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AP Environmental Science
Earth Science Concepts
Geologic time scale, Plate tectonics, Earthquakes and Volcanism,
Weathering and erosion,
Natural disasters: tornadoes, cyclones, mudslides.
Seasons and temperature change,
Solar intensity, Latitude and temperature change.
References:
Review grade 10 earth science concepts
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml
This website has good graphics and the interactive quizzes at the end are good for
learning too. You must scroll down. Have fun!
Geologic time scale
Two time scales: Explain how each works and which is considered more accurate!
a. Relative time scale based on
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b. Radiometric time scale based on the
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Factors that complicate the geological time scale are
a. Sequences of strata are often eroded.
b. Strata laid down at the same time in different areas can have entirely different
appearances.
c. Strata of any given area only represent a part of the earth’s history.
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Cretaceous mass extinction is defined by the extinction of the dinosaurs and
many marine species.
What defines the Permian mass extinction?
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All of this information is a reminder of the constantly changing dynamics of the
earth.
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Earth Structure
How old is the earth? ___________
It is divided into three sections:
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Label the diagram of earth.
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Continental Drift theory
This was proposed in 1915 by Alfred Wagener. He based his theory on:
1. Fossilised tropical plants were found below Greenland’s icecaps.
2. Glaciated landscapes occurred in the tropics of Africa and South America.
3. Tropical regions on some continents had polar climates in the past, based
on paleoclimatic data.
4. Similarities exist in rocks between the east coasts of North and South
America and the west coasts of Africa and Europe.
5. The continents fit together like a puzzle.
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This theory was accepted in the 60s when the theory of plate tectonics became evident.
http://www.scotese.com/newpage13.htm plate tectonic animations
What is plate tectonics?
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Describe the three different types of plate boundaries.
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Mandatory http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/animations/hellscrust/main.html Watch this one
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Volcanoes
http://www.usgs.gov/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/programs/html/movie1.html
Kilauae
The USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/home.htm
Make a short note on the main points to do with volcanoes.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blDXgde1Tpg Iceland Excellent but for interest as it
is 60 minutes long.
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Volcanoes often spew great quantities of ash many kilometres into the air. This fine ash
can drift for thousands of kilometres, falling on distant lands, yet the smallest particles of
dust may remain suspended in the atmosphere for months. The uprush of gas and vapours
from the Krakatau eruption reportedly carried fine ash to a height of 27 kilometres. In
addition to creating colourful sunsets for many months afterwards, the vapour and ash
clouds can have long-lasting effects on the atmosphere and climate.
Steam and other gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and sulphur
dioxide continuously escape from the surface of lava. Volcanic areas can emit harmful
gases in immense quantities. In 1986 a volcanic lake in northern Cameroon released toxic
gases that killed more than 1,700 people.
The danger to life posed by active volcanoes is not limited to the eruption of molten rock
or showers of ash and cinders. Disastrous mudflows are an equally serious hazard. One
triggered by a small eruption that melted ice and snow on Ruiz Peak volcano in Colombia
claimed more than 25,000 lives in 1985, one of the worst volcanic disasters in the 20th
century. Some mudflows may occur long after an eruption is over, when heavy rains
saturate loose volcanic debris. In addition, eruptions near glaciers can melt vast quantities
of ice, resulting in damaging floods. Iceland occasionally suffers these massive floods,
known there as Jökulhlaup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iGJlYgp43s Scarey video about
Yellowstone eruption 45 minutes
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Volcanoes to know about:
Mount Saint Helens – erupted in 1980, removed trees, caused soil erosion,
destroyed wildlife and also spewed gas and ash.
Mount Pinatuba – Phillipines, 1991, erupted for 9 hours, vented 18 million
metric tons of sulphur dioxide into the air which encircled the earth in 3
weeks once in stratosphere. Increased reflection of radiation and caused 1°C
cooling of the earth within 3 years.
Kilauea = biggest active volcano
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Earthquakes
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/ update on earth quakes
The causes of earthquakes
An earthquake is the shaking and vibration of the crust due to movement of the Earth's
plates (plate tectonics). Earthquakes can happen along any type of plate boundary.
Earthquakes are caused when the tension is released from inside the crust. This happens
because plates do not move smoothly - sometimes they get stuck. When this happens a
great deal of pressure builds up. When this pressure is eventually released, an earthquake
tends to occur.
The point inside the Earth's crust where the pressure is released is called the focus. The
point above the focus, on the Earth's surface is called the epicentre.
In an earthquake, energy is released in the form of waves. These are called seismic
waves. The waves spread out from the focus. The strongest waves are found near the
centre of the earthquake. This means that the most severe damage caused by an
earthquake will happen close to the epicentre.
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The diagram above illustrates how the
movement of two plates at the plate
boundary creates pressure deep inside
the Earth. This is the focus. This
pressure travels up to the Earth's crust
and escapes at the epicentre of the
earthquake. The pressure, released at the
epicentre, travels outwards in all
directions in rings (seismic waves). The
waves are felt most strongly at the
epicentre, becoming less strong as they
travel further away.
The power of an earthquake is measured using a seismometer. A seismometer is a
sensitive machine, which picks up the vibrations caused by the earthquake. It plots these
vibrations on a seismograph.
P waves are primary waves which arrive first, causing back and forth motion and cause
ground to fracture. S waves are secondary waves which cause ground to shake up and
down. Surface waves arrive last and travel along the surface like rolling ocean waves.
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The strength, or magnitude, of an earthquake is measured using a scale called the Richter
Scale. The Richter Scale is numbered 0-10:
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An earthquake measuring one or two on the scale is very common and can happen
everyday in places like San Francisco. These earthquakes are so small that they
can only be picked up by a seismometer: people cannot feel them.
An earthquake measuring around seven or eight on the Richter Scale can be
devastating, e.g. the earthquake in Turkey of 1999 which measured 7.5 on the
Richter scale.
Richter scale compares amplitudes of waves and strength/energy of the
quake. In terms of energy each whole number corresponds to about a 32X
increase in energy released.
Examples of significant earth quakes
Haiti
San Francisco
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Complete the plate tectonics puzzle for review
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/activities/radiobuttonquiz/Tectonicspz.shtml
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