EARTH121 Chapter 1: 1. Chapter 1 - Intro to Geology & Plate Tectonics

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: EARTH121
• Professor: John Johnston

Document Summary

Earth 121 chapter 1: into to geology and plate tectonics. Geology: from geo (earth) and logos (discourse); historical and physical. Physical geology: materials composing earth, and processes that operate on and beneath. Historical geology: origin of earth and its development through time. Earth dynamic and constantly changing (physical and biological changes) over time. Geology based on observations (though labs, field work, overseas) Outcrops: where bedrock is exposed at the surface. Logan, mapped areas of canada (for resources like coal) Natural processes can become geological hazards when people try to live where the processes occur. Hazardous processes: tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and floods. Growing population (higher standard of living) complicates environmental issues. People living in environments that have significant geological hazards. Natu(cid:396)al syste(cid:373)s do(cid:374)"t al(cid:449)ays adjust to artificial changes created by humans. Altering environment intended to benefit society often has opp. Catastrophism: people st(cid:396)o(cid:374)gly (cid:271)elie(cid:448)ed ea(cid:396)th"s la(cid:374)ds(cid:272)ape p(cid:396)i(cid:373)a(cid:396)ily shaped (cid:271)y (cid:272)atast(cid:396)ophes.