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Evolution of the Earth

GLY 2010 – Summer 2013

aka Physical Geology

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“As the radius of the circle of light grows larger,so does the circumference of the ring of darkness

around it.”

Albert Einstein

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What Are The Geo Sciences?

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Origin of “Geology”

• Meaning: The study of the Earth

• From Greek ge and –logia

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How Do We Study The Earth?

• Use techniques of many fields Physics Chemistry Biology Mathematics

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What Geologists Study

• 1. The materials of which Earth is made

• 2. The processes that act, and have acted, on these materials

• 3. The products formed by these actions

• 4. History of the planet and its life forms since its origin

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Where is Geology Studied?

In the laboratory

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Junior Field Camp, 2005

In the field – photo courtesy Dr. Anton Oleinik

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What Is Physical Geology?

• A broad division of geology that concerns itself with the processes and forces involved in the inorganic evolution of the Earth and its morphology, and with its constituent minerals, rocks, magmas, and core materials.

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External Clues

EETA 79001 meteorite, was found on the ice in Antarctica, and is quite likely from Mars.

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Topics Covered in Course

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MaterialsThe Composition of the Earth

• Minerals

• Rocks

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Geologic Processes

• Weathering

• Erosion

• Transport of sediment

• Volcanism

• Seismic activity (earthquakes)

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Geologic Agents

• Water

• Plate movements

• Energy transfers

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Natural Hazards

• Examples:EarthquakesTsunamisVolcanoesSinkholesSubsidence

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Natural Resources

• Metals

• Energy

• Water

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Energy Resources

• Balance exploitation of the earth with environmental protection

• Petroleum resources are diminishing Preparing for a change in energy

resources

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Landforms

• Arid Region

• Glacial

• Coastal

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Geologic Research

• Soil loss• Geologic mapping• Plate Tectonics• Paleontology• Stratigraphy and

biostratigraphy• Palynology • Energy sources

• Environmental problems

• Hydrogeology• Environmental

Geochemistry• Global Climate Change• Sea-level rise• Biogeochemistry

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Climatology

• Global warming, caused by emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is raising global temperatures

• How has climate varied over longer periods of time? Geologic studies can help provide reliable data

• Data from ice cores, tree rings, pollen grains, marine sediments, lake sediments, stalactites and stalagmites, and others are studied

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Foram Image

• Scanning electron microscope image of a foram

• Forams can provide clues to past climates

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Plate Tectonics

• Unifying theory for the earth sciences

• Impacts all aspects of geology

• Aids understanding of many phenomena previously misunderstood

• Based on Alfred Wegener’s concept of Continental Drift, first proposed in 1912

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Environmental Problems

• Disposal of hazardous waste, especially spent nuclear fuel

• Demand for additional energy and mineral resources

• Cleanup of existing mining sites which have produced pollution

• Cleanup of other environmental contamination

• Demand for additional clean water sources

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Importance of Geologic Research

• Earth’s population is over 7.08 billion people, as of May 7, 2013

• Demand for water, food, and natural resources is putting an incredible strain on the planet

• What is the sustainable limit? Research can help to answer this question

• What other areas of research are providing vital information?

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Climate Change

• The issue of climate change has been hotly debated

• The climate is warming, and man is the cause

• The effects of warming and secondary effects, are being actively studied

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Climate Change Implications

• Precipitation will increase

• Sea-level will continue to rise, probably at a quickly accelerating rate

• Melting of permafrost, with associated emission of more greenhouse gas

• Subsidence in coastal regions and areas of permafrost

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Academic vs. Applied Research

• As budgets tighten, there is a tendency to favor applied research, which has a goal of an achievable result that will benefit society

• Academic research may seem to be of interest to only a few people in the world, with no practical benefit whatsoever

• This attitude would have denied us penicillin, transistors, and many other things we take for granted

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Geology and Other Disciplines

• Frequency of severe hurricanes in the North Atlantic over time – how can we measure hurricanes without written records?

• Could Napoleon's desire to conquer Britain have been thwarted by a geologic event?

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Jobs in Geology

• Formerly a cyclical industry

• Expansion into new areas has increased job opportunities

• Stepping stone to employment in other areas

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Job Prospects - 1

• Demand for environmental scientists and hydrologists will be spurred largely by public policy, which will oblige companies and organizations to comply with complex environmental laws and regulations, particularly those regarding ground-water decontamination, clean air, and flood control

Job Prospects - 2

• Job opportunities also will be spurred by a continued general awareness regarding the need to monitor the quality of the environment, to interpret the impact of human actions on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and to develop strategies for restoring ecosystems

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Job Prospects - 3• The median annual wage of geoscientists was $82,500 in

May 2010• Employment of geoscientists is projected to grow by 21

percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations

• Most new jobs will be in management, scientific, and technical consulting services

• Most geoscientist jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree• In several states, geoscientists may need a license to offer

their services to the public

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Educational Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is adequate for a few entry-level positions

• Most geoscientists and hydrologists need a master's degree, which is the preferred educational requirement for most research positions in private industry, Federal agencies, and State geological surveys

• More than half of the states require a license to practice geology

• A Ph.D. is necessary for most high-level research and college teaching positions, but is generally not required for other jobs

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Job Transfer to Other Countries

• It is nearly impossible to transfer jobs in geology overseas

• Work must be done on-site

• Geology jobs are available world-wide

First Geologists in the White House

• Herbert Hoover, thirty-first president of the United States

• Geology degree from Stanford in 1895

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Lou Henry Hoover

• Graduated from Stanford University, 1898

• Possibly the first Geology degree awarded to a woman in the United States

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USGS Geologists at work in Alaska

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Careers for Geoscientists

• Click to play video