed at the surface
feldspar breaks down into clay and ions
Detrial sedimentary rocks are made from eroded and weathered rocks (broken fragments)
quartz gets crushed into sandstone
sandstone gets melted down into glass
clay gets crushed into shale
shale can be used to make bricks and ceramics
calcite gets crushed into limestone
calcite can be used to make concrete
you can find limestone in clear water
chemical rocks form from ions the precipitate over time
gypsum is a chemical rock
we use gypsum for drywall
death valley was once filled with saltwater
it took death valley 20,000 years to dry up
the water in death valley was 800 feet
shallow earthquakes are more deadly
metamorphic rocks transform older rocks by heat and pressure
metamorphic rocks don’t form shallow
roofing shingles and pool tables are made from slate
slate is better than plywood where it doesn’t warp(out of shape)
Foliation is the alignment of minerals in a metamorphic rock due to pressure
Slate and schist are created by foliation
Schist is made of muscovite and biotite
foliation and fractures are planes of permeability and weakness
permeability=fluids
weakness=landslides
The Rock Cycle transforms rocks from 1 type to another
the rock cycle is driven by plate tectonics
magma cools to create igneous rocks
igneous rock transforms to sedimentary rock by weathering/erosion
Heat and pressure of sedimentary rock makes metamorphic rock
Extreme heat of metamorphic rock creates magma
metamorphic rock can become sedimentary rock by erosion/weathering
Heat and Pressure of Igneous rock can become metamorphic rock
Fall Line goes through Macon, Columbus, Augusta
rapids and waterfalls occur on the fall line
In the Piedmont and Blue Ridge region, you find igneous and metamorphic rocks
You'll find more sedimentary rock on the coastal plane
Interior Lowlands have broadly folded sedimentary rock
Some areas in the Interior Lowlands is covered by glacial debris
glacial debris makes fertile farm soil. This explains all the corn in Michigan, etc.
the soil in GA is older
The Appalachian Plateau is flat with elevated sedimentary rocks
Valley and Ridge region is tightly folded sedimentary rocks
The Blue Ridge region has tall mountains and is made of deformed metamorphic and igneous rocks
Piedmont has the same rocks as the Blue Ridge but they are lower elevation
The Coastal Plain has newer material from the erosion of mountains
The Coastal Plain is made of sedimentary rocks gently inclined towards the coast
The collision of African and North American plates made the Appalachian mountains
300 MA, a thick sequence of sedimentary rocks accumulate off shore
250 MA, African & North American plates collide
The collision of African and North American plates made the Appalachian mountains
150 MA, African & North American plates pull apart. This forms a rift valley.
The Atlantic Ocean was made 150 million years ago.
Rift Valley's are formed when the crust pulls apart
Parts of what mountains are found in other countries but they are named differently? Appalachian mountains
Today, the uplifts continue and erosion slowly is making the mountains shorter
Today, new sedimentary rocks are being deposited offshore
The hypothesis of the past is made from the known facts of today
Difference between the piedmont and the Blue Ridge regions is BR is tall mountains, piedmont is more low hills
Granite is made up of feldspar, quartz, and biotite
feldspar breaks down into clay
two main minerals in soil are quartz and clay, and plus organic material
Sediment is mostly made of quartz, sand, and clay
clay is smaller than sand
A horizon colors are dark brown/black
B horizon colors are reds, oranges, and yellows
Water can carry particles both vertically and horizontally
Layers are resulted from vertical movement.
The yellows and reds coloration of the soil means it has iron oxides
saturated soils keep out oxygen
Saturated soils decay slower than faster
Porosity is the amount of void space
Porosity is the electrical attraction between the water and the clay
Clay has a negative charge that pulls onto the positive charge of the water.
Permeability is the ability to transmit water
Permeability decreases with the increase in clay content
Compressibility ability to compact, increases with clay content
ion exchange capacity is the ability to exchange and store nutrients and make soil fertile
Clay has a low permeability
Clay has a high compressibility, shrink/swell, ion exchange, and fertility.
Sand has a high permeability.
Sand has a low compressibility, shrink/swell, ion exchange, and fertility.
Soil loss is a critical issue for expanding population
Soil erosion is normally in balance with soil formation
Sediment pollution is the choking of the drainage system by excess sediment
Sediment pollution increases flooding
sediment pollution also destroys stream ecology and blocks navigational channels
Soil loss reduces agricultural production
Geology Exam 1
earth sits in the Goldilocks region
earth lies in the Suns habitable zone. Which allows for liquid water
the life system support for humanity is the Earth
environmental ignorance, leads to problems for humans
geology is the study of solid earth
physical geology is materials and processes
historical geology is earths past based on the records
environmental geology is applying geologic information to the interaction between people and their environment
earthquakes and landslides are hazards
depletion of metals, water, and gas. we dig it, we mine it, we pump it
pollution is still a problem, produced by humans
production of waste, food becomes waste, carbon dioxide is pollution
more carbon dioxide makes the earth warmer
our waste is a bi product of global warming
as the atmosphere gets warmer, it holds more water
more rain and droughts happen because of the hotter atmosphere
earthquake is a natural problem
unnatural problem is pollution
problems made worse by humans are floods and climate change
mitigating must know how the earth system works
scientific inquiry and method is the universe behaves in a consistent and predictable manner
the goal of the scientific inquiry and method is to discover underlying patterns
scientific inquiry patterns make predictions and use the results to improve explanation
steps of the scientific method are collect data, develop multiple hypotheses, test them, scientific theory, law
law of superposition is younger sedimentary rocks lie on top of older ones
superposition can tell you the age of each layer
a scientific theory is not a speculation
all scientific explanations must be testable and falsifiable
our solar system consists of Sun, planets, moons (60+), belt of asteroids, millions of comets
mercury, venus, earth, mars, Jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, pluto is the order of the planets
our main problems on earth is that resources are not unlimited
Resources deplete due to population growth per capita consumption increase
Resource consumption increases as we grow in technology and grows as we industrialize
US makes up 4.6% of the global population?
the US consumes 30% of earths energy resources
1 American = 5 people on the planet
sustainability is the ability to maintain a system indefinitely
This is only possible if (and only if) growth and per capita consumption levels out is sustainability
David Brower said that rapid growth is cancer, humans are the cancer of the earth
Scientists knew that Easter island once had trees because pollen spores were found in the soil as well as bird bones
Easter Island had increased erosion because of deforestation for population growth
The 2015 Pluto flyby took 10 years to make happen
all planets align the same besides pluto
all planets have a smooth and predictable orbit
all planets orbit counterclockwise
inner planets are more dense than the outer planets
venus spins clockwise instead of counterclockwise like the other planets
The nebular hypothesis is that the solar system is condensed out of dust and gas cloud
tighter more condensed the gas means the high the velocity
nebular hypothesis cloud is made of mostly hydrogen, helium, and dust
nebular cloud hypothesis spins fast to form a disk
The Nebular Hypothesis Cloud created planets by the combination of particles
our solar system is in the milky way galaxy
the big bang theory explains the orgins of the universe
the universe is expanding outwards in all directions
all matter was once at a single point
the expansion of the universe began 13.7 billion years ago
our solar system is 4.6 billion years old
our universe is 13.7 billion years old
there is estimate 100 billion other galaxies
estimated 100 billion stars in our universe
earth needs an internal heat source to be habitable
geologic Time Scale says the law of superposition allowed all rocks to be put in proper order/sequence
actual dating/age comes from radiometric dating
it takes 11 days to count to 1 million
50 years of geologic time is 50 mm or 2 inches of sediment
1 million years of geologic time scale is 3200 feet of sediment
long periods of time allow slow processes to make great changes
Risk = probability times expected consequence
Human risk awareness partially depends on the type of process perception time
we are exposed to sun radiation everyday when we go outside
gases surrounding the earth is the atmosphere
all of the water on the surface is the biosphere
the biosphere is the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere
geosphere is concentric regions of matter that makes up Earth (atmosphere and hydrosphere)
population growth is the root cause of environmental problems
earths crust is broken up into separate plates
rigid plates move due to heat convection
heat convection causes layering
birds are here today and found during the mesozoic time period
earth has had 5 mass extinctions, we are currently on the 6th
massive volcanic eruptions are due to global climate change
massive volcanic eruptions bring carbon dioxide and dust into the atmosphere
Depletion of the ozone layer allows intense UV radiation into the atmosphere
we see very few impact craters because of erosion over time
coesite is only found in nuclear or impact craters
new data shows that large impacts still occur
astroids traveling at a great speed is an impact hazards
impact hazards create a large temperature spike and causes global cooling due to dust that blocks out the sun
impact hazards make the food chain collapse
elements were found at the asteroid impact that caused the extinction of dinosaurs were coesite and tsunami elements
risk mitigation= intercept and deflect
NASA DART experiment was the test to see our deflection of astroids and it was a sucess
the earths mantle is 1800 miles deep
earths crust is 5-20 miles deep
order is inner core, outer core, mantle (asthenosphere), and the crust
the crust and mantle makes up the plates and the lithosphere
the crust is made of rigid low density rocks
the crust is the outermost layer
the mantle is made of rigid rocks with medium density
the outer core is made of metallic liquid
the inner core is made of metallic solid with the highest density
two plates coming or crashing together makes moutains/volcanoes
The closer to the center of the Earth, the minerals are more plastic
rocks deform at the surface due to fracturing
the convergent boundary is compressed
the divergent boundary is tension
the asthenosphere is like a thin layer underneath the plates
granite makes up the continents
basalt is more dense than granite
basalt is created from divergent plate movements(oceanic crust)
granite is created from convergent boundaries (continental crust created)
the Himalayas are a recent example of subduction zone
Transform (shear) movements is when the plates slide past each other (grinding of plates)
Why are sea turtles having to swim further out into the Atlantic every year because the plates move farther apart
the movement of plate tectonics control everything
a mineral is composed of one or more elements
a mineral has a orderly internal structure, fixed chemical composition
All minerals have a unique combination of chemistry and structure
all minerals have different physical properties
hardest mineral is diamond, softest is graphite
when something is galvanized or coated in zinc it is rust proof
the physical property of quartz is transparent
quartz wont scratch
car wind shields are everyday use of quartz
a rock is composed of one or more minerals
igneous rocks form from the cooling of magma
Magma melting of older rocks into newer rocks is igneous rocks
igneous rocks make up 90% of earths crust
granite is iron poor
granite forms from the melting of basalt
basalt is iron rich
basalt forms from the melting of the mantle
sedimentary rocks form from the breaking down of older rocks
75 percent of sedimentary rocks are exposed at the surface
feldspar breaks down into clay and ions
Detrial sedimentary rocks are made from eroded and weathered rocks (broken fragments)
quartz gets crushed into sandstone
sandstone gets melted down into glass
clay gets crushed into shale
shale can be used to make bricks and ceramics
calcite gets crushed into limestone
calcite can be used to make concrete
you can find limestone in clear water
chemical rocks form from ions the precipitate over time
gypsum is a chemical rock
we use gypsum for drywall
death valley was once filled with saltwater
it took death valley 20,000 years to dry up
the water in death valley was 800 feet
shallow earthquakes are more deadly
metamorphic rocks transform older rocks by heat and pressure
metamorphic rocks don’t form shallow
roofing shingles and pool tables are made from slate
slate is better than plywood where it doesn’t warp(out of shape)
Foliation is the alignment of minerals in a metamorphic rock due to pressure
Slate and schist are created by foliation
Schist is made of muscovite and biotite
foliation and fractures are planes of permeability and weakness
permeability=fluids
weakness=landslides
The Rock Cycle transforms rocks from 1 type to another
the rock cycle is driven by plate tectonics
magma cools to create igneous rocks
igneous rock transforms to sedimentary rock by weathering/erosion
Heat and pressure of sedimentary rock makes metamorphic rock
Extreme heat of metamorphic rock creates magma
metamorphic rock can become sedimentary rock by erosion/weathering
Heat and Pressure of Igneous rock can become metamorphic rock
Fall Line goes through Macon, Columbus, Augusta
rapids and waterfalls occur on the fall line
In the Piedmont and Blue Ridge region, you find igneous and metamorphic rocks
You'll find more sedimentary rock on the coastal plane
Interior Lowlands have broadly folded sedimentary rock
Some areas in the Interior Lowlands is covered by glacial debris
glacial debris makes fertile farm soil. This explains all the corn in Michigan, etc.
the soil in GA is older
The Appalachian Plateau is flat with elevated sedimentary rocks
Valley and Ridge region is tightly folded sedimentary rocks
The Blue Ridge region has tall mountains and is made of deformed metamorphic and igneous rocks
Piedmont has the same rocks as the Blue Ridge but they are lower elevation
The Coastal Plain has newer material from the erosion of mountains
The Coastal Plain is made of sedimentary rocks gently inclined towards the coast
The collision of African and North American plates made the Appalachian mountains
300 MA, a thick sequence of sedimentary rocks accumulate off shore
250 MA, African & North American plates collide
The collision of African and North American plates made the Appalachian mountains
150 MA, African & North American plates pull apart. This forms a rift valley.
The Atlantic Ocean was made 150 million years ago.
Rift Valley's are formed when the crust pulls apart
Parts of what mountains are found in other countries but they are named differently? Appalachian mountains
Today, the uplifts continue and erosion slowly is making the mountains shorter
Today, new sedimentary rocks are being deposited offshore
The hypothesis of the past is made from the known facts of today
Difference between the piedmont and the Blue Ridge regions is BR is tall mountains, piedmont is more low hills
Granite is made up of feldspar, quartz, and biotite
feldspar breaks down into clay
two main minerals in soil are quartz and clay, and plus organic material
Sediment is mostly made of quartz, sand, and clay
clay is smaller than sand
A horizon colors are dark brown/black
B horizon colors are reds, oranges, and yellows
Water can carry particles both vertically and horizontally
Layers are resulted from vertical movement.
The yellows and reds coloration of the soil means it has iron oxides
saturated soils keep out oxygen
Saturated soils decay slower than faster
Porosity is the amount of void space
Porosity is the electrical attraction between the water and the clay
Clay has a negative charge that pulls onto the positive charge of the water.
Permeability is the ability to transmit water
Permeability decreases with the increase in clay content
Compressibility ability to compact, increases with clay content
ion exchange capacity is the ability to exchange and store nutrients and make soil fertile
Clay has a low permeability
Clay has a high compressibility, shrink/swell, ion exchange, and fertility.
Sand has a high permeability.
Sand has a low compressibility, shrink/swell, ion exchange, and fertility.
Soil loss is a critical issue for expanding population
Soil erosion is normally in balance with soil formation
Sediment pollution is the choking of the drainage system by excess sediment
Sediment pollution increases flooding
sediment pollution also destroys stream ecology and blocks navigational channels
Soil loss reduces agricultural production