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Geology and GIS. Content development. A bit of content for you non-geology types… after http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/index.html. A few big idea in Geology/Earth Sci. Big Idea 1- Earth scientists use repeatable observations and testable ideas to understand and explain our planet.
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Content development • A bit of content for you non-geology types… • after http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/index.html
A few big idea in Geology/Earth Sci. • Big Idea 1- Earth scientists use repeatable observations and testable ideas to understand and explain our planet. • Works to assist humanity with challenging problems… • Combines aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics…
4.6 Billion years of time… • The Earth’s rock record provides a natural library for its history (construction, destruction, change, evolution, etc.) • Life on Earth began 3.5 billion years ago • The record contains gaps (unconformities) • Two crust types = oceanic and mafic • Gradualism vs. Catastrophism
Big Idea # 3 – The Earth is a complex system of interacting rock, water, and life! • Spheres = geo, hydro, atmo, and bio… • All processes are the result of changing energy between systems • Sun • Core • These systems are dynamic, constantly changing, and contain feedback systems
Big Idea #4 – The Earth is a water planet… • Water water ever where from the upper atmosphere to depths of the mantle. • Water is essential for life on Earth! • Water shapes the Earth’s landscapes
Big Idea #5 Life evolves on a dynamic Earth and continuously changes our planet. • Fossils are preserved evidence of ancient life • Evolution, including the origination and extinction of species, is a natural and ongoing process • Mass extinctions occur when global conditions change faster than species in large numbers can adapt.
Controversy? • Life, human life is a mere occurrence of time. I say this not to be little our existence, but rather to emphasize the miracle, that we are here at all.
Science and religion • Xavier Le Pichon • Fragility and the evolution of our humanity • http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2009/fragility/
Big idea # 7 We (humans) depend on the Earth for resources • Recourses mold our civilization • Natural recourses are limited • Geology affects the distribution and development of human populations • Fossil fuels and uranium currently provide most of our energy resource • Earth scientists help society move toward greater sustainability
Big idea #7 Natural hazards pose risks to humans… • Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, draughts, sinkholes, landslides, severe weather, etc. • Again gradualism vs. catastrophism • Scale – local to global • Increasing populations in hazardous areas
Big idea #8 We (humans) significantly alter each of the Earth’s spheres. • We alter the rate of the Earth’s processes • We can use the geologic record to distinguish natural vs. human influences • Humans affect the quality, availability, and distribution of Earth’s water through the modification of streams, lakes, and groundwater • An Earth-science-literate public, informed by current and accurate scientific understanding of Earth, is critical to the promotion of good stewardship, sound policy, and international cooperation
Homework for this week • Create an activity that incorporates geology layers, within any theme of your choosing • Or Listen to the Xavier Le Pichon podcast and write paper (no more than two pages) first page a summary of what he was talking about and a second page as a personal reflection (what do you personally think about his perspective?) Only the first page will be graded. http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2009/fragility/
GIS and Geology options • Make sure that you use the format provided in the activity book that I sent you…
Some geology layers that you might want to use…. • Bedrock • Pahas • Dunes • Coal mines • Aggregate sources beds • Sinkholes