Unit 1 Notes
Sun as Power
Geology
Electromagnetic Radiation


We gain our knowledge by the
study of light emitted from stars
and other bodies.
Ex. X-Rays, Cosmic Rays, Visible
Light, Microwaves, Radio Waves

(Classified by wavelength on the
Electromagnetic Spectrum)
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Fusion vs. Fission


Nuclear Fusion
The way in which the
Sun produces energy
---- nuclei combine


Nuclear Fission
When the nuclei
split
The Structure of the Earth
Earth’s Insides

In three main parts:




The Crust
The Mantle
The Core
Based on the composition of each
part.
The Crust


Thin rocky outer
layer
Two parts:


Oceanic Crust –
younger rocks
Continental Crust –
older rocks
The Mantle



82% of Earth’s
volume is found
here.
Solid, rocky shell
A change in the
rock types
The “Extra” Layers

Lithosphere: A
strong layer under
the upper mantle.

Asthenosphere: A
soft layer, weak
under the
lithosphere.
Earth’s “Extra” Layers

Lower Mantle: A
rigid layer, top of
this layer rocks
are solid bottom of
the layer rocks are
liquid.
The Core

Made up of two
parts:


Inner Core: Solid
layer (pressure)
Outer Core: Liquid
layer
The Cores

Inner Core: The
materials are
pressed into a
solid because of
the pressure

Outer Core: Liquid
due to the
extreme heat.
Discovering the layers


A scientist discovered that seismic
waves happen under the surface in
different layers.
Earthquake waves can travel around
the world in different layers of the
Earth
Things to know about
Earthquakes
2 parts

Focus: Point within
the Earth where
the Earthquake
starts.

Epicenter: On the
surface above the
epicenter.
Where do Earthquakes occur?
Faults
How do they happen?
Plate Tectonics
http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVide
o.php?title=Continental_drift&video_id=
98547&vpkey=
http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVide
o.php?title=Plate_Tectonics_Rap&vide
o_id=82280
2 types of shocks

Aftershock:
Follows a major
earthquake (could
be smaller)


Foreshock: Before
an earthquake.
Can happen
years/days before
an earthquake
How do we measure waves?
Seismograph
2 types of waves

Surface Wave:
Travel along the
Earth’s surface

Body Waves:


P wave: push/pull
wave through rocks
(1st)
S Wave: shake
particles at right
angles (2nd)
P and S waves
Finding the Center of the Earthquake


Use three seismic stations to find
the center
Use a distance – time graph
What we measure

Intensity: Amount
of shaking

Magnitude:
size/amount of
energy released
The scale


Richter Scale:
Based on the
amplitude of the
largest wave.
The old way


Moment of
Magnitude:
Amount of
displacement from
the fault
The new way
Types of Destruction

1.) Seismic Vibrations – damage to
buildings/amount intensity

2.) Tsunamis

3.) Landslides

4.) Fires
Predicating Earthquakes

Short Range:
Measures strain,
not very
successful


Long Range: Helps
with building
codes, can’t really
understand
Seismic Graphs:
Not a lot of activity
along a fault line.
Plate Tectonics
Continental Drift
Continental Drift


Wegner – proposed the theory of
continental drift.
Continental Drift – The continents
had once been joined to form a
single supercontinent.
 Pangaea!!!!
Evidence




The continental
puzzle
Matching Fossils
Rock Types and
Structures
Ancient Climates
A New Theory


Wegner’s theory
was rejected.
Plate Tectonics –
based on
earthquake
knowledge.
Plate Tectonics
Plate Boundaries and Major Plates
Earth’s Major Plates


The lithosphere is
divided into plates
Earth’s Plates –
move and
continually change
shape and size.
Types of Plate Boundaries



Divergent Boundaries – Two plates
move apart.
Convergent Boundaries – Two
plates move together.
Transform Fault – two plates grind
together.
Types of Faults



Normal Fault
Reverse Fault/Thrust Fault
Strike-Slip Fault
Actions at Plate Boundaries
Divergent Boundaries

Oceanic Ridge –



Create an oceanic
ridge – wide not
narrow
Rift Valleys – deep
faulted structures
Seafloor
Spreading:


Plate tectonics
produce new
oceanic
lithosphere.
5 cm per year.

Continental Rifts:

East African rift
valley
Convergent Boundaries




Subduction Zone – Oceanic crust is
being pushed down into the mantle.
Oceanic – Continental = Continental
plate remains floating.
Oceanic – Oceanic
Continental – Continental
Convergent Boundaries

OceanicContinental
Oceanic - Oceanic
Continental – Continental
Transform Fault Boundaries

Plates grind past each other without
destroying the lithosphere.
Volcanoes
Mt. Saint Helens Eruption
May 18, 1980
Factors Affecting Eruptions

Primary Factors:




Magma
composition
Magma
Temperature
Amount of
dissolved gases.
Viscosity – the
substances
resistance to
Volcanic Material



Lava Flows
Gases
Pryoclastic
Materials
Types of Volcanoes

Three main
types:



Shield Volcanoes
Cinder Cones
Composite
Cones
Inside A Volcano
Other Volcanic Landforms



Claderas – a large
depression in a
volcano
Necks & Pipes –
How magma gets
through the
volcano
Lava Plateaus
Soil and Weathering
Mechanical vs. Chemical Weathering


Occurs when
physical forces
break down
rocks.
Three process:



1.) Frost
Wedging
2.) Unloading
3.) Biological
Activity



Transformation
of a rock from
one form to
another
Water: A major
factor!
Each type of
material has a
different rate of
weathering.
Mechanical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Rate of Weathering

Three factors are:
1.) Rock Characteristics: the physical
way a rock looks
2.) Climate: Temperature and
moisture
3.) Differential Weathering: Different
parts of rock mass weather at
different rates.
Just a little soil information

An important product of weathering

Supports growth of plants

Four major components:




1.) Mineral Matter: about 45% of the
matter in soil
2.) Organic Matter: 5% (decayed things)
3.) Water: 25% water
4.) Air: 25% air
The Soil Profile

Soil varies in
texture,
composition,
structure, and
color at different
levels.



A Horizon –
Topsoil
B Horizon –
Subsoil
C Horizon –
Soil Erosion


Water helps to remove the topsoil
that we need to grow plants and
trees.
Rates of Erosion:


More plants, grass, and trees helps to
hold the soil in place.
Human activity that removes these
things help to speed up erosion.
Mass Movement
What is it?


The transfer of rock and soil down
slope due to gravity.
Caused by weathering and erosion.
Triggers of Mass Movement
Water
Saturating Surfaces
creating mudflows
Oversteepened Slopes Water cuts under the
bank of a river.
Removal of Vegetation
Taking away plants and
roots
Earthquakes
Shake lose soil creating
a landslide
Types of Mass Movement



Based on the kind of material, how
it moves, the speed of the
movement.
Rockfall – When rocks fall from a
steep slope.
Slides – When land sides down
suddenly.

High mountain areas.
More types



Slumps – downward movement of a
block of material in a curved
surface.
Creep – the slowest form of
movement.
Flows – mass amounts of
movement

2 types:

1.) Mudflow – Moves quickly
All about Rocks
Random Rock Facts

Rocks contain clues that tell us
about the environment that they
were formed in.
 Example:
Rock with shells formed in a
shallow ocean environment.
Volcanic rock formed near a
volcano
Rocks


A solid mass of
mineral or
mineral – like
matter that
occurs naturally
as part of our
planet.
Three types:

Igneous,
Metamorphic,
The Rock Cycle

Interactions between Earth’s water, air,
land, and living things can cause rocks to
change from one type to another.
Igneous Rocks

Things to know:



Magma: Under the
Earth’s surface.
Lava: Magma that
reaches the Earth’s
surface.
When magma cools
and hardens
beneath the
surface or a
volcanic eruption.
Igneous Rocks

Coarse Grained vs. Fine Grained

Glassy Texture vs. Porphyritic

Granite Comp
vs. Basaltic Comp
Sedimentary Rocks


Weathering – a
process where
rocks are
chemically and
physically
broken down.
Sediments are
compacted and
cemented
together.
Sedimentary Rocks

Compaction and Cementation

Clastic
and Chemical
Jellyfish fossil in sedimentary
rocks
Ripple Marks show where a river
was.
Metamorphic Rocks



Bury
sedimentary
rocks deep
within the Earth.
Increase
pressure and
temperature.
Change into
Metamorphic
Metamorphic Rocks

Contact
and

Foliated and
Regional
Nonfoliated
Energy to rock the Rock Cycle

Process are:


From Earth’s interior – heat (igneous
and metamorphic)
From Earth’s exterior – sun,
weathering, movement or materials
(sedimentary)