1. Unit 3 Human Impact on the Lithosphere 1

2. Mountain Top Removal (MTR): Any method of surface coal mining that destroys a mountain top Also called mountain top mining (MTM) 2

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4. Overburden: Rock or soil overlying a mineral deposit Coal Seam: A bed of coal thick enough to be mined for profit Mountain Top Removal (MTR) 4

5. Entire coal seams are extracted from a mountain by first removing the overburden Sometimes the overburden is replaced to recreate the original contour of the mountain. Mountain Top Removal (MTR) 5

6. Mountain Top Removal mining has serious environmental impacts:  Loss of biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of species in an area  Toxification of watersheds Toxins are poisonous substance  Adverse health impacts from polluted streams and air Mountain Top Removal (MTR) 6

7. Between 1985 and 2001 miners leveled ~800 square miles of the Appalachian Mtns. Photo courtesy of Vivian Stockman. 7

8. Kennecott Mines 8

9. Restoration of Kennecott Mining Site  The Kennecott mining site in Utah is 2.5 miles wide and nearly a mile deep after more than 30 years of mining  In 1995 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Kennecott Mining operations established a program to cleanup the site including:  Removing contamination from groundwater  Restoring native plants  Developing energy efficient homes 9

10. Restoration of Kennecott Mining Site  Today this site is a model for how to reclaim damaged land 10

11. Why are we taking down mountain tops? Because of our dependence on energy!! 11

12. Conventional Energy Resources  Fossil Fuels that take billions of years to form  Effectively nonrenewable because they take billions of years to form  NOT sustainable because they cannot form as fast as we consume  Produce Greenhouse Gases which lead to Global Warming 12

13. Energy from Fossil Fuels … are the biggest source of greenhouse gases produced by humans includes coal, oil, and natural gas are used for electricity and transportation 68% of energy in US is from fossil fuels 13

14. Energy from Peat – what is Peat? Brown, soil-like material found in areas that are very wet such as Moorlands and Wetlands Consists of partly decomposed plant matter Used for fuel and for gardening 14

15. High Open Countryside No traditional farming Created by humans What is a ‘Moorland’? 15

16. Peat Weathering of bedrock Rain Photosynthesis Decomposition Dissolved Inorganic Carbon DIC Particulate Organic Carbon POC Dissolved Organic Carbon DOC CO2 INPUTSCO2 OUTPUTS Fossil Fuels & the Carbon Cycle Fluvial Flux (removed by water) 16

17. 17 ‘Pop-up’ Wetlands reading assignment In your notebook, answer the following about the article in complete sentences: 1.Why are rice farms being rented for use by conservationists? 2.What problem can occur when birds are crowded into small patches of wetlands? 3.What do you think has caused the loss of wetlands in California? Bell Work

18. 18 Exit Ticket: 9-26-14 Complete a Frayer Model for 1 of these terms: Fault-block, Epicenter, Fall Line, Shield Volcano, Pyroclastic material, Hanging Wall Vocabulary Word Operational Definition ExamplesNonexamples Characteristics

19. 19 Bell Work: 9-29-14 Complete a Frayer Model for 2 of these terms: Escarpment, Continental Drift, triangulation, Anticline, P-wave, Overburden, Coal seam, Peat Vocabulary Word Operational Definition ExamplesNonexamples Characteristics

20. 20 Exit Ticket: 9-29-14 36. There are 600 coal-fired power plants all over the country that release heavy metals, radioactivity, and other pollutants causing brain damage, asthma, and premature deaths. As the film points out, these pollutants “don’t need passports,” and they travel from place to place in water and air. A.What are some of the costs to health, to society, and to the environment of mining and using coal? B.How much should people be concerned about these costs of producing electricity?

21. 21 Bell Work: 9-30-14 Read the article about the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine owned by Massey Energy. 1.Who is Massey Energy in the article? What is the connection to the Last Mountain Documentary? 2.How do each of the 5 conclusions of the Governor’s Independent Investigation Panel connect to the Last Mountain Documentary?

22. 22 Bell Work: 10-1-14 What are the pros and cons of mountain top removal mining? List and describe at least 3 pros and 3 cons

23. 23 Baikal Lake: Siberia Galapagos, off the coast of Chili, Peru, Ecuador Hawaii, Pacific Ocean, USA New Madrid, Missouri, USA Iceland, Atlantic Ocean Kamchatka Peninsula – Far East of Russia Kilimanjaro, Africa Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia Mendocino, California Nepal, North of India (Himalayas) Pompeii, Italy (Mediterranean Sea) San Andreas, California (USA) Snares, New Zealand Rio Grande Pueblo Taos, New Mexico (USA) Yellowstone, Wyoming USA

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25. Weathering & Erosion Natural forces that shape Earth’s surface 25

26. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/lessons/breaking-it- down/video-segments/1702/ How weathering forces shaped Hawaii’s shoreline 26

27. Weathering  The physical breakdown or chemical alteration of rocks to form soil or loose particles  The earth is changing constantly due to weathering  The 2 types of weathering are: mechanical (or physical) & chemical 27

28. Mechanical Weathering Rocks get broken into smaller pieces, but their composition (what they are made of) does NOT change. Like tearing up a piece of paper Breaking a rock down increases its surface area and the area of the rock exposed to mechanical and chemical weathering The 3 mechanical weathering processes are: frost wedging, unloading & biological activity 28

29. Frost wedging When water freezes, it expands When water gets into cracks in rocks and then freezes, the water expands and breaks the rock 29

30. Frost wedging Leads to cycles of freezing & thawing 30

31. Frost wedging Happens where water freezes and thaws daily. Ex: mountains In cold places roads will crack and form potholes Talus: pile of rock that is wedged loose & falls 31

32. Unloading The removal of a large weight of rocks or ice from a surface Releases pressure on underlying rocks which expand upward and crack at the surface. Great slabs of rock can be separated in a process called exfoliation Exposes greater areas of rock to weathering 32

33. Unloading example: Half Dome, Yosemite, CA 33

34. Exfoliation example: Half Dome, Yosemite, CA 34

35. Exfoliation example: Devils Postpile, Yosemite, CA 35

36. Biological activity Biological means living Biological activity from plants and animals can cause mechanical weathering Ex: tree roots pushing rocks apart as they grow 36

37. Chemical weathering Changes the composition of the rock. Like burning a piece of paper. Caused mainly by water Water absorbs gases in the atmosphere, which chemically react with the minerals in rocks 37

38. Chemical weathering Ex: Materials with iron – the iron turns to iron oxide, or rust, when exposed to water 38

39. Weathering leads to soil formation 39

40. The Rate of Weathering Rate: how quickly something happens Mechanical weathering exposes larger surface area on rocks which increases the effects of chemical weathering Cracks in rocks lead to faster rates of weathering High temperature and moisture increase the rate of weathering 40

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49. Bell Work: On a sheet of notebook paper and in your own words complete the following: 1.Where do you think frost wedging would be most likely to happen and why? 2.Where would the greatest amount of weathering occur and why: the tundra (northern Canada and Russia) or the tropical rain forest? 49

50. Bell Work: 10-6-14 On a sheet of notebook paper complete a Frayer model for any 2 words from Unit 2: 50 Vocabulary Word Operational Definition ExamplesNonexamples Characteristics

51. Tectonic Vacation Project: 51 Requirements: 1.Itinerary and map of route 2.Passport with arrival departure stickers 3.Journal entry for each stop (~½ page for each entry) 4.Travel brochure for stop #4 (your own choice stop)

52. Soil 52

53. Bell Work: Read the article about rainforest soil and answer the questions at the end of the reading. 53

54. Soil Why is soil important?  Soil covers most land surfaces.  All life depends on about a dozen elements that come from Earth’s crust.  Plants absorb nutrients in the soil to live, and we eat plants. 54

55. There are 3 important characteristics: 1)Soil composition a.Mineral matter (broken down rock) b.Organic matter (humus, which is decayed remains of organisms) c.Water and air 55 Characteristics of soil

56. 2)Soil texture a.Particles of different sizes give soil texture. b.Different soils have different particle sizes c.Influences a soil’s ability to support plant life. 56

57. 3)Soil Structure a.Soil particles form clumps giving the soil a particular structure. b.Structure determines how easily the soil can be eroded and how easily water can infiltrate. 57

58. Soil Formation Regolith: a layer of rock and mineral fragments that are produced by weathering. Soil formation occurs from the interaction of many factors:  Type of parent material: this is the source of minerals in the soil 58

59. Soil Formation  Time: over time more rock will be weathered and soil particles will get smaller  Climate: the type of climate will affect the amount of nutrients in the soil 59

60. Soil Formation  Organisms: Biological activity leads to mechanical weathering which increases soil formation  Slope: steeper slopes have greater erosion, more runoff and loss of nutrients, less water for plants 60

61. What is Erosion? 61

62. Soil Erosion  Human activity disturbs Earth’s surface leading to loss of fertile topsoil.  Rain erodes away soil - a drop of rain blasts soil particles off the surface.  Water flow in streams and rivers moves dislodged particles of soil.  Sheet erosion occurs when thin sheets of water move the soil 62

63.  Water flows in sheets and then forms tiny streams called rills  Rills become trenches called gullies  Gullies move down slopes into streams  Soil particles are picked up and moved as sediments  What can happen to sediments (recall the rock cycle!)? Soil Erosion from rivers & streams 63

64. Rates of erosion  Human activities that remove natural plant life accelerate erosion of soil.  Depends on the climate, slope of the land and the type of vegetation. Scientists measure the rates of erosion by how much sediment is in rivers. 64

65. Bell Work Read the article about Canada’s landscape and answer the questions. Put at the top of your table for collection later in the class. 65

66. Soil Lab Completed Yesterday: 1.Described soil, weighed soil, added water and measured weight of water+soil. 2.Measure height of soil in the bottle 3.Cap the bottle and shake vigorously. Leave overnight to settle To complete today: 1.Measure height of different layers in your soil 2.Calculate the % of each layer in your soil sample 3.Use Soil texture triangle (on page 2) to determine your soil sample type. 4.Measure the pH of your water+soil 66

67. Bell Work: 10-10-14page 76 On a sheet of notebook paper complete a Frayer model for 2 of the following: Weathering, Erosion, Unloading, Coal Seam 67 Vocabulary Word Operational Definition ExamplesNonexamples Characteristics

68. Bell Work: 10-13-14Pg 77 Why is dirt important? Describe 3 things that make dirt important in your life. 68

69. Bell Work: 10-14-14Pg 77 or 78 What is biodiversity and why is it important for the soil and for the biosphere? 69

70. Weathering & Erosion Climate factors that affect weathering: 1.Precipitation (rainfall) 2.Temperature Wet, warm climates will lead to more chemical weathering Cool, dry climates will lead to more physical weathering 70

71. Erosion due to gravity: The force of gravity tends to pull materials downslope  Mass Movement: the downslope movement of loose sediments and weathered rock resulting from the force of gravity  Creep: The slow, steady, downhill flow of loose, weathered Earth due to gravity 71

72. Wind erosion: occurs most in areas with little rainfall & high temperatures  Abrasion: Erosion that occurs when particles like sand rub against the surface of other materials  Deflation: The lowering of land surface that results from the wind’s removal of surface particles 72

73. 73 Glaciers: Scrape and gouge out large sections of Earth’s surface as they move and deposit sediment in new locations

74. Structure of the ecosystem  Organism – One individual from one species  Population – A group of one species living in a geographic area  Community – A group of many populations living in a geographic area

75.  Ecosystem – biotic and abiotic components of a community living in a geographic area  Biome – A group of many ecosystems with similar climates and dominant communities  Biosphere – the whole Earth (land and water) and its atmosphere Biodiversity: A variety of species in an ecosystem ↑ biodiversity →↑ ecosystem stability

76. Population

77. Carrying Capacity The maximum population an environment can sustain given the biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors in the ecosystem Logistic Population Growth Curve

78. Population Growth Limiting Factors: Factors that limit the size of a population Determines the Carrying Capacity Population Growth Rate: # of births / 100 people / year

79. Density-independent limiting factors Affects all populations regardless of size 1.Weather 2.Natural Disasters Can lead to a population “crash” Density-dependent limiting factors Affects only when population reaches a certains size 1.Competition 2.Predation 3.Parasitism & Disease 4.Stress (from overcrowding)

81. Bell Work Read the article about the population in China. Underline or highlight 5 main points in the article.

82. Humans and Land use Deforestation: Removal of a forest for wood or for non-forest use of the space such as farmland and cities. > ½ of world’s plant and animal species are in rainforests. > ½ of world’s rainforests have been cut down!

83. TREES ARE A CARBON SINK – a reservoir that accumulates and stores CO 2 Cutting down trees releases CO 2 into the atmosphere. CO 2 traps heat in the atmosphere causing global warming. Deforestation → Global Warming Tesso Nilo, Sumatra Indonesia

84. Shanghai, China: World’s most populated city with 17.8 million people Urbanization: The growth of urban areas as humans migrate from rural areas. > ½ of the world’s population lives in urban areas.

85. Urbanization and our food supply: Most agriculture occurs on large monoculture farms where only 1 type of food crop is grown Wheat field in Montana

86. Monoculture farms: 1.Depend on fertilizers and pesticides which harm ecosystems 2.Root systems are not diverse and soil is easily eroded Sustainable farms: 1.Promote stable and diverse ecosystems 2.Rely on natural fertilizers and pesticides 3.Grow a variety of food crops

87. Coal: Fossil fuel formed from dead organisms exposed to heat & pressure; harvested by mining (i.e. mountain top removal) Natural Gas: Fossil fuel; composed of methane gas; harvested by drilling and fracking Petroleum (crude oil): Fossil fuel formed from dead marine organisms; harvested by drilling. Non-renewable Resources 87

88. Environmental problems from using fossil fuels Burning leads to: 1.CO 2 emissions which warm the climate Harvesting leads to: 1.Erosion 2.Loss of biodiversity 3.Contamination of groundwater 4.Sinkholes 88

89. Wind: Energy generated by motion of air; harvested by windmills on wind farms Solar: Energy from solar radiation; harvested with solar panels Hydropower: Energy generated by movement of water; harvested by diverting river water through a turbine with dams. Geothermal: Energy derived from the heat inside the Earth; harvested by drilling for super heated water Renewable Resources 89

90. 90 Bell Work: 1.Read the article about deforestation (in the sheet protector on your tables) 2.Complete the handout you picked up

91. 91 Concept Sketch for City Building Project: 1.Group2. Population 3. Visual presentation format: poster, diorama, ?; (no powerpoint or prezi) 4. City Name 5. Draft of city layout (how will the energy producers and energy consumers be organized; how will stores and residences be organized) 6. Units of energy consumers = Units of energy producers 7. # people neighborhoods + # people apartments = population

92. Bell Work: 10-20-14 On page 84 of your notebook complete a Frayer model for 2 of the following: Subduction, Compression, Convection, Lithification 92 Vocabulary Word Operational Definition ExamplesNonexamples Characteristics

93. Bell Work: 10-21-14 Complete the worksheet about fault-block and folded mountains 93

94. Atmosphere is Earth’s Blanket: Shields Earth from the Sun’s rays Traps in the Sun’s heat. Contains greenhouse gases that help trap the Sun’s heat: 1.Carbon dioxide 2.Methane 3.Water vapor

95. How do humans add to the Greenhouse gases? Burning carbon fuels (fossil fuels & wood) releases greenhouse gases:  Carbon Dioxide  Sulfur dioxide  Nitrogen Oxides Livestock farms (cows, pigs, etc.) which release methane gas

96. Greenhouse gases to Global Warming Burning fossil fuels:  Biggest source of greenhouse gases produced by humans  Leading to global warming

97. Electricity  How we use energy  Electric Grid moves energy from power plants to the electricity outlet  Most power plants get energy from fossil fuels  Alternative energy sources could be used

98.  Energy from nuclear fission  Used for ~7% of US energy needs  Produced by bombarding Uranium (the fuel) with neutrons  A small amount of fuel yields much more energy than coal  Nonrenewable because Uranium is a limited resource  Produces dangerous radioactive waste  Requires a lot of water to cool  Very expensive to build and operate Nuclear Energy

99. 1986 Chernobyl, Ukraine 2011 Fukushima, Japan Increased risk of cancer & birth defects in those exposed to radiation Nuclear Energy Disasters

100. 100 Bell Work 10/22/2014 Make a table in your notebook (page ____ ) comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of nuclear energy and coal Nuclear Energy Coal Pros Cons

101.  Energy from suns radiation and harvested with Solar panels  Renewable  Solar Panels can be very expensive to install and maintain  Limited energy when there is no sun light Solar Energy

102.  Energy generated by air movement and harvested with wind turbines  Renewable  Windmills & wind farms require a lot of land, make noise and can harm birds  Require wind Wind Energy

103.  Energy generated by water movement and harvested with dams that divert river water through a turbine  Renewable  Dams can change the flow of water and damage habitats  River sediments can damage the machinery in the dam  Dams are expensive to build Hydropower

104. 104 Bell Work 10/23/2014 Atoms Convert Electricity Energy Fossil Gasoline Geothermal Greenhouse Hydroelectricity Nonrenewable Panels Plants Recycle Renewable Solar Sun Sustainable Turbine Water Wind Complete the crossword puzzle using the following words to complete the clues

105. 105 CITY BUILDING PROJECT: You will have class time today to complete your project. Your MUST turn in your TOWN REPORT before you leave class. Your MUST include in your town report the following: 1.The # of energy units required for EACH consumer 2.The total # of energy units required by your city 3.The # of energy units produced for EACH producer 4.The total # of energy units produced by all of your energy sources

106. 106 Bell Work 10/24/2014 Read the article about energy & mineral resources. Make a table comparing & contrasting them: EnergyMineral What are they used for by humans Example of a renewable form Example of a non- renewable form Example of how they are formed

107. 107 Energy Resources Report: You will work in groups of 2 or 3 to read about one of the following forms of energy. You will prepare to report to the class (using white boards) about the energy. You must answer the following questions: 1.What is the energy? 2.Why is the energy important? 3.Is it renewable or non-renewable? 4.Where is it used by humans (is its use restricted?)? 5.What is 1 advantage of the energy? 6.What is 1 disadvantage of the energy?