Modules 1-7 study guide

Earth and Environmental Science Review

Part One

Modules one through seven are covered here.

Module One: Scientific Method:

What is the purpose of the “control group” in an experiment?It is part of an experiment is used in comparison to the experimental group.

wheatdoctor.cimmyt.org/index.php?option=com_content&t....

Photo credit: Gene Hettel/CIMMYT. 764 June 30, 2006

Which of the following is NOT one of the four main branches of Earth Science?

• spaceplace.nasa.gov - 300 × 302 - Search by image

• The original 13 constellations in the zodiac.

Geology, Oceanography, Hydrology, Astronomy, Astrology

Astronomy is the scientific study of everything in outer space. Astronomers and other scientists know that stars many light years away have no effect on the ordinary activities of humans on Earth.

No one has shown that astrology can be used to predict the future or describe what people are like based only on their birth date. Still, like reading fantasy stories, many people enjoy reading their "astrological forecast" or "horoscope" in the newspaper every day.

Would quantitative or qualitative be a good measurement that can be recorded in a table or chart? Quantitative: because it is measurable.

1: of, relating to, or expressible in terms of quantity

2: of, relating to, or involving the measurement of quantity or amount

Ex: We can measure exactly how high this model rocket will fly. (you use tools and formulas)

Qualitative: of or relating to how good something is : of or relating to the quality of something

Ex: Model rockets are fun to play with.

(you express an opinion)

www.grc.nasa.gov - 618 × 466 - Search by imageComputer drawing of the equation and measurements needed to determine the altitude of a model rocket

Give a definition of all the following terms:

• Independent variable: The single condition that is manipulated or controlled by the scientist

• Dependent variable: The condition that changes or responds to the independent variable

• Control: The group in a given experiment in which the independent variable is not changed

• Constant: All conditions within an experiment that are not changed

• Data: The information that is recorded, organized, and analyzed as a result of a scientific investigation

• Conclusion: A statement that is made following the investigation that supports or contradicts the hypothesis

• Publish: The process of making you investigation available to other scientist to review

• Replicate: The process by which other scientists attempt to reproduce your results to validate or undermine your findings

Observations: A problem or question that you notice or wonder about

Research: Look up necessary background information before experimenting

Hypothesis: An educated and testable statement that tries to explain the observation

Materials: The items and conditions that will be required to conduct the experiment

Experimental Procedure: The process that will allow for the hypothesis to be scientifically tested

Module Two: Human Impact on the Lithosphere

Humans impact the lithosphere In these ways.Use of Fossil Fuels leads to:

Air Pollution (Smog)

Increase in greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide

Increase in the heating of the earth’s surface due to more greenhouse gases being emitted

Soil Pollution

Mining

www.blm.gov - 400 × 300 - Search by image

Ecosystems are impacted when plants uptake the polluted water, potentially exposing feeding

animals to toxins. In arid and desert areas, wind can create blowing contaminated dust.

www.blm.gov - 430 × 319 - Search by image

Illegal dumping of materials on BLM public land poses significant social, environmental, and

economic impacts statewide

Impacts of using fossil fuels include:Air pollution

Increase in greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide

Increase in the heating of the Earth's surface due to more greenhouse gases being emitted

Alternatives to fossil fuels:Solar

Wind

Geothermal

Biomass

Water

Uranium

Hydrogen

Renewable Energy Research at ESRL

www.esrl.noaa.gov250 × 204Search by image

Examples of Support NOAA Could Provide to Advance Wind Energy. Wind turbines.

American Fuel Facts » alternative fuel

www.americanfuelfacts.com625 × 446Search by image

Autogas for America released a new Alternative Fuel Fact Brief on November 25

Decomposition of wastes ultimately releases greenhouse gases such as methane, which increases Earth's temperature causing global warming to occur. How can this be avoided?

• Reduce our wastes production on the Earth's Lithosphere

www.oceanconservancy.org - 900 × 525 - Search by image

Note: Recycling systems vary by location. This guide is based on the research and best practices

compiled by conservation biologist and ocean trash specialist Nicholas Mallos

Humans can reduce their impacts on the Earth's Lithosphere by:

Practice good energy conservation techniques

Reduce fossil fuel usage

Utilize more forms of alternative energy sources

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

www.esa.org - 390 × 480 - Search by image

EPA leaders talk water pollution at PBS documentary

Module Three: Processes and Forces of the Lithosphere

Examples of physical weathering. Frost action

temperature

organic activity

3dparks.wr.usgs.gov - 800 × 633 - Search by imageThegeologic story of the formation of the natural bridges is linked to the physical weathering properties of the rocks, stream drainage pattern changes, etc.

A delta is:Large amounts of sediments are deposited at the mouth of a river.

deltas.usgs.gov - 826 × 662 - Search by image

Satellite Image of the Mekong and Mississippi River Deltas The U.S. Geological Survey is bringing its broad scientific understanding of the Mississippi

3 methods of controlling erosion.Terracing

Plant and Soil Sciences eLibraryplantandsoil.unl.edu - 800 × 571 -Search by imageHillside contour strawberry farming in Monterey

County, CA.

Strip cropping or contour farming

www.epa.gov - 285 × 203 - Search by imageContour Farming. Source: USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Drainage ditches

www.esa.org - 600 × 450 - Search by imageDitches at sites with heavy recreational fishing pressure.

Chemical weathering

Carbonation

Geology of National Parks3dparks.wr.usgs.gov - 800 × 596 - Search by imageIn the past, wind-blown dust and soil probably filled the alcove to higher levels and chemical weathering associated with shallow groundwater

plant acids

The Geologic Story of the Ocoee Riverpubs.usgs.gov - 378 × 233 - Search by imagePhotograph of folded rock layers near Maddens Branch Folded rock layers near Maddens Branch. [Photograph by David Usher, U.S. Geological Survey]

and oxidation

Mars & Iron Mountain | USGS California Water Science Centerca.water.usgs.gov - 625 × 468 - Search by imageGossan is a rock consisting mostly of iron oxides formed by weathering of rock originally greater than 50% iron sulfide (usually pyrite).

Causes of soil mismanagementClearing vegetation, overuse of fertilizers, pollution

The top layer of the soil horizon Organic

Earthquake Glossary - soil profileearthquake.usgs.gov - 261 × 372 -Search by imageSoil profile in hills of Manisa Province, Turkey, showing

a distinct horizon of accumulated red-purple metallic (manganese and/or iron?) oxides

Parent RockDetermines what type of soil will be produced by weathering

pubs.usgs.gov - 390 × 362 - Search by imageHA 730-N Hawaii Volcanic-rock aquifers, Ground-Water Occurrence and Movemen

Module Four: Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes

Matching coastlines, fossil evidence, and rock formations are all evidence for the theory of Continental Drift

Which was first presented by Alfred Wegener

NASA: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fscience1.nasa.gov%2Fmedia%2Fmedialibrary%2F2002%2F01%2F25%2F28jan_extinction_resources%2Fpangea_strip.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fscience1.nasa.gov%2Fscience-news%2Fscience-at-nasa%2F2002%2F28jan_extinction%2F&h=180&w=475&tbnid=FfGsh6Kq8jfo6M%3A&zoom=1&docid=i4GY8XswmaDw4M&ei=CqM5U4O0KKL50gH-xYDIDw&tbm=isch&ved=0CGEQhBwwBA&iact=rc&dur=4286&page=1&start=0&ndsp=6

www.rpdp.net - 284 × 218 - Search by imageFigure 12. Distribution of several plant and animal fossils found in the continents that formed

Interactive Earth game: click below.

http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/Pangaea_game.html

The Appalachian Mountains are very old, and have stopped growing.Older mountains tend to have more rounded tops due to erosion over a long time.

Below: Geology of National Parks3dparks.wr.usgs.gov - 432 × 613 - Search by imageMap of the Appalachian Mountains region showing the extent of the sedimentary and crystalline rock belts.

Right: energy.usgs.gov - 940 × 180 - Search by image Welcome to the Energy Resources Program Website "Appalachian Coal" Area.

NASA - Why Isn't the Earth Perfect?www.nasa.gov - 330 × 204 - Search by imageThe plates float on top of the hot layer of the Earth's mantle. Credit: NASA

Tectonic plate boundaries are:

The layers of the earth from the center to the outside areInner Core

Outer Core

Mantle

Crust

Introduction to Physical Geology Syllabuswww.geol.umd.edu - 647 ×648 - Search by imageCore: From 2880 km. to the center. Metallic -primarily of nickel and iron. (There is an outer liquid core and a solid inner core - same composition, different physical state.)

Mt. St. Helens is a Strato volcano.

Strato volcanoes are explosive and blow the rock covering off in a cloud of small fragments called ash.

Strato volcanoes are also called composite volcanoes, because they build up layers of ash and lava.

Often before an eruption from a strato- volcano, earthquakes will occur.

Earthquakes often give warnings. Small earthquakes that precede (happen before) large earthquakes are called foreshocks.

vulcan.wr.usgs.gov - 600 × 406 - Search by image Image, click to enlarge: MSH82_st_helens_plume_from_harrys_ridge_05-19-82.jpg. Plumes of steam,

gas, and ash often occurred at Mount St. Helens.

Volcanoes of Lewis and Clark - Mount St. Helens -Summaryvulcan.wr.usgs.gov - 640 × 481 - Search by image

Mountains grow from

Folding

Fault Blocking, and

Volcanoes

Earth’s Mantle

An elastic layer of molten rock that has the force to move the tectonic plates

USGS Geology in the Parksgeomaps.wr.usgs.gov

The LithosphereMade of the Crust and Upper Mantle

The crust is where the action is. The entire rock cycle takes place in the crust, from magma pools deep below, to mountain peaks, high above the surface.

Earthquakes, are often preceded by warning trembling, called foreshocks.

www.eoearth.org - 750 × 463 - Search by imageFigure 3: Three types of plate convergance resulting in subduction. (Image Source. US Gelogical Survey.)

Module Five: Non-Renewable Energy

Fossil FuelsCoal, oil, natural gas, kerogen from shale oil, and peat were all formed from the bodies of ancient plants and animals that have been buried in sedimentary rock, under heat and pressure for millions of years.

Made mostly of methane, natural gas burns

cleaner than any other fossil fuel.

Although these are limited, non-renewable, and produce pollution, we still burn them, because we already have the infrastructure (ways and means) to get and use fossil fuels, they are relatively cheap, and changing over to newer alternatives is expensive.

USGS Fact Sheet 26-03: Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxidepubs.usgs.gov - 500 × 236 - Search by imageRed lines indicate CO 2 being pumped into the reservoirs for sequestration, green lines indicate enhanced recovery of fossil fuels caused by CO 2

Peat is the first stage of coal.

The Carbon Cycle

All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and even rocks. Because the Earth is a dynamic place, carbon does not stay still. It is on the move!

In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to some oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide.

Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to make their own food and grow. The carbon becomes part of the plant. Plants that die and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon like coal and oil over millions of years. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and traps heat in the atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be a frozen world. But humans have burned so much fuel that there is about 30% more carbon dioxide in the air today than there was about 150 years ago, and Earth is becoming a warmer place. In fact, ice cores show us that there is now more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there has been in the last 420,000 years.

https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/cycles6.htm

Carbon Cycle Diagram from the DOE with numbers | Spark

spark.ucar.edu900 × 700Search by image

Credit: Office of Biological and Environmental Research of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.

Damage to the environment Getting coal involves old-fashioned subsurface mining, using tunnels. This is very dangerous due to collapse of tunnels, methane gas build up and acid mine drainage, emissions of more greenhouse gases than the country of Denmark, and more habitat destruction than mountain top removal are hazards of subsurface mining.

Mountain top removal and strip mining are modern ways of digging out the seams of coal.

Fly ash, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are two pollutants that come from burning coal.

Mercury Contamination from Historical Gold Mining in Californiapubs.usgs.gov - 504 × 645 -Search by imagePhotograph showing Monitors (water cannons)

Nuclear energyNuclear power plants create electricity by using uranium for nuclear fission. While it does not pollute the air, other hazards exist.

Nuclear waste has an extremely long half-life and remains deadly for centuries, so storing it is a problem. Meltdowns of reactors, fires and explosions have spread deadly nuclear fallout worldwide.

Although uranium is not a fossil fuel, it is in limited supply, and someday, there will be no more to fuel these power plants.

Right: HowStuffWorks "Inside a Nuclear Power Plant"science.howstuffworks.com -360 × 340 - Search by imagePage by Robert Lamb - In order to turn nuclear fission into electrical energy, ...

fission1.gifwww.kids.esdb.bg

Module Six: Renewable Energy

Renewable energy Biomass: fuel made from fermentation of plants

Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells for cars, with only water as a waste product.

Hydroelectric dams: using water falling by gravity ,turns turbines, which creates electricity.

Wind turbines: expensive to set up, but produce tremendous amounts of electricity when the wind is blowing.

U.S. Geological Survey: Ecosystemswww.usgs.gov - 232 × 300 - Search by imageImage of Product: Wind Energy and Wildlife Research at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science

Solar powerPassive solar energy is simply allowing the sunlight to enter and provide light and heat to a place.

Active solar energy is made by using solar panels to convert the sun’s energy into electrical energy.

The Southwestern states in the US use more solar panels, because they receive more sunny days than the eastern states.

Although it is not yet popular everywhere, because it is expensive to start up, the use of solar panels for energy is growing.

Right: NASA Invites Media to Showcase of Solutions Finalists Announcement ...www.nasa.gov - 4256 × 2832 - Search by imageElectrical power required for the building is more than offset by on-site photovoltaic solar panels and solid oxide fuel cell technology from aBloom Energy .

Conservation of energyAllows us to phase in renewable energy, slows global warming, lowers environmental damage, decreases our dependency on oil. This can give us a little more time to phase in the renewable, non-polluting energy sources.

Right: USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5195: U.S. Geological Survey

pubs.usgs.gov - 250 × 323 - Search by image

Southwest Wyoming's wildlife and habitat resources are increasingly affected by energy and urban/exurban development, climate change, and other key drivers.

Module Seven:

Geologic Time and North Carolina Geologic HistoryAccording to fossil records, life first emerged from shallow seas.

Dinosaurs disappeared from Earth 65 million years ago.

The largest time span on the geological time scale is the EON.

Right: Geologic Maps - Geologic Map of North Carolina, 2000x1340geology.about.com - 2000 ×1340 - Search by image North Carolina geologic map page

Text from the lessonsWordle art from Bing Online Images

Please view Part 2 for Modules 9 - 16