Scott Baitz

INTRODUCTION: Since the early 19th Century, people have thought about the jigsaw fit of the continents. South America and Africa appear as though they could fit together. Geologists have collected data that indicate that the continents are on separate "plates" of Earth's crust. Direct measurements of the relative motions of the continents have now shown that these semi-rigid plates are able to move toward or away from each other. They may also rotate. These motions are often associated with new

INTRODUCTION: The United States Weather Service is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Data is received from about 600 stations in the United States, as well as from foreign countries and from ships at sea. This information is transmitted to centers every three hours, beginning at I A.M. The centers then plot the information on synoptic maps which are used to predict any weather changes. Various hazardous weather conditions are threats to different geograph

INTRODUCTION: Waves that break on a shoreline are generally produced by the wind. As wind blows over the surface of a body of water, some of the wind's energy is transferred to the water surface. Waves can also be created by undersea earthquakes and by the gravitational effect of the moon. Surface ocean currents are primarily formed by wind. These continuous flows of water can be modified by Earth's rotation and the positions of land masses. OBJECTIVE: Simulating wave forming conditions in smal

INTRODUCTION: Of some 3,000 known minerals, only about a dozen, called "common rock" forming minerals," make up most of the earth's crust. They are identified in the field with a few simple physical tests and observations. This is possible because the physical properties are remarkably constant in a mineral no matter how old it is or where it was formed. In addition to physical tests, there are also some useful diagnostic chemical tests that can be used in mineral identification. OBJECTIVE: You

INTRODUCTION In previous lab investigations and class work you have studied how to locate positions on the earth's surface and how to construct a contour map from a three dimensional model. In this lab exercise you will interpret and analyze an actual topographic map. OBJECTIVES Using a topographic map of Bear Mountain you will: 1. Determine contour interval, elevations, and gradient 2. Determine direction of stream flow 3. Construct two profiles between points on the map

INTRODUCTION Suppose you sat outside on a clear night gazing up at the stars. Imagine that the sky is a dome touching the ground around you at the horizon. The stars are pointq oflight on the dome's curved surface. If you were to view the dome of stars on a regular basis throughout the year, you would notice that the stars move. Like the sun's motion, the star's apparent motions in the sky are caused by the daily rotation of Earth on its axis and the yearly revolution of Earth in its orbit arou

INTRODUCTION: Energy comes to us from our sun and other stars in the form of electromagnetic energy. The visible portion of the total spectrum of energy received can be analyzed by using a spectroscope. Dark absorption lines can be observed which can be used to identify a star's properties such as its composition, velocity, and direction of movement. OBJECTIVE: You will observe spectrograms of light sources produced by several different gases and by the sun. Properties of stars will be determin

INTRODUCTION In the eartly1600's Galileo using the first telescope observed dark spots on the face of the sun, known as sunspots. Sunspots are regions that are cooler in temperature fuan the surrounding snrface. Usually they are found to occur in pairs. He observed that these sunspots lasted from several days up to a month and appeared to move across the surface of the sun. Accurate records have been kept of the number of sunspots for over 200 years. In this laboratory exercise, you will deter

Students will correlate different rock layers, using index fossils, with one another to determine the geologic history of an area

INTRODUCTION Organized storm systems called mid latitude cyclones or low pressure systems, move across the United States everyday. Although many are weak disturbances that draw little attention, some such as the March 1993 system become legendary . This "Blizzard of 1993" brought the eastern United States to a standstill, dumping snow from Mississippi to Maine, halting transp01iation, and denying electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. The storm also generated tornadoes and record amou

INTRODUCTION Weather maps provide a meteorologist with a great variety of weather information over a large region. This information gives you the current weather conditions at a particular location and can be used to predict future weather changes. Temperature is one of the most important components of predicting weather. To better understand the temperature variations over large area meteorologists draw lines connecting all points of equal temperatures. These lines are called isotherms. OBJEC

INTRODUCTION: Sedimentary rocks are formed from accumulated sediments. Most sedimentary rocks are formed from materials that have been deposited in calm water. Often some of the characteristics of the sediments are retained in sedimentary rocks. Geologists classify sedimentary rocks into two groups: elastic (those formed mechanically) and non-elastic (those formed chemically and/or organically). OBJECTIVE: You will investigate the properties by which different types of sedimentary rocks can be i

INTRODUCTION: The type of igneous rock formed when molten magma solidifies depends on the mineral composition and the rate at which the magma cools. Igneous rocks which solidify deep underground are called intrusive or Plutonic. They can be observed when erosion wears away overlying layers. When magma reaches the surface it forms volcanic igneous rocks. The texture of these extru­sive igneous rocks will vary greatly from ones formed by the same magma deep below the surface. OBJECTIVE: You will

INTRODUCTION: In previous exercises, you have studied latitude and longitude, compass direc­tion, the field quantity of elevation and horizontal distance scales. In addition, topographic maps show many natural and manmade features. OBJECTIVE: You will apply your knowledge of contour mapping to interpret actual topo­graphic map.

INTRODUCTION: Very often we want to know the size of objects that are either too large or too small to measure directly. In these cases an indirect method must be used that usually involves a ratio between the size of something we can measure and the size of the object we are trying to measure. As recently as the 1400's many people believed Earth to be flat. It is interesting to note that in 240 B.C., Eratosthenses, a Greek geographer, believed Earth to be round and made an accurate estimate of

INTRODUCTION Extremely accurate topographic maps have been made of every part of New York State and the United States. These maps provide detailed information about the land which can be used for many purposes including hydro graphic studies, man's impact on the environment, historical vs. current land data, and examination of striking geologic landform features, MATERIALS Topographic Map of West Ithaca, New York Topographic Map of Brandon, Vermont Topographic Map of Bray, California

INTRODUCTION Since land distances and elevations on the earth's surface can be very great it is necessary to represent them on different kinds of maps for ease of study. Landform features with all their characteristics can accurately be represented on a contour (topographic) map. A contour map will show the elevation field of a region by using contour lines. OBJECTIVES During this laboratory investigation you will: 1. Draw a two dimensional contour map of an actual three dimensional model. 2.

INTRODUCTION All things in nature go through changes in their life time. As animals go through changes from a baby through old age, so does earth's river systems. These stages are classified as youthful, mature, and old age. In each stage of development changes occur that can be seen in the physical appearance of the river and the lands it flow through. OBJECTIVES After the completion of this exercise you will be able to: 1. Describe the profile of the Connecticut River System from its mouth t

INTRODUCTION A number of different factors determine the rate at which a particle settles in water. One factor is particle shape. In general, spherical particles settle more rapidly than flat or disk-shaped particles. Particle size and particle density are also factors that can determine settling rate. In this laboratory you will write an hypothesis about the relationship between particle size and settling rate. Then you will test your hypothesis by performing an experiment. OBJECTIVES 1.To o

INTRODUCTION: Earth's surface varies in both chemical and physical properties. The wave-length of solar radiation that is absorbed by an earth material is changed and re-radiated as heat. The characteristics of the surface determine what happens to the incoming solar radiation. OBJECTIVE: You will determine how the surface characteristics of a material affect the relative rates of energy absorption and radiation MATERIALS: White Can Black Can Thermometers Styrofoam Lid Lamp