Weathering/Erosion Refresher Geomorphology –study of the changing shape of the earth Weathering –the breakdown of rock “in situ” (in place) Erosion –the transport of weathered material Weathering is the beginning to changing the shape of the earth

Chemical Physical Biological –Either physical stress or chemical decay Physical Geography Refresher: Weathering

Physical Geography Refresher: Basic Rocks: Igneous Basalt (Andesite)

Granite: lava cooled at great depth Physical Geography Refresher: Basic Rocks: Igneous

Sandstone: notice bedding fissures Graduation Rock Physical Geography Refresher: Basic Rocks: Sedimentary

rock coatings Physical Geography Refresher: Forming New Minerals rock coatings

What is an Index? A way to Quantify the Unquantifiable

Examples of Indices From everyday Life? –Ranking movies, ranking hotels, ranking restaurants, best schools, best cities From schooling? –SAT, your GPA, grading scales in classes From geography? –Palmer Drought Severity index, sand mobility index, soil development index

Another Example: Grading This Lab

Out of how many? –A possible score of 10? 100? Elements: –What scale? ? 1-5? 0-3? –Do you want to weight elements –What are you missing? How to score Selecting Index Elements

How to Score Index Elements List elements of scoring: –Fissures What scale?

How to Score Index Elements Fissures –0 not present –1 present –2 obvious –3 dominant

Analyst Discretion May be concerned about specific environmental factors One parameter might be extremely dominant Choose a multiplication factor for any of the parameters Example: –Extreme fissures