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

Guide Wall Functions and Excavation Methods

The Role of the Guide Wall

• Locate and guide the excavation process.
• Support the excavation at the ground surface.
• Raise the level of the bentonite slurry (the pressure will increase the external pressure to compensate for the internal pressure).
• Support and guide the steel reinforcing cage.

Excavation Equipment and Tools

• Clamshell bucket or hydraulic grab: Used in soils.
• Boring bit: Used in rocks.
• Hydromill / Hydrofraise: Used in both soils and rocks.

Hydromill and Hydrofraise Technology

• Continuous drilling: The soil is removed as the process gets deeper into the ground.
• Two cutter drums: It penetrates concrete, though this causes erosion on the cutter drums and should be avoided.
• Reverse slurry circulation: Slurry

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" »

Fundamental Questions in Hydrology and Meteorology

What is the largest flux in the global water cycle?

Evapotranspiration

What is NOT considered precipitation?

Fog

Air masses lift as they converge on a low pressure zone. This is what type of lifting?

Convergence

An air mass lifts as a colder, denser air mass moves towards it. This is what type of lifting?

Frontal

What surface water body would have the greatest rate of evaporation?

Small, shallow, freshwater

Which factor does NOT significantly influence transpiration?

Soil color

What is the most accurate way to measure evaporation from an open water body?

A floating evaporation pan

Sublimation from Snow: Key Characteristics

Sublimation from snow is typically low because:

• The saturated vapor pressure (e sub s)

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.

Cycles in Nature

Polar Lands

Woodlands

Deforestation

The technique used to clear forests today is often called slash and burn. It is the rapid destruction of woodland, leading to:

• Reduced soil fertility
• Flooding and landslips
• Disrupted nutrient recycling
• Climatic changes
• Species extinction

The Causes of Oxygen Depletion

Most aquatic organisms respire aerobically and require oxygen from their environment. The two pollutants that most often reduce oxygen in water are:

• Fertilisers: Nitrates and phosphates added to soil by farmers.
• Sewage: Contains an excellent source of organic food for bacteria and phosphates from detergents.

Eutrophication

If a pond or river receives too many nutrients, it is called eutrophication. The solution to this problem is straightforward: do not allow excess nutrients... Continue reading "Environmental Impact: Deforestation, Pollution, and Conservation" »

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" »