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Geology B10 Jack Pierce

Delve into the study of the Earth with topics ranging from the materials shaping our planet to the processes that define its history. Learn about rock formations, fossils, geologic time scales, catastrophic events, and the philosophies of catastrophism and uniformitarianism.

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Geology B10 Jack Pierce

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  1. Geology B10 Jack Pierce

  2. Geology – the study of the earth • Physical Geology: • Materials that comprise the earth • rocks, minerals, earth’s interior, • processes acting below and above the • surface • Historical Geology • Understand the Earth’s origin and • development through time. • Understand the chronological order of • geologic events over 4.6 by old earth • The geologic time scale • Dating various geologic events • The significance of fossils

  3. Physical Geology: Materials that make up the earth Sedimentary Metamorphic Minerals Igneous Processes below/above the earth

  4. Historical Geology layers of rock deposited one layer over another– preserving evidence to the origin of the earth “The rock record – like pages of book” fossils- preserved animal/plant remains in the earth’s crust demonstrating the progression of life throughout earth’s history

  5. I geology class Discuss with a friend: • What is the specific definition • of geology? • 2. Describe the differences between • physical and historical geology. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes

  6. Geo-philosophical Questions • Is the Earth old or considered young? • Are earth process rates rapid or slow? • How can rock (considered 2-b.y. old) have the same composition of present rock produced today? • If mountains are built through tectonic processes, why can’t we make obvious observations? • In terms of geologic time, why is it possible for a storm to erode 2-million years of rock formation in a single day?

  7. Catastrophism Powerful geologic events that shape the earth in a single incident. • Volcanic eruptions • Earthquakes • Massive floods • Mass wasting processes

  8. Catastrophism • Determined the earth was only a few • thousand years old – created in 4004 BC • Earth landscapes produced by great • catastrophes • Attempted to fit the formation of the • earth’s features into a short amount of • time (6000 years – Biblical philosophy • creationist viewpoint.)

  9. Uniformitarianism “Birth of Modern Geology” “The Present is the Key to the Past” James Hutton 1728-1797 Uniformitarianism states: Physical, chemical and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the geologic past – “What is happing geologically today, more than likely took place when humans were not present.”

  10. The Uniformitarianism philosophy Do geologic processes act slowly or rapidly? How many catastrophic events take place/day? When was the last major volcanic eruption? When was the last major earthquake? How long does it take a river to carve a canyon? How fast are the continents moving? Do you consider yourself a catastrophist or a uniformitarianist?

  11. Taking Uniformitarianism literally – Problem with “U” Rates and intensities of geologic processes change over time. Example: 10,000 years ago, large land masses were covered in ice. Different type of geologic environment than today Different intensity Different rates of erosion Given the concept of Uniformitarianism, would you consider the earth to be very OLD or very YOUNG?

  12. The Geologic Time Scale • attempts to organize 4.6 b.y. • of the earth history • created from both relative • and absolute dating processes • based on fossil succession and • relative dating principles. Age of Reptiles Amphibians Age of fish When does the presence of man appear on the geologic time scale? Invertebrates

  13. The Concept of geologic time 4.6 b.y. Dec Jan Late March Earliest evidence for life (bacteria) November: Plants/Animals move to land Age of the Dinosaurs • Geologic Time: • Considered very slow • 100 million years --- considered very recent • How long is 4.6 billion years ?? • Consider the geologic time scale in “one year” Dec 31, 11:49 Humans Appear

  14. I geology class. Discuss with a friend: 3. Describe the differences between catastrophism and uniformitarianism. 4. Provide at least 2 examples each of catastrophism and uniformitarianism. 5. Identify “problems” with both philosophies. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes.

  15. Scientific Inquiry Write a few sentences describing a situation you have been in where you failed, but tried, tried again and succeeded.

  16. How do we find “accuracy” in our answers? The Scientific Method-Science Inquiry A set of logical steps scientists use to “get to the truth” of processes acting in the universe • Making Observations and Measurements • Collecting facts, asking why questions • Formulating a Hypothesis(predictions as to why) • Explaining how and why it works (after fact- finding), “educated guessing” • Testing the Hypothesis (experimenting) • performing experimentations that test the accuracy of the hypothesis

  17. Scientific Theory • well-tested hypothesis – widely accepted view • that explains observable facts • Scientific Law or Principle • natural phenomena are observed to happen in • the same way – no deviations have ever been • observed

  18. The Scientific Method If you fail, try try try again. 7

  19. The Scientific Method in Action-- Astronomy Observation/ Experimentation/ Theory 1,650 years of scientific method Isaac Newton Described the 3 laws of motion, Universal Gravitation, showed earth and planetary bodies are governed by universal laws of physics – thus ending geocentric theory C. Ptolemy Almagest – accepted the geocentric model over the heliocentric model N. Copernicus Continued with the heliocentric theory– -- and was widely accepted J. Kepler Developed the three planetary laws of motion Revolutionized astronomy Astronomy Timeline A.D. 90 – 168 1473-1543 1571-1630 1643-1727

  20. How does the view of Earth influence the way we study earth?? What do you see? • Various “systems” within the earth that interact • with one another -– called Earth System Science • Systems are NOT individually studied • How one system impacts another • system

  21. The fragile earth as a closed system is supported by four interrelated open systems. Lithosphere Represents the solid earth: minerals, rocks, and interior Biosphere: Includes all living organisms on land, in water, and in air Atmosphere: Thin blanket of gas keeping life alive, warm, and protected Hydrosphere: Interaction of all water processes, only planet with water, 71% ocean 12,500 feet deep, streams, lakes, groundwater Geosphere Interaction of all open systems

  22. Cycles and Interactions Explored in Geology There are three (3) main earth cycles and within each cycle, multiple open systems exist. Hydrologic Cycle describes the movement of water through reservoirs of the earth system (rivers, water vapor, groundwater) The Rock Cycle internal/external earth processes that produce new rock, modifies rock, transport rock, and breaks rocks down The Tectonic Cycle movement and interaction between rigid lithospheric plates, internal earth processes producing divergent, convergent, and sliding plate motions

  23. I geology class I geology class 6. Define the four major open systems and give an example of how systems may interact with one another. 7. Define the three major cycles used to explore geologic processes and give an example of how these cycles may interact with one another. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes

  24. 8. The earth’s place in the solar system Uranus Neptune Jupiter Saturn Outer planets Jovian planets Gas planets Earth Mars Venus Low densities Mercury Inner planets Terrestrial planets SUN High densities 28 Asteroid Belt

  25. Lithosphere Cont/ocean crust Upper mantle 2.8 g/cm3 Crust Asthenosphere ductile rock Mantle -Solid Si,O,Fe,Mg,Ca 5.5 g/cm3 Mantle Why are densities arranged from heavy (core) to lightest (crust)? Core Temp: 5000 C Source of magnetic field Outer Core Molten – Ni, Fe 11.5 g/cm3 Chemical Differentiation Inner Core Solid- Ni, Fe 12.5 g/cm3 The earth’s interior

  26. What makes earth unique?? • Oxygen, water, life • oxygen atmosphere • no O2 on other planets • the hydrologic cycle • Soil accumulation • weathering of rocks • various soil types • Plate Tectonics • moving continents • formation of landforms • from interacting plates

  27. I Earth Science. Discuss with a friend: 8. Describe the layering of the earth using lithosphere, asthenosphere, mantle, and core; explain properties. 9. Describe chemical differentiation. 10.Present at least 3 reasons why the earth is unique. I will get an A on my exams and quizzes.

  28. Why do we care and study our earth (geology)? • Earth resources: • societies depend on minerals and rocks for material • resources • soils that produce agriculture products • the availability of fresh water for everyone • Geologic hazards: • volcanic eruptions, landslides, earthquakes, floods • (when does nature become a geologic hazard?) • The uniqueness of earth • constant fascination and can give one geologic chills • earth processes may open the door for other planetary • processes Students need the science requirement for their degree!

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