Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Geology - Advanced/Answer Key"
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==3. Where in the world would you likely see: == | ==3. Where in the world would you likely see: == | ||
===a. Large glaciers=== | ===a. Large glaciers=== | ||
| − | + | Large glaciers are found in Antarctica, Greenland (and other arctic areas) and on mountain tops. | |
===b. Active volcanoes=== | ===b. Active volcanoes=== | ||
| − | + | Active volcanoes are found along faults. | |
===c. Sand dunes === | ===c. Sand dunes === | ||
| − | + | Sand dunes are found in deserts. | |
===d. Sinkholes === | ===d. Sinkholes === | ||
| − | + | Sinkholes are found in limestone formations. | |
===e. Fiords === | ===e. Fiords === | ||
| − | + | Fiords (also spelled ''fjords'') are found between rocky headlands, especially in Scandinavia. | |
===f. Faultblock mountains === | ===f. Faultblock mountains === | ||
| − | + | Fault-block mountains are common in the Basin and Range region of the western United States. | |
===g. Folded mountains === | ===g. Folded mountains === | ||
| − | + | Folded mountains occur in Orogenic zones such as the Himalayas in Asia, the Rocky Mountains in North American, and the Andes in South America. | |
===h. Chalk cliffs === | ===h. Chalk cliffs === | ||
| − | + | Chalk clifss occur most prominently in England. | |
===i. Icebergs === | ===i. Icebergs === | ||
| − | + | Icebergs can be found in arctic areas such as Antarctica, the Arctic Ocean, Iceland, and Greenland. | |
===j. Atolls === | ===j. Atolls === | ||
| − | + | Atolls form around volcanic islands in the Pacific ocean. | |
==4. Write a 500-word paper on one of the following: == | ==4. Write a 500-word paper on one of the following: == | ||
Revision as of 15:13, 8 October 2007
1. Have the Geology Honor.
2. Provide the following information:
a. How do earthquakes tell us what the interior of the earth is like?
Earthquakes show us that faults are active and moving. Faults are boundaries between the tectonic plates that make up the Earth's crust. Earthquakes generally happen along faults. The plates move apart or alongside one another releasing energy that causes an earthquake. The energy released causes seismic waves. In fact the core of the earth was discovered with seismic waves. They bend along the interfaces of different materials. There are two different seismic wave types. P waves travel through fluids and solids. S waves travel only through solids. By noticing that the S waves did not go through the center of the earth, geologists came to the conclusion that its center must be a fluid, for S waves cannot pass through fluids. P waves bend in the core because they are slowly passing through a liquid. This has also helped them estimate the size of earth’s core by studying the last shadow zone of the S wave.
References: http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/interior.html
b. How can a lot of water (as in Noah's flood) do in a few months what a little water would require thousands or millions of years to do?
A lot of water passing through an area quickly erodes the dirt and changes it into mud which can lead to a mud slide or other catastrophe (such as a drastic change in the landscape. This could include the covering of islands and continents if there is a large enough supply of water). It can destroy towns and cities, potentially washing everything away. Also if the flood were to involve glaciers and an extremely gross amount of water it could change atmospheric temperatures. It also can change the locations of rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. Also if enough water is left in an area it can form a small body of water.
c. Why are evidences of glaciers seen in the temperate climes where there are now no glaciers?
It has been concluded that in the past there was an ice age and that much of the earth was covered by it. In many places they have melted away but in mountain tops, Kilimanjaro, and Antarctica they are still present. When a glacier moves it leaves behind striations and grooves. Rocks are also left behind when it melts as well as other sediments that the glacier picked up.
d. How do creationists, who believe in a universal flood and in a young age for the earth since creation, understand and use the geological time chart?
e. What is the continental drift (plate tectonics) theory, and how can creationists fit such geological activity into time since creation?
It was a creationist, Antonio Snider, who proposed the movement of continents during the flood. Genesis 1:9-10 indicated the land was one mass and the waters were gathered together in one place. The puzzle piece scenario of the continents, displacement of fossils and seismic observations led them to further believe that there is no slow formation. It has been stated that rapid magnetic field reversals could have happened during the flood. With the way continents move today one would have to conclude an ocean basin or mountain range would have taken about 100 million years to form. The concept that this all happened rapidly is called catastrophic plate tectonics. If crustal spreading zones expanded, hot material would rise up to the surface, heat the water and potentially cause steam to shoot into the atmosphere. This steam would turn into water vapor and fall down later as intense rain. This is one possible explanation for the 40 days of rain. The flood also answers the question of large sediment deposits.
3. Where in the world would you likely see:
a. Large glaciers
Large glaciers are found in Antarctica, Greenland (and other arctic areas) and on mountain tops.
b. Active volcanoes
Active volcanoes are found along faults.
c. Sand dunes
Sand dunes are found in deserts.
d. Sinkholes
Sinkholes are found in limestone formations.
e. Fiords
Fiords (also spelled fjords) are found between rocky headlands, especially in Scandinavia.
f. Faultblock mountains
Fault-block mountains are common in the Basin and Range region of the western United States.
g. Folded mountains
Folded mountains occur in Orogenic zones such as the Himalayas in Asia, the Rocky Mountains in North American, and the Andes in South America.
h. Chalk cliffs
Chalk clifss occur most prominently in England.
i. Icebergs
Icebergs can be found in arctic areas such as Antarctica, the Arctic Ocean, Iceland, and Greenland.
j. Atolls
Atolls form around volcanic islands in the Pacific ocean.
