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Physical Geology 2018-19

Course Description

This page will contain news, links, and assignments for Mr. Kirschman's Physical Geology class.  

Posts

5/7/19: Video: Cosmos - When Knowledge Conquered Fear

1.  Watch the video
 
2.  Take notes on how comets and other objects in the sky were discovered.  Include what has been learned about how space objects move throughout history. 

5/6/19: Background Reading: The Earth in Space

1.  Make sure you finish your presentation and/or quiz form for Evaluating Climate Change Solutions.  
 
2.  Read Textbook Ch. 23 OR PLATO The Earth in Space
 
3.  Textbook = 1 note per page,  PLATO = 1 Quote per slide.  
 

4/18/19: Know Your Energy Costs

1.  Read Text Pg. 535-590 
 
OR
 
PLATO: Confronting Climate Change
 
     List All Resources Used for Energy on Earth
 
2.  Read and Discuss CA Energy Types and Laws
 
US Electrical Energy Resources
 
California Electrical Energy Resources
 
     How much energy does CA use compared to other states?  
     What are the main types of energy that CA uses for electricity? 
     Why does CA rank so high in fuel usage but so low in energy used per person?
 
3.  Calculate your Carbon Footprint
 
How much CO2 do you create to power your home?  Vehicles?  
How much money do you spend to power your home?  Vehicles?  
What does the calculator say you can do to "reduce your CO2 emissions"?  How much CO2 and money would these things do?
 
4.  Calculate the Financial and Environmental Energy Costs for our School
 

4/17/19 - Climate Change Solutions - Ted Talks

 
1. Watch the Video "The Earth is Full"
 
What does the author mean the Earth is "Too Full"
 
For translation: 
 
2. Choose a video of your own
 
For translation 
 
3.  Discuss The Climate Change solutions from your video.  We will be analyzing some of these solutions to see how economically and environmentally friendly they are. 

4/11/19- Ocean Acids and Bases

First Hour: 
 
1.  Complete the PLATO Tutorial: Ocean Acids and Bases
2.  Complete the mastery test 
 
Second Hour: 
 
1.  Watch the video
 
2.  Read the Web resource
 
Write a one page summary about Ocean Acidification and turn in.  Cite evidence from the video and the web resource in your summary. 

What is Happening to the pHish in the Ocean?

1.  Acids and Bases Simulation
 
 
A. Measure the pH of all of the liquids
B. What is the pH of water? 
C. List liquids that you think are safe for living things.  Why did you choose them?
D.  What do you think happens if you drink liquids with pH far from water?
E.  Add water to another liquid.  What happened to the pH value?  This is why "drinking water" is always a solution for not feeling well. 
F.  Based on the pH of vomit, do you think the liquids in your stomach are acids or bases?  Why? 
G. What do you think the pH of ocean water is?  
H.  What do you think would happen to ocean life if the pH of the ocean gets further from 7/8? 
2.  Effects of Ocean Acidification
 
 
What is happening to the pH of the ocean (More acid or more base?)
What effects will this problem have on the biosphere/ocean animals?

4/9/19: IEGTL? - Why are Climate Change Effects "Cloudy"

1.  Chalk Talk - Discuss the "recipe" for a cloud
      -List the ingredients
      -Write step by step "cooking" directions
 
2.  Cloud Demonstration
     - Draw a model of how the cloud was formed
     - What are aerosols?  
     - How do aerosols affect cloud formation?
     - How do humans affect aerosols in the world?
 
3.  Data Collection - Dew Point
     - Choose a city near water and far from water
     - Search for the "current Dew Point" in those cities
     - Discuss - What is Dew Point?  What does a high dew point mean?  Low?
 
4.  Science News 
      a.  Read Articles
      b.  Write a Summary
      c.  Discussion Questions
           - Compare and contrast the two articles. 
           - From Article 1, what effect does rising ocean temperatures have on clouds?
           - From Article 2, what effect does urbanization have on clouds?
           - What effects would increasing temperatures and aerosols have on the climate of a beach or lake city?
           - What effects would increasing temperatures and aerosols have on a desert city? 
           -  How do both articles and this year's wildflower bloom forecast high fire danger for this summer?  
 
5.  Complete the PLATO Tutorial "Mechanics of Climate Change"
           
 

4/5/19: Interstellar Movie Discussion and Quiz

1.  Read Pg. 8-9 of the Article
 
Compare and Contrast this real life mission with the mission from the movie Interstellar.   Similarities?  Differences?  
 
 
2. Discuss the goals of SpaceX
 
 
3.  Complete the quiz form
 
 

3/21/19: IEGTL? - Climate Presentations and Discussion

1.   Finishing touches on your country climate presentations
 
2.  Share with the "world"
 
3.  Discussion Topics
 
     A.  Climate Data
 
Discuss flaws with the way we collected and presented our data:
                   Source?  Amount of Time?  Picking 2 snapshots in time?  Can the images you researched be misleading?
 
Do you think it is easy or hard to "cherry pick" data and present it to people to sway their opinions? 
 
Based on your biggest climate concern, how many countries did you agree with?  Which ones?  
 
In what ways can data from the ATMOSPHERE, CRYOSPHERE, and HYDROSPHERE be unreliable or misleading?  (Think about how solids, liquids, and gases change)
 
What is the only data that scientists around the world have reached a consensus about?  (Hint: it has to do with humans)
 
Is it easy or difficult to come to a CONSENSUS (full agreement) on what is wrong with the environment?   
 
Does your location affect how much you care about a climate change issue?  Beach vs. Inland?  North/South vs. Equator?
         
          
     B.  Human Activity Data
 
What is the goal of the KYOTO PROTOCOLS and the GREEN NEW DEAL? 
 
Why is it difficult to get all countries of the world or even the senators of our country to agree to limits on CO2 emissions?  
 
What do humans tend to do when they are informed they are doing things wrong?  Are they more likely to own up to their mistakes or compare themselves to other people who are worse?  
 
What do you think humans care more about: The economy or the environment?  Explain.  
 

3/19/19: IEGTL? - Climate Change Project Pt. 2: Causes

 
1.  Research data for CAUSES of climate change in your country.  Each person in the group chooses one topic about human activity in their country and creates 1 slide.  Be sure to have a visual and a summary of the research.  
    Human activities to research for your country:
wikipedia.com
Search Terms
POPULATION BY COUNTRY,  AUTOMOBILES BY COUNTRY, TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION BY COUNTRY,  CO2 EMISSIONS BY COUNTRY, GDP BY COUNTRY, URBANIZATION BY COUNTRY, DEFORESTATION BY COUNTRY, ENERGY USE BY COUNTRY, ENERGY TYPES/SOURCES BY COUNTRY
2.  Cite the source of your information.  You can use nasa data but you don't have to. 
3.  Make a group slide that explains which cause is likely having the most impact on your climate.  (Rank the causes from 1-4, 4 being the most likely)

3/18/19: IEGTL - Climate Data Project Pt. 1 - Evidence

1.  Set up and share a group presentation on google slides (easy to share and work on together, not everyone has gmail) or office 365 powerpoint (not easy to work on together, everyone has office 365)
 
2.  For your country of choice from last week, divide into 4 committees to collect data on climate: Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere,  Geosphere.  
 
3.  Use the link below to locate 2 data sets each.  Remember, for each data set, you want to COMPARE as much data as possible from DIFFERENT TIMES.  This is the only way to strongly claim that things are changing.  
 
4.  Make section in the group slide show for each committee member and SCREEN SHOT your data into the group presentation.  
 
5.  Write a summary for each slide.  (Data is not changing, Data is changing a little, Data is changing a lost)
 
6.  Create a group slide that ranks the change of each environment.  Rank each data set from 1-4 (4 is the most changing or the place you are most concerned about)Which data is changing the most that you would like to research more for causes?