Earth and Planetary Science 50: Planet Earth

Transcription

1 Earth and Planetary Science 50: Planet Earth What EPS 50 is and What it isn t? Expectations Our approach to Understanding the Earth System Current Energy, Mineral and Land Resource Issues-- Charting a course for multiple possible futures and a glimpse of research directions- some things we don t know Are you in the right class? (1) E&PS 50 is the Gateway Course into the 5 Tracks of E & PS major: Geology, Geophysics, Atmospheric Science Earth Science, Marine Science (2) This class has an interdisciplinary focus to encourage all students who need an intensive introduction to earth processes: eg Biology, physics, chemistry, engineering, landscape architecture, environmental science, K-12 Single Subject science teachers, science writers those who will in fact practice earth science It is not an easy, non-major class to satisfy a general science requirement but non-science majors who seek an intensive introduction to Earth processes, are welcome 1

2 Earth and Planetary Science 50: Planet Earth What EPS 50 is and What it isn t? Expectations Our Approach to Understanding the Earth System Current Energy, Mineral and Land Resource Issues-- Charting a course for multiple possible futures Expectations: We not only encourage, but we expect participation in lecture, lab & field 5 % of you grade (lecture discussion and labs) Both Field trips are mandatory: Sunday Oct. 17th & Sunday Nov. 7th Field trip policy (5 % each, write up has to be submitted by next lecture, Honor code- our interaction with you is as adults: Expect that you learn the major points of the class, but can rely on some fact sheets you prepare: 1 page of notes is allowed in both midterms and final Cheating has no place in science Zero tolerance 2

3 Tests: explore your thinking processes: recall and reasoning Multiple Choice Short answer Essay Broader question where you have to integrate knowledge Discover how the earth works and the relationships of humans with the Earth To Maximize Learning: Print out the pdf lecture notes for each day in advance Bring notes to class every day and take notes on figures Do not miss classes- notes are only a framework 3

4 Earth and Planetary Science 50: Planet Earth What EPS 50 is and What it isn t? Expectations Our Approach to Understanding the Earth System Current Energy, Mineral and Land Resource Issues-- Charting a course for multiple possible futures Our Approach We are both scientific historians and futurists Our special skills: (1) Time and Space travelers (2) Seeing inside the earth (3) Rocks: The Book of Nature as an archive of earth history Using radiometric clocks, gauge the natural cadence of change Provide an unvarnished interpretation of natural and anthropogenic processes 4

5 Predict and help mitigate future events eg. depletion of fossil fuels, global warming, and geological hazards Multiple possible futures Human intervention, personal and collective choices How does science influence national trends? What challenges face the Earth today? How can earth science help resolve issues? Learn to see yourself as part of the planet and as an educated person, using the scientific method to make informed choices and be an active participant Provide leadership 5

6 Scientific method A way of creating new knowledge Testing ideas and sharing results A culture of openness and honesty Thoughtful conduct, respect for truth Endless frontier of human endeavor Understanding the Earth System Building planet earth The scientific method and the evidence of how it formed Rocks as the record of geological processes Minerals and crystals Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks How they form, how to identify them Geological maps as the library of rocks Geological Time Scale Learning Tools Use familiar concepts: eg. Periodic Table of Chemical Elements Remove the immaterial and focus only the essentials 6

7 Earth Continues to Evolve as a Dynamic Planet Humans and Geological Time Humans typically have a limited grasp of time Oriented towards the length of the human life span Egocentric orientation- prisoners of a myopic viewpoint The earth is very old: 4.55 billion years, humans have been here only about 3 million years (0.07 % <0.1 % or 99.9 % without humans Imperceptibly slow processes are rarely appreciated until after a major problem occurs (Filling in the SF bay, smog, global warming, oil depletion) Events which are infrequent over a human life span are not well-appreciated (earthquakes, floods, wild fires) Improve your broad band antenna for understanding 7

8 Mars Exploration Rover Spirit What can we learn about life from other planets? How knowledge is based on the Earth With an appreciation of geological time: You can become Time Travelers: Time Distance Process Human influence More predictive, less reactive Appreciate your own role in change Chart a course to help propel positive change 8

9 Earth and Planetary Science 50: Planet Earth What EPS 50 is and What it isn t? Expectations Our approach to Understanding the Earth System Current Energy, Mineral and Land Resource Issues-- Charting a course for multiple possible futures Dynamics of Energy and Mineral Resources Hubbert s Peak 9

10 Environmental geology and earth resources A crucible where science, technology, interpretation and law meet to decide governmental policies, standards and industrial practice Human history is defined by major transitions Our Age? Yet to be named 10

11 World Supplies of Energy John Edwards, st Century Energy: Transition from Fossil Fuels to Renewable, Nonpolluting Energy Sources. Special Publ. Kansas Geol. Survey A common misconception: Oil shortage- so just do more domestic drilling The problem is not that energy is in short supply- but rather to ensure that enough energy is available where it is needed at an acceptable cost while ensuring national security, without doing irreparable damage to the environment and world peace 11

12 Resource Literacy is Vital Time Magazine The State of the Planet Green Century August 26, 2002 Oil Sources are down Coal is down Natural gas is up Hydroelectric, Geothermal wind & solar are small Nuclear is growing rapidly 12

13 Is Global Warming Real? 9 deg 5 deg How to address energy and earth resource needs? In your children s lifetimes Recycling of non-renewable resources and discovery of renewable energy 13

14 Geological foundation Current issues where earth sciences play a role Consider sustainability, population growth and the global standard of living: personal choices Careers Education: (K-12), College, University Research and Development Industry and Government Resource exploration and environmental management Science writing and Politics by informed candidates Scientific and technological literacy: assess facts, consider options, and make enlightened public policy based on personal experience and broad knowledge 14

15 Gain experience in the field-first hand observation EPS 50 Field Trip 1 Coast Range to Sierra Great Valley submarine sandstone Sequences 15

16 Chaparral versus savanna ecosystems over different bed rocks Submarine pillow lavas exposed on Yuba River Spawning salmon A mere moment in time 16

17 Earth and Planetary Science 50: Planet Earth What EPS 50 is and What it isn t? Expectations Our Approach to Understanding the Earth System Current Energy, Mineral and Land Resource Issues-- Charting a course for multiple possible futures Renewable energy sources: Sunlight Available Energy on Earth Ultraviolet Infrared Visible 17

18 Light Reception on Earth (photo-receptors): Photo-Voltaic Cells (Solar Panels) Human Eye (Color Vision) Plants (Photosynthetic Conversion of light into energy by Chlorophyll) the basis of life and fossil fuels Solar photo voltaic cells What are these panels made of? 18

19 Multiple semiconductor sensors or antenna in optimal solar cells Geological resource question: How are we going to find all the materials we need? How do humans see sunlight? R el ati ve S ensi ti vi ty Experiments with Red and Green Lasers Both 0.5 milliwatts of power 20 Sensitivity of the human eye to different colors Wavelength (nm) 19

20 Multiple Color receptors in human eye- notice green sensitivity Human eye is centered on energy peak in sunlight at the color green. Why? Is Chlorophyll as powerful an well-adapted a photoreceptor as the human eye? Ultra- Violet Sun Burns Infrared Thermal Infrared Heat Visible to Snakes Pit Vipers 20

21 Photosynthesis with chlorophyll green pigmentation Photoreceptor Plants get their energy in blue and red No absorption in Green- which is reflected- and is why plants appear green to us Most Solar Energy is wasted: Why? A: C 66 H 72 O 5 N 4 Mg B: C 66 H 70 O 6 N 4 Mg 21

22 Geo-Moment: What color would a perfectly efficient plant appear to the human eye? Why is chlorophyll not better adapted to sunlight like the human eye is? Is there useful research do be done on this problem? Don t take the world for granted: There are examples like this all around you This course is intended to be an awakening to the Earth and an invitation to put your curiosity into practice as scientists 22

23 Our Legacy 23