1. Chapter 1 An Introduction to Geology

2. What Do You Already Know? Age of the earth? What causes earthquakes? Any in NY? What causes volcanic activity? Any in NY?

3. Physical Geology Examine earth materials Understand earth processes Surface Subsurface

4. Historical Geology Origin of Earth Development through time Fossils Strata

5. Environmental Geology Understand the Earth Systems Hazards & Resources Use knowledge to minimize impact and maximize our benefit

6. Historical Geology

7. Geologic Thought Through History Catastrophism James Ussher Mid 1600’s Earth formed 4004 BC Rapid violent episodes The Earth is “Young”

8. Geologic Thought Through History Uniformitarianism James Hutton Late 1700’s Published “Theory of the Earth” in 1795 Better understanding of earth processes “Present is the Key to the Past” The Earth is “Old”

9. Geologic Time Relative Time & Absolute Time Relative Determine age of rocks & fossils by their relative location Absolute Radioactivity discovered in 1896 We can analyze the chemistry and assign a specific age to rock or fossil

10. Superposition

11. Fossil Succession Fossil organisms succeed one another in a specific order (evolution). Time periods can be recognized by their fossil content

12. Geologic Time Scale Eras Periods Pre-Cambrian Time Cambrian Time Carboniferous Period Cretaceous Extinction

13. Universe Formation Big Bang Supernova ~ 14bya Slipher & Hubble Red Shift Expanding forever?

14. Solar System Formation Nebular Hypothesis Immanuel Kant ~ 1755 All elements Mostly H & He CCW rotation ~ 5bya Accretion ~ 4.6 bya sun turns on

15. Terrestrial Planets Smaller Denser (metallic & rocky) Closer to the Sun Why are they smaller & denser?

16. Jovian Planets Larger Less Dense (H 2 O & CO 2 ) Further from the sun Why are they larger & less dense?

17. Asteroid Belt Big rocks Between terrestrial & jovian Do they hit the Earth? Why are they there?

18. Sun Yellow Dwarf Star (G2) Mostly H & He Fusion Bomb Perihelion Aphelion How old is it? How/when will it die?

19. Hydrosphere All Phases of Water Earth’s surface = 71% ocean Ocean = 97% of worlds water Is ocean water potable? What is happening to sea-level? Why is it happening?

20. Atmosphere Thin Blanket of gases ~ 10 miles from surface Formed from volcanic outgassing Moderates temperature & Protection Are we changing our atmosphere?

21. Biosphere Plants Animals All life forms

22. Geosphere Lithosphere & everything beneath

23. The Earth’s Layers Lithosphere Asthenosphere Mantle (Mesosphere) Outer Core Inner Core

24. Continents and Oceans

25. Continents Asia Europe Africa Australia North & South America Antarctica

26. Continents Mountains Active or “recently” active portions of crust Cratons Comprised of Platforms and Shields Stable or “inactive” portions of the crust

28. Oceans Pacific Atlantic Arctic Indian

29. Oceans Oceanic ridge system Prominent topographic feature Igneous rock Basalt Volcanoes

30. Rocks & Rock Cycle

31. End of Chapter 1