Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geology

Introduction

The optimistic view of intelligent extraterrestrial life often overlooks the improbable chain of events that led to human existence.

Special Timing

Our Sun formed late enough to have sufficient metallicity for creating a rocky, Earth-like planet. Older stars have even fewer metals than our Sun's 2%.

Special Location

The Sun resides in the "galactic habitable zone," extending 23,000 to 30,000 light-years from the galactic center. This zone, comprising only 7% of the galactic radius, contains less than 5% of the stars due to their concentration towards the core. While still containing numerous stars, this zone excludes the majority of stars in our galaxy. Most planetary systems are chaotic, lacking the stability Earth has provided for... Continue reading "The Rare Earth Hypothesis: Why Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life May Not Exist" »

Scientific Method

A method of procedure consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.

Newton's Laws

1. Things stay in motion or at rest.
2. Force, mass, and acceleration are all related.
3. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Key Scientific Concepts

Fusion

The process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity.

Fission

The action of dividing or splitting something into two or more parts.

Energy

The capacity for doing work.

Acid

Has a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺), greater than that of pure water.

Base

A basic solution has a low H⁺ concentration, less than that of pure water.

pH Scale

0-6 is acidic; 7 is neutral; 8-12 is basic.

Heat

The... Continue reading "Science Facts & Concepts: A Comprehensive Guide" »

The Formation of Minerals

The atoms will come apart, change themselves, and then form a new mineral.

Types of Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks are divided into two categories: foliated and non-foliated. Be able to determine which rock is foliated and which is not.

Foliated Rocks

Foliated rocks are patterned rocks where you can see changes in the rock.

Non-foliated Rocks

Non-foliated rocks are solid color rocks.

Size, Shape, Site, Shadow, Texture, Pattern, Association, Tone.

Understanding Maps

Map: A representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or a part of an area.

Scale: Map Scale = Map distance/Earth distance

Be able to give a U.S.P.L.S. description of certain features/locations.

From the left to the right.

R7E, T14S, Sec.1, NE, SW, SE.

TV and Movies

Cartoon

A movie made using characters that are drawn and not real.

Chat Show

A television or radio program in which people are asked questions about themselves.

Comedy

A funny movie or play.

Cookery Programme

A television genre that presents food preparation in a kitchen, located in a restaurant or on a studio set.

Documentary

A film or television program that gives facts about a real situation.

Drama

A play in a theatre or on television or radio.

Film

A story that is shown in moving pictures on a screen, usually at a cinema or on television.

Game Show

A program on television in which people play games to try to win prizes.

Reality Show

A television program about ordinary people who are filmed in real situations.

Soap

A television program about the... Continue reading "Vocabulary for TV, Movies, Geography, and the Environment" »

Acid Rain

The fuels used for locomotion and electricity generation emit sulfur and nitrogen oxides. These chemicals react with water in the clouds and produce acids.

Consequences:

• The soil and the water of lakes and rivers acidify.
• Trees and aquatic organisms become ill and can die.
• The acids attack and dissolve limestone.

Solutions:

• Decrease the consumption of fossil fuels.
• Eliminate the sulfur before using the fuel.
• Eliminate oxides before releasing them into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect

The problem appears when the presence of carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor in the atmosphere is larger than normal. The abuse of fossil fuels is the source of carbon dioxide. Farts and escapes from underwater methane are the main sources.

Global Warming:

An... Continue reading "Environmental Problems and Solutions" »

Chapter 5: Coastal Waters: Estuaries and Seafloors (Pp. 67-85)

Estuary Characteristics

Estuaries are distinguished by:

• Salinity Variation:
• Turbidity:

Plankton's Ecological Importance

Plankton plays a vital role in various ecosystems:

• Estuaries: Plankton abundance supports diverse marine life, including shrimp, crabs, oysters, and fish.
• Ocean: Phytoplankton forms the base of the ocean's food web.
• Atmosphere: Diatoms, a type of phytoplankton, help regulate the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide.

Ecological Value of Marine Worms

Polychaete and oligochaete plumed worms are crucial food sources for numerous fish and bird species, supporting the intricate balance of marine ecosystems.

Mollusks of Florida Coral Reefs

Three major mollusk classes inhabit... Continue reading "Coastal Waters of Florida: Estuaries, Seafloors, and Seagrass Meadows" »

Understanding Key Earth and Space Concepts

Leap Year

A year with an additional day at the end of February, occurring every 4 years.

Orbit

The elliptical movement of the Earth around the Sun.

Cold Zones

Thermal zones where the Sun's rays strike the surface at a wide angle, resulting in low temperatures.

Temperate Zones

Thermal zones where the Sun's rays strike the surface at a moderate angle, resulting in mild temperatures.

Tropical Zones

Thermal zones where the Sun's rays strike the surface nearly perpendicularly, resulting in high temperatures.

Tilt

The inclination of the axis of rotation.

Cardinal Points

Basic reference points that allow us to find our location on Earth: North, South, East, and West.

Rotation

The movement of the Earth around its axis. Consequences... Continue reading "Essential Earth & Space Terms Defined" »

Evidence from Rocks About Life

Rocks are an important source of information about many forms of life that existed on this planet.

Why Can't Scientists Be Sure How Earth Was Created?

Because no rocks date to the formation of the Earth.

How Fossil Teeth Reveal an Animal's Diet

Size and shape indicate diet.

Explaining Relative Dating of Fossils

Sedimentary rocks form layers, with newer layers added on top of older layers. This does not tell scientists the exact age of the fossil; however, it does tell the scientist the fossil's age in relation to other fossils above or below it.

Common Radioactive Isotopes

Potassium-40 and Carbon-14 are two common radioactive isotopes.

What Is a Mass Extinction?

A mass extinction is when many organisms disappear from the... Continue reading "Unlocking Earth's History: Fossils, Rocks, and the Story of Life" »

SYSTEMS

Can be small or large, living or non-living.

Types: open, close and isolated

• Open: exchanges both energy and matter
• Close: only exchange energy
• Isolated: Energy and matter is not exchange

Transfer: Basic flow through a system. Change in location of energy or matter.

Transformation: A new product is created. Change of state.

First law or thermodynamics: energy in an isolated system can be transformed but cannot be created or destroyed.

Second law or thermodynamics: is lost in the different levels of a system.

Entropy: is a measure of the amount of disorder in a system.

Negative feedback:

Positive feedback:

PRODUCTIVITY

Is the conversion of energy into biomass over a given period of time.

Biomass: is the living mass of an organism

Gross: total amount... Continue reading "Understanding Systems, Productivity, Global Warming, and Photochemical Smog" »