Transcript Slide 1
Here is the Earth… Don’t spend it all at once! WHAT IS GEOLOGY? • The study of rocks? • NO! • Much more than just the study of rocks Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its processes & products WHAT IS GEOLOGY? •Geology is truly interdisciplinary, including elements of: • • • • • Chemistry Physics Biology Geography All subjects it combines particularly well with at AS/A2 level WHAT IS GEOLOGY? The many wide & varied topics studied in geology were united by the development of Plate Tectonic theory in the 1960’s. This milestone in geological thought was equivalent in significance to the theory of evolution in biology WHAT IS GEOLOGY? Plate Tectonic theory led to greatly increased understanding of Earth Systems, processes & products Introduction to Earth Systems Earth: a complex, dynamic system Atmosphere Biosphere Lithosphere Hydrosphere Mantle Core Energy & matter are exchanged & recycled among these sub-systems. The problem of experiments •Geologists are interested in systems that are very big (hundreds of km) •That have evolved over long periods of time (millions of years) •So it is difficult to conduct controlled experiments. •They must observe the results of Nature’s experiments that are already complete. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? • Because Geology is all around us • Everything we use comes from the Earth • ‘If you can’t grow it, you have to dig it up!’ GEOLOGY IN THE NEWS WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? HAZARD GEOLOGY • ‘Civilisation exists by geologic consent, subject to change without notice’ - Will Durant WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? • • • • Identify risk Predict where & when Evacuate Reduce impact WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? HAZARD GEOLOGY • Earthquakes WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? HAZARD GEOLOGY • Volcanoes WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? HAZARD GEOLOGY • Landslides WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING • Dams WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING • Buildings WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING • Roads Engineering Geology WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING • Waste Management WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? SUSTAINABILITY • Resource management WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING • Global warming WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? • So, if, after 5 years of studying the same old subjects you like the idea of trying something new & exciting… • Something with real relevance to the world around you on local, international & global scales…. • Take Geology: • It’s Great! • It rocks! WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN GEOLOGY? • Be prepared to get your head around mind boggling concepts of time and space: • From events that took seconds & happened this morning • To events that took millions of years to happen hundreds of millions of years ago Geologic Time & Uniformitarianism • Unformitarianism enables us to interpret features in rocks formed millions of years ago –demonstrated by mud cracks formed by desiccation of sediment today “The present is the key to the past.” WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN GEOLOGY? • Be prepared to get your head around mind boggling concepts of time and space: • From Earth Structure & Plate Tectonics to the atomic structure of minerals WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN GEOLOGY? • • • • • • Minerals The processes & products of the rock cycle Fossils & Geological time Earth structure & Plate Tectonics Geological Hazards Geotechnical engineering HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY? Lessons using: • Textbooks • Videos • Powerpoint presentations • Internet HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY? • • • • • • • • • • Practical lessons Observing Testing Measuring Describing Identifying Interpreting: Specimens Geological photographs Geological maps HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY? • • • • • • • Practical laboratory investigation lessons: Planning Observing Measuring Presenting data Analysing data Evaluating investigations HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY? • • • • • • • Practical fieldwork investigations: Planning Observing Measuring Presenting data Analysing data Evaluating investigations HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED IN GEOLOGY? WJEC Specification AS • GL1 Foundation • GL2 Investigative geology • GL3 Geology & the Human Environment HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED IN GEOLOGY? WJEC Specification A2 • GL4 Extension geology • GL5 Geological Themes • GL6 Coursework Laboratory investigations Fieldwork investigations WHAT DO I NEED TO STUDY GEOLOGY? • • • • Interest Enthusiasm Ability to develop study skills Good background in Science at GCSE WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH GEOLOGY? • • Huge range of Careers in Geology Potential for global travel & big salaries! GEOLOGY: IT’S GREAT! GRAVELCRUNCHINMARSBARMUNCHIN HAMMERTAPPINFEATUREMAPPIN ROCKBASHINMINERALTESTIN FOSSILKILLINNEVERLATEIN FIELDWORKINALWAYSRAININ MUDWALLOWINWELLYWEARIN EXAMPASSIN.. MONMOUTH GEOLOGISTS! GEOLOGY:IT ROCKS! If you are interested in studying AS/A2 Geology see Mr Church in room 54 (the room with a rock on the door)….you won’t regret it!