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

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" »

Building System Components

1. Foundations

This is a structure made, mainly, of cement, steel, and gravel that transfers loads to the earth. The primary design concerns are settlement and bearing capacity.

2. Structure

This is comprised of pillars, beams, and tie-beams made of reinforced concrete or steel.

3. Floors and Ceiling

Hollow tiles are placed between two tie-beams; later, it is covered by a layer of concrete. Floors are finished with floor tiles or floorboards.

4. Exterior Walls

These are usually made by two brick walls and an insulator layer (to avoid the heat loss).

5. Windows

These provide a visual link between internal space and the outside world. They are very important to the mental health of the people in the house. A small tie-beam is... Continue reading "Essential Building Components and Construction Definitions" »

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" »