GEOL 1001 Chapter : Geol 1001
Geol 1001 1/16/2014 4:03:00 PM
Geology, or geoscience = the science that pursues an understanding of the
planet Earth
What does this include?
• Formation and composition of Earth’s interior and surface
• Processes that shape and change the Earth
• Systems comprising Earth (“spheres”)
• Environments of change (spatial, temporal)
• Rocks-Oil-Climate-Fossils-Volcanoes
• Humans
How does Geology apply to you?
• Geology majors
o Industry (oil, mining, water, engineering, environmental)
o Academia (research, teaching)
o Government (Geo Surveys, Research Labs)
• Non-Geo majors?
o Sciences:
o Other
• Applies to everyone!
• Consider the following:
o Where do materials and resources come from?
▪ Building materials? Gemstones?
▪ Ipad, ipod, iphone, I-whatever
▪ Oil and gas
o Ever experienced a natural hazard?
▪ Flood?
▪ Earthquake?
▪ Hurricane?
o Like to travel? Where to and why?
▪ Beaches
▪ Mountains
In Physical Geology we will learn the basics of how the earth works
• Materials composing the Earth
• Processes operating beneath and upon Earth’s surface
Geology is the science that pursues an understanding of the planet Earth
• Geology – is the complex and includes many areas of
specializations
For success in this course:
1. Read the chapter before coming to class
2. Complete the homework assignments
3. Participate in class activities, discussion, and inquiry
4. Clarify difficult concepts
a. Ask your TA: Abah Omale
5. Examination review
a. Exams are low-stakes (10% of grade)
b. Chance to make and learn from mistakes
Jan. 21, 2014
Thursday, Jan 23, Mastering due
An Introduction to Geology – Chapter 1
Important concepts:
• The science of geology
• Nature of scientific inquiry
• Earth as a system
• Geology foundations
What is Geology?
Study of the earth, and things that make it up…atmosphere, environments,
systems, rocks/volcanoes, land formations, natural hazards (tsunamis),
climate change, glaciers
• Geology = science of Earth
o Composition of Earth
▪ Internal
▪ Surface
• Processes of Earth
o Internal
o Surface
• Earth history
• Natural Hazards
• Resources
Two broad areas:
• Physical geology
• Materials composing Earth
• Processes that operate beneath and upon the surface
• -> how the Earth works
Two broad areas:
• Historical geology
• Origin of Earth and its development through time
• Physical and biological occurrences
• -> how the Earth changes
How does geology relate to YOU?
Where to buy a house
Vacation
How the earth is changing – environments
Geology, People, and the Environment
• We live here
o Live with natural hazards
▪ Volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, landslides, etc.
o Use the resources
▪ Minerals, energy
o What else?
Development of Geology
Principles of Geology
• Catastrophism (Grand Canyon rocks span about 1.5 billion years of Earth
history)
• Uniformitarianism – processes and observations that we may have today
are also what operated in the past (the present is key to the past)
Scientific Inquiry
