GPC Geology Blog

All Owls are Equal, But Some are More Equal Than Others

2011-09-27T14:23:00.000-04:00

This is a link to a post on geosciblog - science on the issue of government vs. Barred Owls vs. Northern Spotted Owls.

A Minor Note Before Environmental Science Exam I

2011-02-08T06:10:00.000-05:00

Remediate means to fix or clean up, as in an environmental problem. Such as replanting a forest or cleaning up a pollution problem.

Physical Geology Take Home Lab Assignment

2010-10-20T12:39:00.002-04:00

You can click on the title or click HERE.

Answer then questions and turn these in next Wednesday (10/27).

Topo Map Videos

2010-08-20T22:05:00.002-04:00

From user: ccohengses

From user: chenyugin

From user: lgibson100

A Late Reminder for the Physical Geology Lecture Final

2010-05-09T21:39:00.005-04:00

Sorry I didn't get to finish the new Power Point review, a few more things to review are:

The New Georgia Geology Notes. The main thing to remember are the 4 Provinces and the basic rock types in each one.

Valley & Ridge - Paleozoic Sedimentary Rocks.
Blue Ridge - Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks - highest topography in the state.
Piedmont - Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks - has more igneous rocks, e.g., the large granite bodies and the diabase dikes, which are the youngest igneous rocks in Georgia.
Coastal Plain - Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sediments

The Valley & Ridge, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont Provinces are all considered part of the Appalachian Mountains.

On the Mass Wasting Chapter - the cause is when Gravity overcomes Cohesion and Friction. Oversteepening of slopes is when natural support at the bottom of a slope is removed by erosion or excavation.

On the Surface Water Chapter - remember the definition of gradient, cut-bank erosion occurs on the outside of a meander bend, point bar deposition occurs on the inside of the meander. Oxbow lakes are cut-off meanders. Also remember Base Level - when it drops, down-cutting occurs; when it rises, deposition occurs.

On the Ground Water Chapter - remember the definitions of aquifer, the basics of well construction (reasons for grout and surface pad).

Brief Exam III Review

2010-04-18T23:12:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delays.

1. Non-foliated - no preferred orientation of minerals. Marble and quartzite.

2. Preferred alignment of prismatic crystals or flat, platy minerals. Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss.

3. Slate - phyllite - Schist.

4. Water promotes the more active movement of ions, causing more substantial mineral changes.

5. Regional and Contact.

6. Vulcan Quarry in Norcross.

7. Ductile - takes place in deep settings at higher temperatures, where the rocks are flexible enough to fold and not break.
Brittle - takes place closer to surface, where rocks are colder and tend to fault, fracture, or joint.

8. Protolith - the original rock which is altered by metamorphism. Shale - slate. Limestone - marble.

9. Calcite and Wollastonite.

10. Blue Ridge and Piedmont.

11. Schist.

12. Relative Age Dating - using different geological principles to identify a series of events.

13. Absolute Age Dating - using radiometric decay of selected isotopes to estimate geologic age of particular igneous rocks.

14. Original orientation of sedimentary rocks - horizontal, also known as Original Horizontality, identified by Nicolas Steno. He also identified Superposition and Lateral Continuity.

15. Angular Unconformity - layers below tilted or folded, layers above - horizontal.
Nonconformity - sedimentary layers over igneous or metamorphic rocks.
Disconformity - parallel layers above and below erosion surface.

16. You can see all three types from Hopi Point, on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

17. On slide #3, there is a Nonconformity with the Tapeats Sandstone overlying the Brahma Schist, not a Disconformity.

18. James Hutton was responsible for Inclusions and Cross-cutting relationships. A xenolith is an example of an inclusion in an igneous rock. A fault is a cross-cutting relationship.

19. The Hermit Shale is present at both the Grand Canyon and at Sedona, AZ.

20. The Organ Rock Shale and the Moenkopi Formation are present at both Monument Valley and Canyonlands National Park.

21. An Index Fossil is a fossil that is geographically widespread, with a short existence in the fossil record. William Smith first recognized them.

22. Half-life is the time needed for half of a radioactive element to break down to its stable daughter product.

23. An isotope is a variety of an element with one or more extra neutrons.

24. The Cambrian Period marked the first widespread appearance of hard-shelled organisms.
The end of the Permian Period marked a widespread mass-extinction, with the loss of 90 - 95% of marine species.
The end of the Cretaceous Period marked the widespread mass-extinction of the dinosaurs and ammonites.

25. The late part of the Triassic Period, when modern corals and dinosaurs appeared in the fossil record, was approximately 210 million years ago.

A Few More Environmental Thoughts

2009-12-02T07:15:00.005-05:00

A few thoughts from Michael Crichton about Environmentalism as a "religion" (in that it is based upon emotions).

[Important Note: Just because you disagree with an Environmentalist, that doesn't mean that you are anti-Environment or that you want polluted air, water, or food. Disagreement is not hate.]

Listen carefully to Michael Crichton's words.

Consider this with George Carlin's somewhat more crude viewpoints.

The way we deal with environmental issues and natural disasters is through Logic, Good Science, Freedom (which yields creativity and entrepreneurship), an Understanding of Historical Perspective,...i.e., Sober, adult reactions, not "the sky is falling" hysteria.

Suggestions for Physical Geology Lab Final

2009-11-28T16:58:00.006-05:00

Be familiar with:

Cleavage - which minerals have it, which don't.

Igneous textures

Metamorphic textures

Sedimentary textures

Law of "v"s regarding topo maps.

More too come...

A few notes for Exam III, Environmental Science

2009-11-15T20:35:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay, I was in Austin, TX for job training Wed. PM - Sat. AM..

Important concepts to remember - Orographic Effect and Rain Shadow Effect.

Plate Tectonics - Rift (Divergent) Zones, Subduction (Convergent) Zones, Transform Fault Zones, Isostacy, Difference between Continental crust and Oceanic crust.

In Subduction zones, the melting of oceanic sediments, along with oceanic crust, provides some of the quartz that makes Andesitic volcanoes explosive.

Basalts are erupted where the crust is thin or where there is a hot spot.

Mount St. Helens is an example of a composite or stratovolcano.

When shales and limestones are dark colored, that is a sign of them being organic-rich.

Moisture and temperature are the most important factors in how rapidly soil forms from weathered rocks. Warm and moist are the most favorable conditions.

More may be added later...

The Real Threats to Coral Atolls

2009-10-03T10:08:00.002-04:00

Blaming human-caused global warming for damage to coral reefs is an exercise in laziness. Here is an in-depth article about real threats to coral reefs, which when left alone, have survived past episodes of warming and cooling, of sea level rise and fall.

[Click on the title for more info.]

To the Physical Geology Lab Class...

2009-10-01T07:46:00.002-04:00

Here are some needed links for your take-home exam.

My home page: http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/

Temporary Assignment Page: http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/TempAssignmentPage.html

Questions: http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/PhysicalGeologyLabMidterm09.doc

My Physical Geology webpage, scroll down for Power Point notes related to Minerals, Igneous Rocks, and Sedimentary Rocks: http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/PhysicalGeology2009.htm

Sorry for missing class, by the time we were finished with my son's doctor visit, for the Type A flu, and then going to three drug stores to find the right medicine, it was too late to make it to class.

This needs to be done by Lab time on Monday.

To the Environmental Science Class

2009-09-18T16:26:00.003-04:00

Today I attempted to update the website from the Alpharetta campus, but as they didn't have the Microsoft FrontPage program, I was unable to do so. Maybe I will try again tomorrow (Saturday), so perhaps check again tomorrow afternoon.

Website Updates

2009-09-11T16:26:00.001-04:00

Sorry I didn't get the website updated, didn't get a chance to get to the Covington (or another of the GPC campuses). Will try to get there early on Monday to update Chapter 3 and 4.

A Few Thoughts on the California Wildfires

2009-09-08T05:58:00.003-04:00

Columnist Barbara Simpson has some thoughts about why the fires in California are so severe.

It is because of past tinkering with nature (as George Carlin suggested). Some areas had not had a fire in 40 years, thus there was an overabundance of dead timber, dead and living undergrowth and once the fire got started (in this case by arson), there is little stopping it.

[Disclaimer: World Net Daily is a bit "over-the-top" on some issues, so if you venture away from this column, you are on your own.]

George Carlin on Global Warming

2009-08-19T11:46:00.003-04:00

Language warning, George Carlin (and Penn & Teller) recognize absurdity when they see it. I don't agree with everything they ridicule, but once in a while, they "get it right". So, be forewarned that there is "colorful" language in this video:

Again, this is being presented as a learning tool, without endorsement to all of the verbiage within.

Environmental Science Class

2009-08-17T12:47:00.003-04:00

My intro/Rant, Chapter 1 Power Point and part of Chapter 2 Power Point are here:

http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/EnvSciIndex2009.htm

Will update more...

While the modem is working...

2009-07-28T07:56:00.003-04:00

A few more suggestions.

Remember what a gaining stream is versus a losing stream.

For surface and ground water issues - remember what Capacity vs. Competency is about, what a Recharge Zone is and what a Drainage Basin (or Watershed) is.

Other stuff - Disconformity - horizontal layers, separated by an erosion surface - Redwall Limestone over Muav Limestone in Grand Canyon. Nonconformity - sedimentary rocks over igneous/metamorphics - Chattahoochee gravels over saprolite or Tapeats Sandstone over metamorphics in Grand Canyon. Angular Unconformity - Cambrian Tonto Group over tilted Grand Canyon Supergroup.

Youngest igneous rocks in Ga. are the diabase dikes on the Piedmont.

Soils to remember - Pedalfers - this area; Laterites - tropical rain forests; Pedocals - El Paso area.

Remember shield volcanoes - usually hot spots or rift zones. Composite volcanoes - usually inland from subduction zones.

More study suggestions for the final

2009-07-27T15:58:00.002-04:00

Most of the metamorphic rocks on the Ga. Piedmont and Blue Ridge were regionally metamorphosed, the only places to see contact metamorphism is close to the large granites and the diabase dikes.

Remember the difference between foliated and non-foliated metamorphic rocks and remember examples of each.

The agents of metamorphism are heat, pressure, and fluids (pressurized water).

Igneous and metamorphic activity are Internal Processes (happening below the Earth's surface), while Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition are External Processes (happening at the Earth's surface).

The grain sizes of clastic sedimentary rocks are related to Water Energy Conditions. The amount of sorting is related to water energy and length of transport.

Some study suggestions will follow

2009-07-27T09:09:00.003-04:00

I have been having trouble with my home DSL modem. Will add some more suggestions for later.

For now -

Remember the four Ga. Geologic Provinces and characteristics, such as -

Igneous & Metamorphic - Blue Ridge and Piedmont
Sedimentary - Valley & Ridge and Coastal Plain

Valley & Ridge, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont are considered part of the Appalachians.

Remember examples of Valley & Ridge fossils vs. Coastal Plain fossils.

Exam IV

2009-07-23T14:30:00.002-04:00

Here is the link to the page where the Exam can be downloaded.

http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/Take%20Home%20Exams.html

Links for Take Home Exam

2009-07-22T23:16:00.002-04:00

Mass Wasting

Groundwater

Surface Waters, Erosion, related subjects

Shoreline Processes

These should help with the questions.

A Few Review Suggestions for Exam III

2009-07-15T06:35:00.004-04:00

Remember the 4 Ga. Provinces and their major characteristics, i.e.:

in which provinces do you find igneous & metamorphic rocks,
in which provinces do you find fossils (and which types are highlighted),
where are the granites and the diabase dikes,
age ranges for the provinces

(Remember to work on your note sheets)

Other stuff...

What protolith/parent rock means regarding metamorphics.
How snowball garnets form (regarding shearing).
Angular unconformities/Disconformities/Nonconformities and example of Ang. Unconf. - in Grand Canyon - Tonto Group over Grand Canyon Supergroup and example of Nonconf. of river gravels over saprolite.
Examples of foliated metamorphics - slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss.

More will be added later.

Current Events

2009-06-16T09:06:00.002-04:00

Even though this is not directly related to Physical Geology, as Geology is the study of the Earth (in a broad sense), this article on Global Cooling (which has been predicted for years by Russian solar scientists), should be of interest.

FYI, here is a link that describes the political origins of the Global Warming Hysteria (as it relates to carbon dioxide).

A Few More Notes...on Earthquakes and stuff

2009-05-10T23:06:00.003-04:00

Though we didn't get to cover things related to earthquakes, if any questions come up on the first part of the test, a quick reminder...

There are three types of earthquake seismic waves that reach the seismograph. The P-waves (Primary Waves) are the fastest and reach the seismograph first.

The S-waves (Secondary waves) are second fastest and the L-waves (Surface waves) are the last to reach the seismograph. Though they are the slowest, the L-waves do the most damage to structures.

By using the difference in arrival times between the P-waves and S-waves (as related to distance), using the difference in arrival times from three seismographs, we can triangulate to find the location of the Epicenter.

S-waves do not travel through liquids, while P-waves will travel through solids and liquids.

Miscellaneous stuff

2009-05-10T22:43:00.002-04:00

In the top photo are volcanics overlying a syncline.
In the second photo, from the Maryland Valley & Ridge Province, is what is called a "Water Gap", where Wills Creek (or perhaps a larger river in the past) likely cut the ridge by headward erosion.

The third photo is of an exposed dike, showing the discordant nature of the tabular intrustion. The mountain in the background is a small stock which represents the intrusion. The dikes radiate outward from the stock like wagon-wheel spokes. Because they are harder than the "country rock", they stand look like walls extending across the countryside.

Don't forget, you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

The last photo is a reminder of the exfoliation dome shape of Stone Mt.. This photo is from the old "east quarry" side of the mountain.

Some Sedimentary Notes

2009-05-10T22:20:00.002-04:00

The first photo shows the very well-sorted sands of a beach dune. This is due to the actions of longshore currents and washing by wave action.

The second photo shows poorly-sorted angular to sub-rounded pebbles in a stream gravel bar.

The third photo shows the fissile nature of shale. Light colored shales like this were probably deposited in an open marine environment, such as a continental shelf.

Red shales and siltstones are characteristic of tidal flat and delta environments.

Black shales are characteristic of anoxic, oxygen-poor environments, where organics are preserved due to the lack of bacterial action.

Creek and river sediments are generally poorly-sorted, such as these. You have every size from clay to pebbles (<1/256mm to 5-6 cm or more). The contact shown is a Non-conformity, where sediments overlie igneous rock (now saprolite).

More Final Reviews

2009-05-10T22:02:00.003-04:00

These photos show examples of foliated metamorphic rocks from the Ga. Piedmont and Blue Ridge.

Except for the areas immediately adjacent to diabase dikes and the largest granite bodies, the vast majority of the metamorphism in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge is Regional Metamorphism.

Don't worry about remembering what Myllonites and Phyllonites are, the photo simply helps illustrate foliation.

Some Igneous Issues

2009-05-09T13:17:00.002-04:00

The top photo shows a comparison of igneous versus metamorphic textures.

Though both rocks are similar in composition, the gneiss is marked by the alignment of minerals. The crystals in the granite are randomly oriented.

The second photo shows the most obvious difference between mafic and felsic igneous rocks. Remember that the phaneritic, mafic rock is Gabbro, which is similar to Oceanic Crust.

The Granite is the phaneritic, felsic rock and is similar to the Continental Crust. A Diorite would be a grayish color and would be a phaneritic, intermediate rock.

Remember that the Bowen Reaction Series applies only to Silicate minerals. The mafic minerals crystallize first, the felsic minerals last.

More to come later...

(Remember, you can click on each photo to enlarge it for a better look).

Erosion and Weathering and Soil

2009-05-09T12:41:00.003-04:00

[If I repeat anything I posted earlier, please forgive. I don't have time to go back and revisit what I previously wrote.]

Remember the details about the two different types of weathering and examples

Physical - mineral chemistry doesn't change, types include ice wedging, exfoliation, root wedging.
Chemical - mineral chemistry changes - Hydrolysis changes feldspars and other silicates to clay, including kaolin. Carbonic acid H2CO3 is the most common natural acid. It comes from the mixing of rainfall and carbon dioxide.

Warm, humid conditions are most favorable for chemical weathering. Cold, dry conditions are most favorable for physical weathering. Virtually all weathering takes place on the outcrop (rock exposure) and in the rivers on the way to the ocean.

Water is the most important agent of erosion. What water doesn't remove by erosion becomes part of the soil profile. The "O" and "A" layers are most important to the plants.

Tropical soils - Laterites, are characterized by thin O and A layers, heavily leached subsoil.

More Notes to Come...

2009-05-09T12:30:00.002-04:00

I was at the college a bit yesterday, but the computers in the teacher work area would not recognize my password, thus they would not let me on the internet, thus I was unable to update my website as I planned.

An Important Review Note

2009-05-07T10:52:00.003-04:00

After having given it some thought, I decided that in the interest of time and saving gasoline, instead of going to the college today (and tomorrow), I will post more review notes on this blog and go to the campus tomorrow, when I was already going. It is an 88-mile round trip between here and there and with the traffic lights takes 3+ hours of driving.

Besides it is easier to post new photos on my blog than the website. The photos there (except on the Power Point) were already posted before the last format change.

For your final, bring the regular Scantron. The Assessment will use the red ones that I will furnish.

So keep checking back during the day and tonight.

More Reviews

2009-05-07T10:39:00.003-04:00

A few water-related reviews.

The monitoring wells at left show concrete surface pads, which are the first line of defense against surface pollutants reaching the aquifer. Below the surface, grout in the annular space is the second.

The second photo is an example of an obvious losing stream, which usually occurs in a karst terrane (as above) or if the water table is way below the stream bed (perhaps when a mountain stream leaves the mountains and flows into the adjacent desert).

The third photo (click to enlarge) is an example of a gaining stream, which is certainly the norm in Georgia. The water table is inclined towards the stream, feeding small springs and seepage to replenish the creek.

To My Lab Students

2009-05-07T09:53:00.001-04:00

I am still working on your Lab finals and remaining papers, as well as getting ready for the lecture final (and doing my full-time job, too).

Sorry for the delay, but I will know your grades on Friday.

More Review of Physical Geology Lecture Final

2009-05-07T09:34:00.003-04:00

From the Vulcan Quarry on Beaver Ruin Road in Norcross, there are a number of things we can learn from this diabase dike having been intruded into the Lithonia Gneiss.

*Cross-cutting Relationships and what they tell us and who was responsible for the concept.
*The diabase (basalt) dike is an example of a mafic, aphanitic igneous rock in the form of a discordant, tabular intrusion.
*The diabase dikes are a record of the youngest igneous activity in Georgia - during the Triassic and Jurassic Periods (Mesozoic Era).
*The Lithonia Gneiss was regionally metamorphosed during one or more of the three periods of Appalachian uplift.
*The intrusion of the diabase dike (related to the rifting of Pangea) caused a small zone of contact metamorphism on both sides of the dike.
*The parallel, flat breaks in the rocks are joints, while the more irregular breaks are fractures, (both are examples of brittle deformation). Both joints and fractures can contribute to this rock being a fractured bedrock aquifer.

Final Review Notes...

2009-05-06T08:07:00.002-04:00

Because of the intense storms expected this afternoon, I will probably come to the college on Thursday to make changes to my website. Not today.

I will post some study suggestions on this blog in the meantime.

Beginning with...

Remember the contributions of Nicolas Steno - Concepts of Superposition, Original Horizontality, and Lateral Continuity. These mainly apply to sedimentary rocks, but can apply to volcanics. Remember that you can see evidence of all three of these from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

While on the subject of the Grand Canyon, from the same rim, you can see all three types of Unconformities - Angular Unconformity (between the Grand Canyon Supergroup and overlying Tonto Group; Disconformity (between the Muav Limestone and the overlying Redwall Limestone); Nonconformity - Tapeats Sandstone overlying the Brahma Schist.

Remember that James Hutton was responsible for concepts of Cross-Cutting Relationships and Inclusions - remember examples of each.

More to come...

Reminders and photos

2009-04-29T11:57:00.002-04:00

Airline photos of meandering rivers. The pilot didn't tell us when we were over the Mississippi River.

As for today's class, bring tennis shoes/boots, a water bottle, and a hat or cap - in case we have an outdoor class (or part of one). I need to spend some time skimming over the remnants of Chapter 17, a little of Chapter 15, and...

This is just the way the schedule worked out.

A Few Test Reminders...

2009-04-20T06:23:00.008-04:00

Sorry for the delay.

Remember the three types of Unconformities and where you can see all three types (ignore Paraconformities). The contact between the Cambrian Tonto Group and the Precambrian Grand Canyon Supergroup is an Angular Unconformity. The other types at the Grand Canyon are also in the Chapter 9 Power Point.

Three periods of uplift for the Appalachians - 1st - Taconic Orogeny, Late Ordovician Period; 3rd - Alleghenian Orogeny, Pennsylvanian Period - don't concern yourself with the 2nd one as it didn't affect the Southeastern part of the continent as much.

The Coastal Plain sediments are Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic and include such fossils as clams, oysters, sand dollars, and shark's teeth.

Remember the characteristics of the two most common non-foliated metamorphic rocks on the Piedmont or Blue Ridge - marble and quartzite.

Remember the most common green mineral - epidote.

Remember the most common black crystal - tourmaline.

Some important time intervals to remember - Cambrian Period - first widespread appearance of shelled organisms; Pennsylvanian Period - final uplift of the Appalachian Mts., large river deltas including coal swamps (and fern fossils in Ga.); Permian Period - mass extinction of 90 - 95% of marine species; Triassic Period - first appearance of modern corals and dinosaurs, initial rifting of Pangea (opening of the Atlantic Ocean); Cenozoic Era - the era in which we now live; Quaternary Period - the period in which we live; Holocene Epoch - the epoch in which we now live.

Remember what Nicolas Steno, William Smith, and James Hutton were responsible for.

Remember the difference between regional metamorphism and contact metamorphism.

Valley & Ridge fossils - brachiopods, trilobites, horn corals, crinoids, blastoids, ferns.

Most of the rocks in Red Mountain (Birmingham) and Taylor Ridge (Ringgold, Ga.) are of the Red Mountain Formation - river delta and tidal flat deposits - derived from erosion of Taconic Highlands to the east.

Kyanite is a bladed, blue mineral that is found in Ga.. The kyanite from Graves Mt. is short-bladed and randomly oriented in a quartzite matrix. The kyanite occurrences from Rabun and Habersham Counties are in mica schists.

Remember the description of a mica schist and remember the three main types of micas that you see in Ga., Muscovite, Biotite, and Chlorite.

Remember what a "Granite Pavement" ecosystem is and where is it found. Remember what the solution pits are and the unusual plants that grow in them at Mt. Arabia.

Remember the types of aquifers for the Ga. Provinces.

Remember that the dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period.

Remember what causes "snowball garnets" (shearing of a schist during metamorphism) and that snowball garnets would probably not show any good crystal faces, unless the shearing stopped before the crystal finished growing.

Most garnets come from metamorphic rocks.

Museum-quality rutile crystals come from Graves Mt., in Lincoln County.

In a broad definition of the Appalachians, the Valley & Ridge, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont are all included.

Remember the Fall Line cities in Ga..

More to come...

About the odd shaped piece of quartzite...

2009-04-11T23:13:00.003-04:00

(I don't have a photo to remind you, but it was sample #28).

It has its particular shape because it was part of a fold. It was probably surrounded by mica schist that weathered away, leaving the quartzite behind.

Remember, at the surface, quartz and quartzite are relatively stable and do not undergo chemical weathering.

We will do a little more of the "Ga. stuff" on Monday, then have Exam III on Wednesday.

Announcements for Wednesday, April 1 - No Foolin'

2009-04-01T10:05:00.003-04:00

I decided not to have the test today. (Honestly).

Instead, we will "break into" small groups to work on an in-class project, which will familiarize you a little more with Georgia, metamorphics, and geologic time.

If it is not too much of an inconvenience, is it possible for any students to bring their lab manual, so there is at least one in each group? They might be useful for looking up some mineral info.

Announcements for Monday, March 30, 2009

2009-03-30T10:29:00.002-04:00

As it is still too wet to go outside for class (maybe Wednesday), today in lecture we will review Chapters 8 & 9 and Georgia Geology Notes. If the weather is nice on Wednesday, we may have class outside. If has rained again, we will have Exam III.

In lab, we are going to do Lab 9, on maps.

Announcements for Monday March 23

2009-03-23T12:21:00.003-04:00

For Lab, there will be an open-book "mid-term" exam.

For lecture, if you haven't yet printed out the "Georgia Geology Notes Part I or Part II", don't do so, as I redid that Power Point this morning and will upload it when I get to the campus, a little later.

BTW, Redoubt Volcano is busy.

Sorry for the late notice on the exam and Power Point.

Class Update

2009-03-16T13:26:00.002-04:00

To my classes;

Sorry that I hadn't posted any news here during Spring Break. Our daughter gave birth to our first grandchild, a grandson last Tuesday. So we have been busy with that special event.

As for the exam, I have been wrestling with how to grade these, as I made them longer than I should have and didn't get the chance to review as I wanted to because of the snow day.

We will be doing the Chapter on Metamorphic rocks this afternoon and Wednesday.

See you this afternoon.

Remember the April 18th field trip, there still may be a few openings.

Just a Reminder

2009-03-02T14:17:00.002-05:00

If you didn't get the word, there is no class tonight, due to the re-icing of snow and slush.

I do need you to send me a notice if you want to go on the April 18th field trip to NW Ga. It is only $5, but you will need to bring lunch and a water bottle and plan to be gone most of the day.

For Lab only students, have a nice spring break. For lecture, I will have to figure out something, 'cause until an hour ago, I thought we had class. Bring books and notes - in case I decide to have an open book test. Or we might just go with what we have for a regular test, as we only had two chapters. Go back and reread the Power Point notes.

GPC Sponsored Field Trip - April 18

2009-02-24T23:12:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder, there is a field trip sponsored by GPC to the Valley & Ridge Province of Georgia. We haven't yet gotten into the Geologic Provinces of Ga. yet, but the Valley & Ridge is the area between Cartersville, GA and Chattanooga, TN.

The area is characterized by folded and faulted, old sedimentary rocks, some with fossils.

The bus trip is $5 and you need to bring a sack lunch and a water bottle. There will be numerous stops, some of them may be on private land, which we might not be able to visit if not for the permission gained for this trip.

Let me know if you are interested. It will take most of the day and I think they are leaving from the Clarkston campus. Will get back to you with more details.

For Today's Exam

2009-02-18T06:20:00.002-05:00

If you weren't in class on Monday, email me ASAP at jsummerour@hotmail.com so I can send you one of the Study Guides. You need to fill it out and then you can use it as a note sheet for the test.

For those of you with the Study Guides, just a reminder, there is a typo on the right column. "R" should be Porphyritic Texture, not Phaneritic.

The link for the next Chapter doesn't work, yet, but it should by the time of the test.

Good Luck.

For Later in the Semester...

2009-01-19T11:15:00.002-05:00

when we cover "Mass Wasting", here is a sequence of photos of a Rock Fall and Rock Slide in Yosemite National Park, last year.

Fortunately, there were no campers/rock climbers below the event.

Yellowstone Caldera (Supervolcano)

2009-01-14T11:22:00.007-05:00

Per a student request, here are a couple of Supervolcano videos and an index map showing recent earthquake activity, including Yellowstone earthquake activity and southeastern US:

The first one from shortskivt and First Science TV

The second one is from Sustainable Angels:

After watching part of the second video, this guy's geological information, timescales, and cause/effect relationships are all screwed up. It is an interesting video, some good images, just take the prior history and causes with a shaker of salt.

Geology Videos - #1

2008-12-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

Rock identification, from a former Marine's video. Originated by "devildogmre", he is now a student at East Tennessee State University. The commentary seems to be him and another student:

Not totally scientific, but you might remember some of the identifications.

The second video, from "Studio4Learning"

Probably for a high-school class, a short video, but still provides some information.

Another video, a follow-up from "Studio4Learning":

Hope you find these informative and entertaining.

[I would have posted videos earlier, but I didn't learn how to do this until yesterday (12/09/08).]

To All Classes...

2008-12-10T08:32:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not having posted more finals-related info here. As you know, I had been coughing quite a bit lately because of a sinus infection. It turned into bronchitis and I have just been too sick the last few days to get much done. I am getting better, but it takes time.

I would ask that you keep checking here, in the name of your continuing science education, as I will be posting YouTube videos on science issues, after I screen them.

Good Luck with your finals and your future.

To My Physical Geology Class...

2008-12-08T11:28:00.000-05:00

I will try to post some study tips later. I have been sick with a sinus infection and bronchitis. I was going to come to the college today to update my website, but I am too sick to drive that far.

My apologies.

P.S.; The final is at 1 PM, not 1:45 PM on Wednesday.

Geology Class - Exam IV Reminders

2008-12-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

The exam is most likely to be an open-book/open-note exam on Chapters 15 (Mass Wasting), Chapter 16 (Running Water), Chapter 17 (Groundwater) and Chapter 20 (Shoreline Processes).

Physical Geology Chapter 20 Info

2008-11-29T00:09:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to a website on Beach issues.

http://www.uky.edu/AS/Geology/howell/goodies/elearning/module14swf.swf

Newton County Recycling Info

2008-11-20T11:37:00.001-05:00

http://co.newton.ga.us/content/view/19/31/

For Thursday, November 20th

2008-11-19T22:43:00.000-05:00

We will spend the first 15 minutes or so of class reviewing the "Review Sheets" that you were given on Tuesday, then we will do the retest.

I changed my mind, we will not be using the Review Sheet during the test.

Environmental Science Re-test Review Answers

2008-11-18T17:07:00.000-05:00

There will be a re-test of Exam III (a shorter version on Thursday). If you missed today's class, email me at my hotmail address and I will send you an attached copy of the homework. You need to fill in the homework and study it for this is the source of the questions for Thursday.

In order:

Q - Winds uplifted...
W
J
T
X
A
O - Clockwise circulation,...
C
AA
L
DD
Z
B
F
D - Inhibits nutrient...
CC
EE
E
G
I
H
K
M - Terms to describe...
N
P
BB
R
S
U
V
Y - Causes waves in...

Idiot Alert!

2008-11-18T12:06:00.000-05:00

Restrictions on car-pooling in Ontario, Canada. A privately-owned startup firm helps put people together for the purpose of carpooling on an as-needed basis. A bus company threw a fit and sued because they weren't following the laws as decreed by the government.

From the article:

..."The only way you can ride with someone is if you meet ALL of the following extremely impractical set of specific criteria:

* You must travel from home to work only – (Not Home to School, or Home to the Hospital or the Airport)
* You cannot cross municipal boundaries – (Live outside the city and drive in – sorry you cannot share the ride with your neighbour)
* You must ride with the same driver each day – (Want to mix it up go with one person one day and another person another day – no sorry cannot do that – must be same person each day)
* You must pay the driver no more frequently than weekly – (Neighbour drives you to work better not pay her right away just in case she drives you later on in the week)"...

Read the story here.

Blame Canada! (Just kidding, I have relatives in British Columbia).

For the Physical Geology class ONLY!

2008-11-11T08:45:00.000-05:00

Today's Exam III will be open-book/open-note, so bring your stuff and your regular Scantrons.

Sorry for the late decision, I decided that we hadn't covered the material enough for the number of chapters that are on this test.

For Environmental Science Class

2008-11-10T09:41:00.000-05:00

This in-class assignment will probably be next Tuesday 10/28 - on the Temperate Deciduous Forest biome. Don't worry about Exam III for the near-term. It is important that we learn more about our own biome/ecosystem.

Here are a few websites on this subject.

Enchanted Learning. Univ. of Vermont. Nature Works. MBGNET.

This is important as this is our biome. Spend some more time on these websites. Remember examples from each of the five layers of vegetation from the Enchanted Learning website.

Another name for the "Tree Stratum" is "Canopy Trees", for the biggest hardwoods (or pines in a younger forest).

[A little more later today, check back.]

Recycling Expo

2008-11-06T07:02:00.000-05:00

There is going to be a three-day Recycling Expo on the third floor - Nov. 11 -13.

I will hand out a question sheet for you to fill in as a homework assignment.

Geology Class

2008-11-06T05:43:00.000-05:00

We will not have Chapter 15 - Mass Wasting on Exam III. I will emphasize the other important material today.

Thursday, Oct. 30th Classes

2008-10-28T13:46:00.001-04:00

Bring your outdoor shoes, in case the weather is suitable for an outdoor class.

For all classes, here are some map links.

Georgia Physiographic Provinces. Click on some of the regions, e.g., the Washington Slope and the Winder Slope for an explanation.

Georgia River Basins.

Georgia Counties.

Georgia Watersheds.

More may be added.

A Comparison of Oceanic and Continental Crust Material

2008-10-06T21:44:00.001-04:00

The Gabbro on the Left is similar to Oceanic Crust, while the Granite on the Right is similar to Continental Crust.

Gulf of Mexico info

2008-09-11T18:40:00.000-04:00

The two most important things to read are:

1) Gulf of Mexico facts and threats.
2) Artificial Reefs

Other stuff that might help you understand the subject a little better:
Gulf of Mexico maps , Flower Garden Banks Reef, Reef Balls, ReefMakers

Try this! "Aim a Hurricane" sent to me by one of your classmates. By putting the Low Pressure and High Pressure Systems in different locations, you can see how this affects the track of a hurricane.

Global Warming...How it All Began

2008-08-19T07:59:00.000-04:00

Prior to 1980, the Hypothesis that Anthropogenic (Human caused) carbon dioxide could cause significant global warming was obscure.

Read this article to find out how and why government got involved. And what happens after that.

Late Exam Reminders...

2008-07-28T08:54:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delays. Have been pre-occupied with mechanical repairs to both family cars and my digital camera, as well as grading Exam IV and the Lab Final.

A few things to review:

Some of the synonyms -

Subduction Zone/Convergent Zone
Rift Zone/Divergent Zone
Stratovolcano/Composite Volcano
Basalt/Diabase
Stagnant/Anoxic/Anaerobic/Oxygen-Poor/Reducing Environment

Other stuff -

If I mention the GUC campus, instead of GPC Covington, the same applies as they are both on the Piedmont.

In some limestones and shales, the dark color is because of the presence of organic matter and suggests deposition in an anoxic (oxygen-poor environment).

A flooded stream's Capacity (the quantity of transported load) is related to its discharge. The discharge is a measure of the volume of water passing a given point.

Non-foliated metamorphic rocks - primarily quartzite and marble.

A rock dominated by small, aligned mica flakes (that you can see) is a mica schist.

Muscovite mica - light brown. Biotite mica - black.

Quartz - no cleavage, irregular to concoidinal (curving) fracture.

Potassium Feldspar - 2 directions of cleavage at 90 degrees to each other.

Most of the Piedmont rocks are regionally metamorphosed.

Remember what an Angular Unconformity is and that the Cambrian Tonto Group in the Grand Canyon is deposited over an Angular Unconformity.

Most of the igneous rocks (granite, diabase) in Georgia are on the Piedmont. The high mountain peaks and marble are in the Blue Ridge.

The Bowen Reaction Series applies only to Silicate Minerals.

A Base Level rise triggers deposition. A Base Level fall triggers erosion.

Building a dam raises Base Level upstream. Tearing down a dam lowers Base Level upstream.

[Will try to add more.]

A Few Tips for the Lab Final

2008-07-23T18:29:00.000-04:00

For Lab 9, on Topographic Maps, review the Table on page 174 - "Rules for Contour Lines". Especially remember the "Law of "vees"", when contour lines cross a stream, the "vee" always points upstream.

Also remember that concentric closed contours represent a hill and that enclosed contour lines, with inward-pointing hatchure marks indicate an enclosed depression.

Remember what Index contours are and how to determine the contour interval.

On page 189, remember how to do a topographic profile and how to visualize a profile along a line across a topo map.

On Lab 10, remember the symbols for Strike & Dip and other symbols for anticlines, synclines, plunging anticlines, etc..

[More will be added a little later. Keep studying the two exams that I gave back to you.]

Links for Exam IV

2008-07-17T13:13:00.001-04:00

In case I don't get the time to update my website, here are some links.

Gwinnett County info http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/cgi-bin/gwincty/egov/ep/gcbrowse.do?channelId=-49520&pageTypeId=536880236

Sorry for Missing Class

2008-06-26T19:43:00.000-04:00

I had car trouble on the way to the campus. It is probably a problem with the coil. After the car sat immobile for a while, I managed to get it cranked, but as I didn't want to get stranded at Covington at 11 PM, I needed to drive it back home so I can work on it over the weekend.

For lecture on Tuesday, we will do the Part II of the Georgia Geology Notes and start on Chapter 9 - Geologic Time.

Exam II Review

2008-06-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

Chapter 6
>Remember the difference between Physical Weathering and Chemical Weathering. Hydrolysis is the type of Chemical Weathering that changes feldspar to kaolinite clay.
>The exfoliation sheeting that produced the rounded shape of Stone Mt. is a type of Physical Weathering. Root wedging is also a type of Physical Weathering. So is Frost Wedging.
>Remember the definition of Erosion. And that the principle agent of erosion is moving water.
>"Mass Wasting" is a fancy term for landslides, mudslides, etc..
>Physical Weathering does not change the chemistry of the rock or mineral. Physical Weathering produces more surface area by breaking up the rock or mineral and facilitates Chemical Weathering.
>Water can cause Mass Wasting events because it is heavy and it acts as a lubricant for gravity-produced soil and rock movement.
>The dissolution of calcite in limestone/marble is responsible for the formation of most caverns.
>All of the important Silicate minerals are susceptible to hydrolysis, except quartz.
>The rounded granite boulders at Charlie Elliott Nature Center (and elsewhere) are produced by Spheroidal Weathering.
>Remember the definition of "saprolite".
>Warm, humid climates (as we have here) are most suitable for Chemical Weathering.
>Good "O" and "A" layers of soil are responsible for an ecosystem's ability to bounce back from disturbances - "Resiliency".
>Deserts are fragile ecosystems because of poor soil conditions. Lack of moisture inhibits "nutrient cycling" of organics. Dead cactus/other plants crumble and the light organics are blown away in the wind.
>Peat - which is the first progression towards coal - accumulates in marsh and swamp environments, such as in the Mississippi Delta and other coastal locations.
>The primary mineral in limestone is calcite. Algae removes the calcite from water to use in their internal structures, when the algae die, the calcite particles drop to the ocean bottom.

Chapter 7
>Remember the difference between a breccia and a conglomerate.
>Iron oxide cement in sandstone produces a reddish-brown color. Most light-colored sandstones are Silica-cemented.
>The grain size of sediments is related to the water energy - large grains = high energy.
>Sorting refers to the range of grain sizes in a particular sediment.
>Roundness of sand/pebble grains tells of the "distance of transport", i.e., how far the clast has traveled from its original source.

Chapter 8
>Directed pressure produces foliated metamorphic rocks.
>Examples of foliated metamorphic rocks are Slate, Phyllite, Schist, and Gneiss.
>The most common non-foliated metamorphic rocks are Marble and Quartzite.
>Index minerals tell us of the Temperature and Pressure conditions of metamorphism, include garnet, kyanite, chlorite, sillimanite.
>Most of the metamorphic rocks on the Georgia Piedmont are regionally metamorphosed with some local areas of contact metamorphism.
>The Lithonia Gneiss is thought to be a metamorphosed Granite.
>If a rock is composed of small, aligned mica flakes, it is probably metamorphic. If the mica flakes are larger than 1 inch and randomly-oriented, it is probably an igneous rock.

Sorry for the delays. More material will start appearing here today (Tuesday).

Link to the Physical Geology Page

2008-06-03T09:49:00.000-04:00

with the Power Point links.

http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~jsummero/PhysicalGeology2007.htm

I think I got the Power Point links fixed (at about 7 PM).

Oil Rigs and Coral Reefs in Harmony

2008-06-03T08:51:00.000-04:00

Here is an article addressing some of the concerns about offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Offshore oil platforms have operated for decades at the Flower Garden Reef. Here is more on this reef, off the Texas/Louisiana coast. The benefits of rigs to certain organisms are described here. Basically, rigs create new vertical habitats for organisms that must attach to some sort of structure. Once these attaching organisms are established, other organisms are attracted to the area. From the following link:

..."Natural structure and hard bottom are rare in the Gulf of Mexico where the bottom is pretty much a vast featureless plain of mud and sand. Where structure does occur, natural or otherwise, it is like an oasis in a desert. Virtual gardens of sessile (permanently attached) invertebrates like barnacles, corals, sponges, clams, anemones, bryozoans and hydroids quickly attach to every available surface and in every nook and cranny. "...

When the well (or wells) "plays out", removing the rig structure would damage the established reef organisms and disrupt the system. So a program was established to leaf the structures in place (below a certain depth) and use the rig housing as additional structure for reef growth.

Rigs-to-Reefs program. From this website:

..."Since 1990, cooperating oil and gas companies have donated more than 64 obsolete petroleum platforms and contributed one half of the savings realized by reefing their rigs to the Artificial Reef Fund. These dedicated funds allow the Program to be relatively self-sufficient and finance research, administration, maintenance, liability coverage and construction of new artificial reefs."...

It is possible that the corals and other organisms in this area (SE of Galveston) are simply hardier, due to the natural oil seeps in the bottom of the Gulf. Whether or not reef organisms, in other areas, would "welcome" oil rigs might be debateable, but the record looks good. Imagine the disruptive scenario when a well plays out after decades and an emotion-driven eco-Luddite demands total removal of the structure, even that portion well-below the wave base.

These benefits are brought about by the free-market system and the sensible give-and-take regarding governments and their regulations. None of this is to suggest that these endeavors are risk-free (that world doesn't exist), but risks can be managed and minimized. Whether the government-controlled oil companies of China and Venezuela (drilling 50 miles from Key West) concern themselves about the reef organisms remains to be seen.

Our oil companies do listen to public concerns (maybe too much regarding the carbon dioxide hysteria), but sometimes it takes years to find a solution to address the public concerns. Government-owned firms may not find Public Relations to be a priority.

A Few Articles About Present and Future Oil Resources

2008-05-27T09:42:00.002-04:00

The Case for ANWR Development

Canada's Reserves

[More will be added.]

2008-05-27T09:42:00.001-04:00

A Good Yahoo News Article About the "Whys" of Increased Gasoline Prices

2008-05-24T01:10:00.001-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080523/ap_on_bi_ge/money_in_the_tank

It is a bit more complex than can be covered in a 15- or 30-second sound byte.

Last Chance for Final

2008-05-06T17:22:00.001-04:00

Two of you from my MWF class and one from the MW class missed your final. The last chance is Wednesday. I plan to be at the campus at about 11:30 AM to 12 Noon at Room 3250.

Consequences are either a letter grade lower or an Incomplete.

Email me.

Last Chance for any Extra Credit

2008-05-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

If any of your are feeling queezy after the final (the MWF class), you still have some time to email me an Annotated Bibliography of Nature-related books, as I explained in class, I will accept them within 24 hours of your finishing your final. Maybe 36 if I haven't finished all of my grading. Any points might help.

For Those That Missed the May 5 Final Exam...

2008-05-05T11:21:00.000-04:00

You need to email me ASAP. I have one more final tomorrow at 1 PM. If I have to make an extra trip to Covington, I will not be happy. Or else you can get a letter grade lower...

Contact me.

A Few Study Tips for the Final

2008-05-04T21:46:00.000-04:00

Remember, you can have two two-sided sheets of notes for Part II of the final. No notes are allowed for Part I.

There will be No Questions on the final - on the following subjects:

Katrina, Ethanol, (more will be added as I think about it).

Some things to study...

The Water Cycle;
the Carbon Cycle;
How is the stable N2 converted to the ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite ions needed by plants?;
The difference in Convergent and Divergent Zones and what type of volcanoes are associated with each - explosive composite/stratovolcanoes with Convergent Zones and quieter basaltic eruptions with Divergent Zones and Hot Spots;
Examples of interactions between the Biosphere and the Atmosphere.
The basics of atmospheric composition (most common gas) and different functions of the Troposphere vs. the Stratosphere;
What is used to calculate population growth - birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration;
What causes a "J" curve to change to an "S" curve - environmental resistance;

More to study (sorry for the delay):

Aspects of the Scientific Method and the two ways that the effects of personal bias can be lessened.
The difference between Abiotic and Biotic components and examples of each.
The difference between Species Diversity and Genetic Diversity.
The importance of the O and A layers in the soil profile.
What the concept of "Tragedy of the Commons" is and how it might apply to "commonly-owned" resources, such as ocean fisheries.
Definitions and occurrences of "Orographic Lifting" and the "Rain Shadow Effect" and how they apply to the presence of ecosystems in the Western United States, including the four North American Deserts.
The relationship between Mount St. Helens and the subduction zone.
Remember the types of plate tectonics interactions.
Definition of "Range of Tolerance" and how it applied to the story of the "Iceland fisherman".
Defintions of Keystone Species, Indicator Species, Generalist Species, Specialist Species.
Beneficial mutations (traits) and how they must be in place before environmental changes take place.
The characteristics of the Hadley Cells and the Rossby Regime.
Remember that in desert mountain environments, the morning sun is cooler than the afternoon sun, resulting in less evaporation of moisture on the east sides of mountain ranges.
High Pressure Systems - clockwise rotation, falling air.
Low Pressure Systems - counter-clockwise rotation, rising air - most beneficial for the growth of clouds and storms.
Resiliency refers to the ability of an ecosystem to "bounce back" from disturbances.
Which biome/ecosystem in which we live - Temperate Deciduous. Ecosystems are defined by and Abiotic term, then by Biotic term. Usually climate is first, major vegetation is the second.
An Age-Structure Diagram for a constantly-growing population is shaped like a pyramid.
What components of a properly constructed water well are designed to keep surface pollutants out of the aquifer?
Definitions of Population, Community, Niche, Habitat, Commensalism, Mutualism/Symbiosis and examples of Commensalism and Mutualism.

Remember for Part II, you can have 2 two-sided sheets of notes, as well as the graded Exam IV that will be handed back to you.

Notes for the Final...

2008-04-30T08:21:00.000-04:00

will be appearing sometime today. I am still getting over being sick on Sunday/Monday.

As for my MW 12:30 PM class,... Dea K., will you please email me about your needing to take the final early?

Check back later for study tips.

A Note to Students in Both Classes

2008-04-28T10:01:00.000-04:00

I apologize for not being there to hand back your Exam IV papers and other materials. I have been sick since yesterday afternoon. Please email me at my hotmail account tomorrow and I can give you the exam IV grade. jsummerour@hotmail.com

I will be posting info here for final exam review. Keep checking back throughout the week.

Final exam schedule (may be slightly different from what I told you in class).

MWF 11 AM class - May 5, 10:30 AM, Room 3250

MW 12:30 PM class 0 May 6, 1 PM, Room 3250

I apologize for the inconvenience.

Note to Students in my MWF morning class...

2008-04-24T09:57:00.000-04:00

There are 50 Assessment questions, not 100.

It is vitally important that you be in class Friday and Monday.

Some review notes may be posted here and perhaps on my website if I can get them to upload on Friday.

Links for Env. Science Exam IV

2008-04-20T20:36:00.000-04:00

More will be added, if deemed necessary.

Age Structure Diagram Question 11

Directional Drilling Question 12

Fox News Story on Bakken Formation Question 13

More info on the Bakken Formation Question 13

Arguments in favor of ANWR development Question 14

MSDS Form for Ammonia Question 17

Right to Know Laws Question 18

[Update: If you don't have time to do a full term paper to help your average, you can do an Annotated Bibliography (perhaps 5 pages) of nature-related books, with a short descriptive entry for each one, telling what the book is about. I may decide to let you add another page listing local nature-related organizations, e.g., the Georgia Native Plant Society.]

A Few Considerations on Current Events

2008-04-02T06:35:00.000-04:00

By way of NewsBusters is this Protein Wisdom post on the April Fool's Day Congressional hearings to "gin-up" some scapegoats for this election season.

Embedded with the Protein Wisdom post is this link to a Business and Media Institute article reminding us of OPEC's influence on the oil markets. Also within the BMI article is this reminder of the realities of the "oil biz".

Quoting from the article:

"...ExxonMobil reported $404.6 billion in revenue in 2007. It reported $40.6 billion in profits."

And ExxonMobil paid $105 billion in taxes in 2007.

Their profit margin is about 10%, industry-wide the profit margin ranges from 7 - 10%, well within the norm of American businesses on Wall Street. This has not changed in the recent years.

If Talking Heads and Politicians told you the first two facts, in a court-of-law, without telling you the third one, that would amount to perjury.

The Problems with Corn-Based Ethanol

2008-03-12T08:41:00.000-04:00

Here are a few opinion columns and articles... From sources Conservative, Libertarian, and Liberal.

Dr. Walter Williams, Say Anything Blog, Cato Institute, Tech Central Station, Indiana Chapter Sierra Club, Slate.com, Reason Hit & Run, USA Today, Crosspatch Chronicle Blog.

Monday Round-up #1

2008-01-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

Pertinent environmental news...

**World Bank actions result in loss of Brazilian rain forest. World Bank pledges to help save rain forests, then makes loans to help expand Brazilian cattle farms, soy farms for cattle feed, and sugar cane production (for biofuels).

**Sunday AJC Letter-to-the-Editor writer: "World population must go in reverse."

To "solve" overpopulation problem..."All the world's people must collectively reduce world human population to probably 5 percent to 10 percent of its current level, while raising the quality of living of all. This is a social decision. Technology will not save us."...

**Saudi Arabia has its coldest winter in 20 years. Snow and sub-zero temperatures in Saudi Arabia, light snow in Baghdad.

A Few More Exam III Reminders

2007-07-22T17:07:00.000-04:00

In the nutrient cycles, remember the characteristics of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, why excess Sulfur gases are harmful.

What part of the Water Cycle is represented by the formation of clouds and how does it happen?

Remember what diurnal temperature variation is and how the Greenhouse Effect affects it.

More to come...

Hurricane Katrina DVD Questions and Answers

2007-07-22T13:23:00.000-04:00

1. The low-pressure system that became Katrina began where?

Off the west coast of Africa

2. These weather systems are characterized by what direction of rotation?

Counter-clockwise

3. Which 2004 hurricane proved a close call for New Orleans?

Ivan

4. During the hurrican-chasing airplane flights, what are the functions of a "drop sonde"?

Collecting data on wind speeds & directions, temperatures, etc.

5. What are the two things that help "guide" a hurricane?

High-Pressure and Low-Pressure zones, sometimes strong weather fronts.

6. To what is attributed 90% of hurricane deaths?

Drowning in storm surges.

7. The oldest parts of New Orleans are built upon natural levees which are located where?

The French Quarter, next to the river.

8. What allowed the growth of the city away from the natural levees?

The development of a pumping system that allowed the drainage of wetlands.

9. What are the two types of levees in the New Orleans area?

Earthen levees and Concrete/Steel floodwalls.

10. Considering the direction of rotation of the hurricane, where is the strongest part?

The Eastern or Northeastern part is the strongest.

11. What human activity resulted in the degradation of the Mississippi River delta wetlands?

Levee enhancements and channel control prevented the normal replenishment of silt by yearly flooding.

12. The Lower Ninth Ward was flooded after a 15-foot high storm surge on the Intercoastal Waterway caused the breaching of the levee along which waterway"

The Industrial Canal.

13. In the other DVD, a 21 foot-high storm surge along the Mississippi Coast was reported during Hurricane Camille (1969). How high was the Hurricane Katrina storm surge in the same area?

28 feet.

14. The flooding of most of downtown New Orleans was caused by breachments of which two canals?

London Ave. and 17th Street canals.

15. Regarding past cycles of hurricane activity, the 1940s through 1960s (approximately) cycle coincided with a minor period of climatic cooling. Was this period an active cycle or inactive cycle?

Active.

Sorry for the delay. Have been busy with my second job.

A Few Reminders for Exam III

2007-07-19T00:39:00.000-04:00

Of the natural sources of carbon dioxide, the largest is probably Ocean releases, considering that 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans.

When looking at clouds, clouds that look like "heaps" are of the Cumulus family.

The most important function of the Gulf Stream is to move heat from the tropics to the northern latitudes.

[Note - it is OK to have a single-sided sheet of notes for Exam III].

More may follow in the next few days. I covered most everything else in class review.

Instructions for Environmental Science Exam IV - Summer 2007

2007-07-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

Vermiculite impurities from the EPA website links are here and here. [If you need to, do a word search for vermiculite and asbestos to see what is found.]

Another useful website is here. [Certain computers may have a problem with this particular website. Will try to determine what the problem is, the message is something about a Flash Media add-on problem.]

This information, as was stated, may be of use in your future.

Allow yourself time to find the information, it is there, it just takes some diligence.

For Question 13, check out the Conservation link at the El Paso Water Utilities website.

Notes on Question 16:

Since we did not cover Chapter 8, you do not have to do Question 16, but if you want to, there might be some extra points awarded.

[Update: Chapter 8 Power Point Notes are accessible on the Environmental Science webpage. They may not correspond to the current textbook, but they will work for this test, if you choose to do Question 16.]

If you encounter a classmate that wasn't in class for the announcements, let them know about where to find the info. And remind them of the deadlines.

6/12/07 10:20 AM - Keep checking back here in case there are more updates.

Attention - MW Night Class...

2007-06-27T14:39:00.000-04:00

In lieu of class on Mondy, July 2, you have been given assignments to complete, each of which will count as an in-class quiz.

All three of the cited articles are included on your CD.

If for some reason you do not have your CD, here are the articles. You will have to ask a classmate for copies of the Homework questions on the CD (the first two) and then the third one, which was handed out in class.

Water Vapor Rules the Greenhouse.

Global Warming: How it all Began.

From the Friends of Science website:

Spencer, R.W., and J.R. Christy, 2003: Global Temperature Report, 1978-2003.

Also, during the break, print out the questions sheet for the Solar Energy DVD.

Check back for more info.

Exam II Tips - For the Morning Class

2007-06-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

You need to remember the relationships shown on Geology Composite Power Point slide #2, the Orographic Effect and how it works on the windward and leeward sides of the mountains. Remember Orographic Lifting and the Rain Shadow Effect.

Also remember how it affects local weather and climate. [A tip - Weather represents the short-term atmospheric conditions and events. Climate represents 30-year or longer averages.]

Remember why Plate Tectonics is called a "Unifying Theory".

Other things to remember about Plate Tectonics:

The most important early proponent, who did not live to see his hypothesis become theory in the mid-1970s.

Remember some of the evidence that the continents were once joined.

Remember what wartime technologies we employed to map the ocean bottoms after WWII.

Remember what "Isostacy" means.

Remember the types of plate interactions and their synonyms.

Divergent zone/Rift zone - where plates are separating slowly. If Rift Zones, volcanic rocks are usually Basaltic (or Mafic) because the crust is thin, allowing molten rock to rise directly from the mantle.

Convergent zone/Subduction zone - where one plate is sliding beneath another. The sinking plate melts, triggering volcanism inland from the subduction zone. Volcanic rocks are andesitic (or intermediate) and are more explosive than the Basaltic/Mafic rocks because of the increased quartz content. These types of volcanoes are called Composite/Stratovolcanoes and examples include Mount St. Helens, Mt. Pinatubo, El Chichon, Galeras Volcano (from the DVD). The Cascade Mts. in the NW United States are an example of a Continental Arc System. Where one oceanic plate slides beneath another, it forms an Island Arc System, example Japan, Aleutians.

Transform fault zones - are where one plate slides past another. Volcanoes are rare or absent from this particular type of plate interaction. The San Andreas Fault Zone in California is an example of this.

Know the composition of Oceanic Crust - Gabbro (or Mafic) and Continental Crust - Granite (or Felsic).

Weathering breaks down rocks by natural processes and erosion carries the particles to the ocean. Chemical weathering dissolves the minerals. Physical weathering breaks down minerals through frost action and other processes.

In a stream, the size of the sediment particles is related to the stream energy, which is an abiotic component. The faster moving waters of mountain streams washes out the smaller particles, leaving the larger ones behind.

On the continental shelves, sediment particles are distributed based on grain size, with the largest grains along the shoreline in the high energy surf zone. The grain sizes decrease away from the shoreline, as the waters become quieter.

Most sedimentary rocks were deposited in shallow marine conditions, either on continental shelves, similar to today or in shallow, inland seas that covered much of the North American continent during the Paleozoic Era. These types of environments, warm, shallow marine ecosystems generally have the greatest species diversity.

Remember the differences and locations of rocky shore habitats and sandy shore habitats. Remember which one is submergent and which one is emergent.

[More will be added.]

A Noteworthy Article on Corn-Based Ethanol

2007-05-23T06:53:00.000-04:00

John Stossel has this article on the problems associated with corn-based ethanol.

There may be a homework assignment on this article and other current events articles in the near future.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENTS...

2007-05-02T09:58:00.002-04:00

Keep watching this space for Final Exam Updates.

They are in progress.

MWF Class - Final Exam - Tuesday May 8 - 8 AM

TR Class - Final Exam - Friday May 4 - 1 PM

Exam IV materials that might be on Final include:

Proper orientations for Solar features and what might prevent your adding solar to an existing home (this is in Chapter 13 Power Point).

General definition of Due Diligence.

Vermiculite insulation.

Know the difference between the following previous periods of natural global warming - The Holocene Maximum, the Roman Warm Period, and the Medieval Warm Period. Go on the internet if you need to get approximate dates.

Purpose of MSDS forms and where they should be stored at a work site.

Xeriscaping - what it is and its purpose.

Other stuff, from before Exam IV.

Know the following terms and what they mean:

Generalist Species, Specialist Species, Indicator Species, Keystone Species.

Range of Tolerance, Secondary Succession vs. Primary Succession.

Why reefs are important marine ecosystems and what threatens them.

Know four Georgia Geologic Provinces & basic characteristics. Where are the granites? Where is the marble produced? Where is the kaolin produced? All three of the products produce hundreds of jobs in Georgia, if not thousands.

Most important water well construction features that protect from surface pollutants - concrete surface pad and grout.

Orographic Effect, Rain Shadow Effect, 4 North American Temperate Deserts and why they exist.

The basics of the Greenhouse Effect (remember links from Exam IV) and how this affects Diurnal Temperature Variations.

Know the meaning of Synergy and Correlation.

Synergy is when two environmental inputs combine to produce an effect greater than the effects of the individual inputs. Example: Trees can become stressed by adverse conditions, such as a excessive rain. The stress of the excessive rain makes the trees more susceptible to damage by fungus, so the combined effects of rain and fungus is synergy.

Correlation is when two things happen "about the same time", but they may or may not be related. Temperature and Carbon Dioxide graphs show a correlation between the two values, but it doesn't tell us to which extent they are related nor which one "leads".

Be aware of the basics of the Wise Use Movement, as presented in the Power Point notes.

PHYSICAL GEOLOGY STUDENTS...

2007-05-02T09:58:00.001-04:00

Keep watching this space for Final exam study tips.

Final exam - May 8 - 3:30 PM

Materials from Exam IV (and other stuff covered after Exam III - Chapter 15 & 16) that might be on the Final Exam:

Where does the bulk of the erosion happen in a meandering stream?

Basics of mass-wasting - the role of gravity and water.

From Mass Wasting Chapter 15 - Remember definitions of Oversteepening, Slumps, Triggering Events.

From Running Water Chapter 16 - Remember definitions of Competence, Capacity, Bed Load, Suspended Load, Base Level, Stream Gradient, Drainage Basins (or Watersheds) - and in what drainage basin are we located (at the college)?

From Ground Water Chapter 17 - Remember definitions of Aquifer, Confining Layer, Saturated Zone, Cone of Depression, Annular Space, Surface Pad, Grout, Recharge.

Stuff from other chapters -

Remember contributions of each - Nicolas Steno, William Smith, James Hutton.

Plate Tectonics - Average compositions of oceanic crust and continental crust. Remember the three types of plate interactions and examples of each. What types of plate interactions are related to which types of volcanoes?

Rock Cycle - Basics, Differences between Physical Weathering and Chemical Weathering and Erosion. What conditions are most conducive to Chemical Weathering, what conditions are most conducive to Physical Weathering - and where does most weathering take place? Soil type examples - this area - Pedalfers; El Paso - Pedocals; Tropical Rain Forest - Laterites. Know basics of soils - importance of "O" and "A" layers and their importance to plants. Know the difference between Internal Processes and External Processes. What is Carbonic Acid and how does it form in nature?

Minerals - Basics of Bowen Reaction Series and what class of minerals does it address? What are the 3 emphasized characteristics of minerals? What do you first notice about a mineral and why might that feature be an unreliable way to identify the mineral? How do we classify minerals?

Igneous Rocks - Difference between Mafic and Felsic minerals and rocks. Know the difference between aphanitic and phaneritic and how they form. How do porphyritic rocks form? Why are there vesicles in some volcanic rocks? Remember the intrusive/extrusive associations - Gabbro/Basalt; Diorite/Andesite; Granite/Rhyolite. Remember the difference between a dike and a sill. Remember the rock types associated with shield volcanoes and composite volcanoes, as well as the definitions of these rocks.

More information will be added.

Instructions for Physical Geology Exam IV

2007-04-23T09:10:00.000-04:00

This exam is due Tuesday, May 1. I will take it after that, but arrangements will have to be made to find me and points will be counted off.

Sorry for the late date, but that is the way things work out. Class Attendance for Thursday April 26 is optional, but suggested for the purpose of review.

Check the websites linked in the box. If need be, go back and check the Georgia Geology Power Point links from lecture, earlier in the semester.

For Question 13, you may have to do some more internet research beyond this Gwinnett County Department of Public Utilities webpage. Here is a map of Georgia's 14 River Basins.

There is a "typo" in the second question within #13 - It should read:

"Into which river basin does most of Gwinnett County's sewers drain?"

Here is some more useful info for Question 13:

'Interbasin transfer' means the withdrawal, diversion, or pumping of surface waters from a point within any basin of origin and the discharge of all or any part of that water into a different receiving basin by means of pipes, conduits, ditches, or canals.

If I inadvertently used "intrabasin transfer" in the Power Point or elsewhere, that means water transfers within the same basin.

Questions 14 through 18 are largely from Chapter 16, on Running Water - go the Power Point.

Question19 through 23 are largely from Chapter 17, on Ground Water - go to the Power Point.

Watch This Space for Exam IV Information - 2006

2006-11-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

Question 1 (short essay) concerns the Burgess Shale, check Chapter 12 Power Point, Dr. Pam Gore's Burgess Shale webpage, & Dr. Gore's Cambrian Period webpage for information.

Questions 2 - 10 are fill-in-the-blank, using the A-N answers. Information is from Chapter 10 - 12 Power Point and other sources (as needed), including some of Dr. Gore's webpages. You will not use all of the answers.

For Questions 11 - 26, check the Chapter 10 - 13 Power Point notes and Dr. Gore's webpages in the green box on your instructor's Historical Geology webpage.

Questions 27 & 28 are from the Plant Fossils of West Virginia website. This website is pertinent because some of these same plant fossils occur in Dade County, GA.

A Few Class Reminders

2006-08-18T11:40:00.000-04:00

Go check my Historical webpage, though not updated, it has Power Point links for each chapter. The old syllabi are linked there, for references sake, until updates are available.

Reminder, no class on Monday, 9/4 due to Labor Day Holiday.

The first lecture will primarily be an introduction to the course.

Greetings for the Fall Semester 2006

2006-08-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

As the format for GPC faculty websites has changed and there is a learning curve, I will post class updates and links here on this blog for the short-term, at least.

You can check out my other blogs if you wish, once links are posted. I only ask that if you disagree with political viewpoints, that you do so in a polite, responsible fashion.

Thanks.