Geology 101Geology 101Geology 101Geology 101

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Website: Website: facweb.northseattle.edu/tfurutanfacweb.northseattle.edu/tfurutan

Website: Website: facweb.northseattle.edu/tfurutanfacweb.northseattle.edu/tfurutan

Instructor:Instructor:Tracy FurutaniTracy Furutanitfurutan@northseattle.edutfurutan@northseattle.eduOffice hours: MTW 11 to noon IB 2328BOffice hours: MTW 11 to noon IB 2328B

Instructor:Instructor:Tracy FurutaniTracy Furutanitfurutan@northseattle.edutfurutan@northseattle.eduOffice hours: MTW 11 to noon IB 2328BOffice hours: MTW 11 to noon IB 2328B

Read the textbook and do the homework

- nearly cover-to-cover, see syllabus on the course web page

for weekly homework assignments

Attend class

- Hear topical overviews & ask questions

- Do labs & turn in & pick up HW

- Exams & extra credit opportunities

Go on the field trip

- Saturday, October 12, all day (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

- Vans provided but bring a lunch

Talk to your classmates (form a study group)

- Labs, group projects, poster project are appropriate

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While in class, please:

Silence or turn off phones

Ask questions

Adhere to campus safety rules

Refrain from plagiarizing others’ work

Learn about the Earth

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Top Five Reasons: Top Five Reasons:

You absolutely LOVE geology (possible major)

You need a science credit to graduate & think geology is easier than physics &/or need it NOW to graduate (We feel your pain)

Just curious, might provide some amusement

No idea

It seemed like a good idea at the time

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Geology 101 Learning Tools:Geology 101 Learning Tools:Book – GEOLGEOL22 by Wicander and Monroe, 2 by Wicander and Monroe, 2ndnd ed. (2014) ed. (2014)

- An excellent, up to date review of field- Nicely-illustrated with good study aids

How to study - Read the chapter before lecture

- Review class presentations - Ask questions in class- Check for terms in glossary given throughout chapter- Make sure you get the Learning Outcomes (LO)- Use the CourseMate electronic resources- Do the homework; review the lab workUse the book’s Website to:- Reinforce concepts- Check knowledge by taking sample quizzes- Experience virtual field trips

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Geology 101 Learning Tools:Geology 101 Learning Tools:

Meet with your Instructor! - During office hours- Or, make an appointment- Use email!

Connect to Geology on a personal level and try to apply what you are learning.

- Think about how the concepts you are learning apply in your everyday life as you walk around on planet Earth!

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GEOL& 101 Physical GeologyA survey-level introduction of this remarkable planet we call home. A study of the dynamic processes which drive the geologic world, the materials they produce, and how they are integrated in a global context.  The course features a particular emphasis on the geology of the Pacific Northwest, which affords some truly spectacular illustrations of these subjects.

To develop critical thinking skills & a basic understanding of how the science works

Become familiar with some of the observational methods, reasoning processes and analytical tools used by geologists to understand the Earth and its history

Learn the basic scientific concepts and principles- essentially the current paradigm for how the Earth and its systems interact to produce what we see.

But also, we have these goals:

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You will be learning a new language!

Geology is a broad, interdisciplinary science with a rich vocabulary. The terminology we will use throughout this course will require that you learn a new language; in fact, this is true of most introductory science courses. You will learn nearly the same vocabulary as a first-quarter foreign language course.

We will all work together to find ways to become familiar with this vocabulary and the ideas it is designed to convey. But more is needed than simply memorizing terms. You also need to develop an understanding of the conceptual framework that the terminology is a part of, and how the words and concepts relate to each other.

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Enrich your understanding of the planet we depend upon for our survival.

Broaden your perspective of the relationship between humans & their environment.

Become as more responsible citizen and make smart investments in your future, and the future of your children.

Maybe you will decide to become one of the true, the proud and the brave and go on to major in geology!

Application of this new knowledge:Application of this new knowledge:G

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Lecture style designed to address the fact that different people learn differently:

Seeing/visual learning

Reading the written word

Hearing about it

Engaging through personal inquiry and discovery

Connecting what we learn in the classroom to what is out there!

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What methods will we need to succeed in geology?

An innate curiosity and willingness to ask questions

Good observational skills to recognize basic patterns and spatial relationships

A systematic approach to documenting, analyzing, and predicting observations

An ability to visualize in 3-dimensional space, while integrating the 4th dimension, time.

Willingness to learn and apply basic scientific principles from other sciences (physics, chemistry, math)

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Time…

Geology deals with complex historical systems that have evolved and changed over time.

Time is thus a fundamental variable in geology.

Coupled processes, operating over time produce all that we see.

A Prelude:A Prelude:

And just what is Geology?And just what is Geology?

You are here!

Geology: The study of the Earth and its systems

Nature of scientific inquiry

Basic Concepts:Basic Concepts:

Scientific method

Observation

Hypothesis

Test

Scientific “certainty”

Paradigms and the nature of scientific revolutions

Theory

Nature of scientific inquiry

Science is based on:

assumption that the natural world behaves in a consistent & predictable manner

Goals of science:

understand underlying patterns in nature (from careful observations/measurements) form hypotheses that lead to predictions

Nature of scientific inquiry

Scientific method

gathering information through careful observation to formulate hypotheses and theories

note: involves insight and creativity to break freefrom conditioned accepted views

Nature of scientific inquiry

Four basic steps:

1) collect the facts (observation/measurement)

2) develop hypothesis (one or more)

3) test hypothesis

4) accept/modify/reject hypothesis

Nature of scientific inquiry

Process begins with Observation!Formulation of Hypotheses:

Construction of a quantifiable tentative explanationfor something observed

Value of multiple working hypothesesHypothesis must be falsifiable – that is, there are observations possible that contradict the theory

Testing hypothesesEvaluate explanatory power. Certainty in science and the nature of scientific proofScience has been described as the orderly accumulation of rejected hypotheses.

Nature of scientific inquiry

Theory

- well-tested/widely accepted hypothesis that“acceptably” predicts observed facts.

- also: explains additional observations not used

originally to form theory - predictive power (repeatable)

- still testable and subject to disproof!

Prelude: Earth Systems

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Cryosphere

Solid Earth

Biosphere

AtmosphereAtmosphere

Protection from Sun’s heat & UV rays

Weather: due to exchange of energy between Earth’s surface &

atmosphere between atmosphere & outer space

Strongly interacts with surface

Blanket of gases surrounding the EarthBlanket of gases surrounding the Earth

HydrosphereHydrosphere

Oceans (most prominent) 71% of surface of Earth

Streams, lakes, glaciers, underground water

Atmosphere

Water portion of EarthWater portion of Earth

CryosphereCryosphere

Glaciers

Permafrost and ground ice

Polar ice caps

Frozen polar seas

Icy portion of EarthIcy portion of Earth’’s crusts crust

BiosphereBiosphere

Earth’s surface and subsurface to depths of a few kilometers

Life occupies an extreme range of environments

Life strongly interacts with the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the solid earth (these interactions are called ecology!)

EarthEarth’’s Ecosystemss Ecosystems

Prelude:Prelude: Earth’s internal structure

crust

mantle

core

Oceanic 0-6 km (“young”, < 180 m.y.)Continental 0-34 km (older, up to 3.8 b.y.)

Upper 34-670 kmLower 670-2900 km

Outer (liquid) 2900-5160 kmInner (solid) 5160-6370 km

3 distinct divisions:

Solid EarthSolid Earth Interior of the Earth is losing heat.Primary source of heat: Radioactive decayHeat loss drives convection, based on density differences

Hotter stuff is lighter and risesCooler stuff is denser and sinks.

Earth’s dynamic interior and crust

Heat loss drives plate tectonics

Three types of plate boundaries

Prelude: Plate TectonicsPrelude: Plate TectonicsPrelude: Plate TectonicsPrelude: Plate Tectonics