Geology and GIS

Content development
A bit of content for you non-geology
types
after
http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/in
dex.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

Big idea 2 Earth is ____

years old.

4.6 Billion years of time

The Earths 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

Albedo

 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
Earths 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/pro
grams/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 Earths spheres.
We alter the rate of the Earths processes
We can use the geologic record to distinguish
natural vs. human influences
Humans affect the quality, availability, and
distribution of Earths 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