Strange Animals Found In Maryland

A mysterious Maryland animal dubbed the "hyote" was found to be a mangy fox.

In 2004, a mysterious animal was captured on video in Maryland, making national news when experts were unable to determine what the creature was. In fact, the state of Maryland has been the site of several other strange creatures that have never been identified and have become mythologized over the years.

The Hyote

In 2004, Baltimore County resident Jay Wroe began seeing strange creatures in his backyard, and he eventually managed to videotape one of them. Experts who examined the video were unable to identify the animal, which Wroe nicknamed the "Hyote" because he felt it looked like a cross between a hyena and a coyote. Wroe later caught one of the animals in a humane trap. A local veterinarian examined the mystery animal and identified it as a red fox suffering from sarcoptic mange that caused it to lose 70 percent of its fur.

The Snallygaster

As early as in the 1730s, residents of Maryland's Blue Ridge Mountains have reported seeing a one-eyed flying beast with reptilian features, a bird-like beak and tentacles like an octopus. Sightings of this bizarre creature, dubbed the "Snallygaster," continued over the ensuing years. Farmers would sometimes attribute attacks on chickens and livestock to the snallygaster. The snallygaster has never been captured or caught on film, although the description of a flying reptile that attacks livestock bears marked similarities to South America's legendary chupacabra.

Goatman

For decades, eyewitnesses have reported seeing a satyr-like creature described as being half-man, half-goat near Bowie, Maryland. The "Washington Post" ran an article on the "Maryland Goatman" in 1971, describing how a local dog was mutilated and apparently eaten, with only the head remaining. The story also relayed an eyewitness account that described the creature as being six feet tall, covered in hair and walking upright on two legs. The goatman has never been captured, although some people believe the creature could be a local variation of bigfoot, or sasquatch.

Chessie

Much like reports of the creature called Nessie in Scotland's Loch Ness, Maryland's Chesapeake Bay has its own sea monster, nicknamed "Chessie." One of the earliest reports came in 1936, when the crew of a military helicopter reported seeing a large, unidentified reptilian creature in the bay. In 1980, a local woman reported seeing a strange animal in the bay, which resulted in a flood of alleged sightings. The creature was actually captured on video in 1982. Researchers at the Smithsonian Institute studied the tape, and although they were not able to identify the creature, they concluded it was definitely alive. A Maryland journalist, Bill Burton, has archived more than 70 sightings of Chessie, the last one occurring in 1995.

Tags: reported seeing, never been, animal which, been captured, captured video, have reported

What Degree Do You Need For Environmental Science Jobs

Environmental science combines several disciplines of study.

Environmental science is the study of the world around us, the organisms in it and the things that directly affect their well-being. Environmental science involves the study of various disciplines, and jobs are available for people with bachelor's degrees. However, according to StateUniversity.com, you should get at least an MS if you are looking for a prominent position. Due to the integrated nature of the science, various bachelor's degrees can set you on the right track to a career in environmental science.

BS and MS in Environmental Science

If you know as an undergraduate that you want to go into environmental science, it is easier to transition to an environmental science MS later if you do your undergraduate studies in environmental sciences as well. However, if you studied biology, biochemistry, geology or another field related to environmental science, shifting to a master's in environmental science should not be difficult. You may need to take a few prerequisites first, but different universities have different requirements.

BS in Biology

Being the study of life, biology is at the very core of what environmental scientists do. According to CollegeBoard.com, environmental scientists "use their expertise to protect natural resources" and "examine how certain chemicals affect plants, animals, and people," and an understanding of biology is necessary for such endeavors.

BS in Biochemistry

Being the study of the chemicals in life and nature, a grounding in biochemistry helps you to understand how the chemical conditions in the environment affect life. This becomes very important in environmental science, especially when studying and predicting the effects of pollutants on ecosystems.

BS in Geology

Geology is the study of the composition and behavior of the materials that make up the earth beneath us. In environmental science, geology becomes important when studying such things as the ability of various soils to support plant life or the tendency of life to congregate around geothermal centers.

Tags: environmental science, bachelor degrees, Being study, environmental scientists, when studying

Indoor Air Pollution Activities For Teachers

Keeping vents clean and in good repair is one activity teachers can do.

It is difficult to teach a student who is suffering from allergies or asthma brought on by indoor air pollution. As a teacher, you can do much to improve the indoor air quality of your classroom. Doing this will help your students focus and learn better. Most of the activities can be done independently or with assistance from the school's maintenance or custodial staff.

Green Squad

Students can help while gaining practical experience.

Solicit student volunteers who would be interested in forming a green squad to monitor and improve indoor air quality. Talk to them about the dangers of indoor air pollution and ways that it can be fought. Share with them resources and checklists from such places as the National Resources Defense Council Green Squad. This site has developed a program for students who want to improve the air quality at their schools. Meet weekly to conduct an evaluation of the school and then to develop initiatives to improve indoor air quality.

Cleaning Products

The chemicals used to clean can cause skin irritations and breathing difficulties.

Obtain a list of cleaning products that the custodial staff uses to clean the school. Research each of the chemicals and the effect it has on indoor air pollution. If the chemicals are harsh ones that could be contributing to allergies, asthma and attention difficulties, start to research alternatives. Find out whether there are green cleaning products that could accomplish the same thing. Prepare a proposal to the building superintendent or the district superintendent on the benefits of switching to more eco-friendly cleaning products.

Indoor Air Pollution Control Initiatives

Communicating with stakeholders generates better ideas and solutions.

Spearhead the creation of a green newsletter. The newsletter can communicate what the school is doing to maintain high indoor air quality. Send it out quarterly to parents, teachers, staff and the media. Include tips for ways air quality can be improved in homes as well as at the school. The newsletter can be a vehicle for surveys and questionnaires to find out whether air quality efforts are improving the health of students.

Ventilation System

Find out how air is exchanged in your classroom.

Conduct an audit of the ventilation system in your classroom. Make sure that vents are free from obstructions and that air is flowing freely. Determine whether the outdoor vents are subjected to pollutants such as high-pollen plants, bus or car fumes or waste disposal bins. Check the filters and make sure vents are kept clean. Talk to the maintenance staff about what the recommended exchange of clean air is. Find out whether your room meets those standards and what can be done if it does not.

Tags: indoor quality, improve indoor, improve indoor quality, indoor pollution, your classroom, allergies asthma, cleaning products

Facts On Jewel Cave

Flashlights are required equipment when touring some passageways.

South Dakota's Jewel Cave enjoys the distinction of being the world's second largest cave system, outdone only by Kentucky's Mammoth Cave. Due to the dedication of experienced cavers who continue to explore and chart the massive formation, Jewel Cave's current mapped length is 151.21 miles. The most recent additions to the mapped area came as a result of 16 hours of exploration on June 27, 2010. Exploration continues, promising yet more discoveries.

Initial Discovery

In 1900, brothers Frank and Albert Michaud--accompanied by their friend Charles Bush--stumbled upon a natural opening among some of the rocks of the Black Hills of South Dakota. A burst of cool air and the sound of wind whistling through the opening captured their attention. Intrigued, the men made a bigger entrance by setting off a charge of dynamite, creating an opening that led into a large cavern. The spectacular, gleaming calcite crystals filling the cavern inspired the brothers to develop the cave and surrounding area into a tourist site.

Status and Ownership

Jewel Cave became a National Monument in 1908 when President Theodore Roosevelt stepped in to help protect the site's natural beauty. Ownership of Jewel Cave changed hands several times later. In the same year in which the cave received national monument status, the United States government purchased the site from Frank and Albert Michaud for the sum of $750. In 1933, the property changed hands again when the National Park Service bought it.

Developments

Managed by a company called the Jewel Cave Corporation, early commercial tours ran from 1928 through 1939. Further development of the site by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s included the installation of sewage and water lines along with features such as hiking trails, a campground, cabin and the addition of stone steps leading to the entrance of the cavern. More modern developments include the mapping of miles of previously unknown passageways and research involving bats, geology, airflow and microbial DNA. Airflow studies of the strong winds barreling through the cave in areas lying far from the natural entrance led to parts of the cave receiving creative names like Exhaust Pipe and Drafty Maneuver.

Features

Jewel Cave offers a bounty of geological treasures, including a multitude of natural formations such as stalactites and stalagmites and the abundant jewel-like calcite crystals that inspired its name. Detailed mapping of the cave over a period of 21 years by Herb and Jan Conn led to the introduction of many miles of passages, some of which are now available for public touring. The degree of difficulty encountered by the Conns led them to dub some of the passages with such names as The Misery and Contortionist's Delight.

Touring Jewel Cave

Visitors can take advantage of a variety of guided tours through the caverns, including short walking tours of up to 20 minutes in duration intended for the inexperienced cave explorer. Tours featuring gradually increasing degrees of difficulty--suitable for advanced cavers--range from moderately strenuous to extremely strenuous. The fourth and most challenging tour requires hikers to wear headlamps as they crawl through narrow passages and scale steep rock walls, working their way to hidden underground rooms inaccessible in any other manner.

Tags: Jewel Cave, calcite crystals, changed hands, Frank Albert, Ownership Jewel, Ownership Jewel Cave, South Dakota

Use Isotopes To Determine The Age Of Geologic Samples

Different isotopes can be used to determine the age of geologic substances such as this rock.

Radioactive decay was first discovered in uranium in 1896 by French physicist, Henry Becquerel. Atoms with large nuclei are inherently unstable and will inevitably decay and lose particles. Different elements decay at different rates. By comparing the amount of radioactive isotope that decayed to the amount of time it takes for half of the isotope to decay, scientists can accurately estimate the age of any substance. This practice is known as radiometric dating.

Instructions

Perform Radiometric Dating

1. Determine the specific isotope you want to use to measure the age of your sample. Different isotopes have different half-lives that range from seconds to billions of years. The half-life of an isotope is the amount of time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay. You're going to need to use an isotope with a very long half-life because of the incredible age of the Earth. According to U.S. Geological Survey, the most common isotope used to measure the age of geologic substances is potassium-40 and its decayed form, argon-40. Also, according to Carleton College, carbon-14 cannot be used in radiometric dating because its half-life is too short and can only be used to measure the age of a substance that was once living.

2. Find the half-life of the isotope you're going to use. You can refer to a variety of online sources and textbooks to find the half-lives of common isotopes used for radiometric dating. The Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College has a comprehensive list of radioactive isotopes and their half-lives.

3. Divide the natural log of 2 by the half-life of your isotope. The resulting quotient is the decay constant of your isotope.

4. Multiply the reciprocal of your decay constant by the natural log of one plus the ratio of the number of radioactive isotope atoms to the number of decayed isotope atoms. This will give you the age of your geologic substance. The equation to determine the age of your rock can be found at the U.S. Geologic Survey's website.

Tags: radiometric dating, amount time, amount time takes, Carleton College, decay constant, Different isotopes, geologic substances

Help With Map Reading

A map can be an invaluable tool if you know read it.

Maps are two-dimensional representations of geography, each with a specific purpose. For instance, you might include a map in a notice of an open house so that everyone can find their way to the event. Another map might exist to help customers find stores in a mall. Yet another map might serve to get you from one city to another. Of course, maps are only as helpful as your ability to read them.

Decode the Map

Take time to get to know your map so that what you're seeing makes sense. Two characteristics will make the map clearer: symbols and scale Familiarity with these is the difference between being able to quickly zero in on the section you need and squinting at the thing as you inch a finger across it.

Map symbols stand for important features. A legend (or key) decodes these symbols by showing them and their meaning in a table. The legend also lists features common to many maps, such as highways, secondary roads and cities, for example. Often, within a particular country, symbols used between different maps are consistent. Of course, if you assume your country's symbols are universal, you'll quickly become confused unless you consult the legend.

The legend might also tell you what different colors mean on the map; for instance, blue will likely represent bodies of water.

Since maps are small versions of a piece of the big world, you need a sense of scale to read it. The scale of a map will usually be shown near the legend. There's a few ways scale could be shown: as a ratio or fraction, as in 1:10 or 1/10; as something that looks a little bit like a ruler segment or bar; or, finally, written plainly, as in "one inch equals 10 miles."

When you see a scale explanation written as a ratio, know that both numbers use the same unit of measure, either inch or centimeter. If in inches, 1:10 and 1/10 mean that 1 inch on the map equals 10 inches on the ground.

If your map has the ruler scale, the segment shown will have a corresponding distance listed, so that the length of the segment stands for that distance on the ground.

Orient Yourself

While reading a map, it's important to get your bearings. Some, like mall maps, show you where you are with a star. Otherwise, get your bearings by consulting your map at an intersection or other major feature.

Some maps have faint lines running horizontally and vertically across the paper, which form a grid. On the map's border, you'll see that the rows and columns formed by the grid lines are labeled with a letter or number (sometimes two numbers, representing latitude and longitude). Each box in the grid be found by looking at the the intersection of these letters and numbers. Thus, grid box A-2 lies at the intersection of the column and row labeled "A" and "2." If you flip such maps over, you will likely see a list of places, often cities or streets, along with a corresponding grid location. You can note the grid boxes of your current location and destination, find them on the map and plot a course between them.

If you know where you are, but aren't sure what direction you're heading, walk or drive until you find another location featured on the map. With your location and direction known--plus the location of your destination on the map--you can plot a proper route.

By the way, your map will include either a directional arrow or a compass rose. The compass rose will list the cardinal directions North, East, South and West. If you only have an arrow, it is pointing North, conveniently, toward the top of the paper.

Tags: compass rose, country symbols, inch equals, will likely, your bearings

Facts About Weathering

Mt Everest

Have you ever wondered what makes the low, rounded mountains of the American Northeast different from the tall, rugged Himalayas? The main answer is time. Over millions of years, the rock and earth constituting young mountains like Everest is broken down through the process of weathering and erosion until these orogenic giants are transformed into comparative hills like the much older Appellation Mountains.

Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical weathering occurs when materials break up via outside forces that do not alter the composition of the material. Through mechanical forces, geologic formations like cliff faces or monoliths simply fragment into smaller and smaller pieces. The smaller the fragments become, the greater the surface area exposed to the forces of chemical weathering. As a direct result of this process of fragmentation, the material also becomes more susceptible to the forces of erosion. It is through the varying forces of erosion that these broken-down fragments of material are transported either from the mountain top to the valley or sometimes even halfway across the globe.

Frost Wedging

One of the more common and easily recognized forms of mechanical weathering is frost wedging. Frost wedging occurs as water or moisture invades the pore space or crevices within the rock. As the temperature cools to the freezing point, the moisture or water expands with great force, mechanically breaking up the material.

Biological Activity

Another common form of mechanical weathering occurs as a result of biological activity. Similar in process to frost wedging, root wedging, for example, breaks up geologic materials as tiny new plant growths work their way into cracks and crevasses. As the roots grow, they apply tremendous force on the fractured rock until it breaks and falls away. Human endeavors like strip mining or excavation are another, more extreme example of mechanical weathering through biological activity.

Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering occurs as rock and other materials are broken down and altered at a microscopic and even molecular level. Weathering catalysts like oxygen react with rocks and minerals, causing chemical reactions that change the material's composition.

Water and Chemical Weathering

Water in its pure form is not a chemical catalyst for weathering, but it is the most important component of chemical weathering as it carries catalysts like oxygen within it. Consider the rusting of a great iron bridge beam. Over time and unprotected exposure to the tiny chemical catalysts within water's varied solutions, those iron beams can become fragile and week. Iron deposits in rock formations react in a similar manner. As these formations react with oxygen in water, they break down, weakening the internal structure of the rock itself until it too begins to fragment.

Tags: weathering occurs, broken down, catalysts like, catalysts like oxygen, forces erosion, formations react, like oxygen

Types Of Volcanoes And Their Characteristics

Mt. Fuji in Japan is a composite volcano, also known as a stratovolcano.

Originating miles beneath the Earth's surface, volcanoes are powerful agents of both destruction and renewal. Defined as an opening in the planet's crust that allows magma and gases to escape from below the surface, all volcanoes result from the fundamental forces of heat and pressure, but they are not all alike. The U.S. Geological Survey recognizes four principle volcano groups. Each volcano type has distinct features and characteristics. While most geologists agree on the classifications, there are some who argue current classification models do not include all types of volcanism.

Shield Volcanoes

Shield volcanoes are characterized by broad, gently sloping flanks and a dome shape that resembles an ancient warrior's shield. These volcanoes are built almost entirely of layers of solidified basaltic lava flows. Most shield volcanoes feature a central summit vent, and often flank vents, that eject low-viscosity basaltic lava that flows long distances in all directions before solidifying. Shield volcano eruptions are typically effusive, not explosive, and pose little danger to human life.

Shield volcanoes are among the largest volcanoes in the world. The Hawaiian volcanoes are shield volcanoes. Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcano, covers nearly half the island of Hawaii.

Composite Volcanoes

With steep upper flanks and a symmetrical appearance, many composite volcanoes rank among the most famous mountains on Earth. Mt. Fuji, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Etna are composite volcanoes. The term composite indicates these volcanoes are built from more than one type of material. Composite volcanoes are characterized by alternating layers of material such as ash and cinders, blocks and lava deposited by past eruptions.

Sometimes called stratovolcanoes, composite volcanoes present more risk to people than other volcano types. They erupt explosively from a central summit vent or side vents, sending clouds of ash and vapor miles into the atmosphere. Flying rocks and lava bombs, mudslides and superheated pyroclastic flows often accompany composite volcano eruptions. In contrast to shield volcanoes, composite volcanoes typically produce high-viscosity rhyolitic or andesitic lava flows that descend a short distance down the mountain's flanks.

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Lava Domes

Lava domes often form in the craters or on the flanks of composite volcanoes but they can form independently. Composite volcanoes typically produce high-viscosity rhyolitic magma that cannot flow far from the vent before it begins to solidify. When a mass of high-viscosity, usually rhyolitc, lava cools and solidifies over and around a vent, pressure from magma within the volcano expands the cooled lava from within, creating a lava dome. Lava domes may look like rough, craggy forms over a vent, or they may appear as short, thick lava flows with steep sides called "coulees."

Cinder and Scoria Cones

Rarely exceeding 1,000 feet in height, cinder cones are the simplest and smallest volcano type. Also known as scoria cones, cinder cones are common in most of Earth's active volcanic regions. Cinder cones are characterized by a circular cone of hardened lava, ash and tephra around a single vent.

The cone is formed when volcanic material fragments and falls to the ground after being ejected into the air from the vent. Fragmented ash and lava build a cone around the vent as they cool and harden. Cinder cones are often found on the flanks of larger volcanoes and have steep sides and with a large summit crater. They are typically active for a geologically short period of time.

Other Types of Volcanism

Rhyolitic caldera complexes and mid-ocean ridges are forms of volcanism that do not fit into accepted volcano classes.

Rhyolitic caldera complexes, such as Yellowstone Caldera, are ancient volcanoes that erupted so explosively they collapsed into the magma chamber beneath them, forming a giant crater, or caldera. An active volcano, Yellowstone Caldera last erupted 640,000 years ago. Although an eruption in the foreseeable future is remote, USGS measurements showed the surface of the caldera moved upward nearly 8 inches between 2004 and 2008, indicating increased pressure beneath the caldera.

Mid-ocean ridges are undersea areas along tectonic plate boundaries where the plates are diverging. Baslatic lava emerges to fill the space where the plates separated, defining mid-ocean ridges as volcanoes.

Tags: lava flows, around vent, basaltic lava, caldera complexes, central summit, central summit vent, cinder cones

Why Is Flood Insurance Not A Part Of Homeowner'S Insurance

Floods can devastate entire communities or regions.

Many homeowners believe that the homeowner's insurance policy they purchase provides coverage against all perils. They mistakenly hold the impression that since fires, landslides and mudslides, earthquakes, hurricanes and floods are perils, the policy includes them. Few people read and understand the lengthy policy document, especially the exclusions. The list of what is not covered typically includes floods and several other perils.

What Constitutes a Flood?

A flood is the rising and overflowing of a body of water onto land that is normally dry. In the world of insurance, the fact that water is rising is an important factor. Any number of events can cause water damage, but flood damage is linked with rising water. A flood is both temporary and general, in that it affects more than a single property. Floods can cause widespread damages and devastating loss to a region. Government maps determine which zones are most prone to flooding based on historical events.

Flood Coverage and Homeowners Insurance

Approximately 90 percent of all the nation's disasters include flooding, according to studies performed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Private providers of homeowners' and other insurance coverages typically do not cover flooding due to its unpredictable and catastrophic nature. The United States federal government developed NFIP to give homeowners with properties residing in flood-risk areas an opportunity to insure against loss from flood damage.

Purchasing Flood Insurance

The federal government determines community eligibility for flood insurance through NFIP. Homeowners should purchase flood insurance long before a flood threatens; generally, a waiting period of 30 days is required before flood insurance becomes effective. The exception to the waiting period is if the initial purchase of the flood insurance occurs while the homeowner is making a new loan on the property, extending an existing loan or otherwise renewing the home loan. Homeowners purchase the coverage through private insurers. Insurers pay claims directly when a policyholder experiences a loss, and the government reimburses the insurers.

The Way Flood Insurance Works

The cost of flood insurance varies just as the cost of homeowners insurance varies. Some factors that help determine cost are property location, elevation and construction type. Some areas are at greater risk for flooding than others, and the cost of flood insurance will vary accordingly. The converse is also true. Properties located in low flood risk zones may get a price break and pay far less than those in high-risk areas.

Tags: flood insurance, before flood, cost flood, cost flood insurance, federal government, flood damage, Flood Insurance

How The Rock Cycle Begins

All rock is one of three types: sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic.

Everyone can see changes in the environment, but the timeline for these changes varies greatly by location. Coasts change quickly; you see daily, monthly and yearly changes in the shape of the coastline. Interior land changes more slowly. A river might flood only once every century, and the growth of mountains is often imperceptible. Near faults and volcanoes, catastrophic events cause instant change to the surrounding landscape.

The Rock Cycle

The rock cycle consists of the processes by which earth changes from one type to another: sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. Rocks do not just form as one type and stay there; they remain in constant motion. A rock is any "naturally formed, nonliving, firm and coherent aggregate mass of solid matter that constitutes part of a planet," according to the Idaho Museum of Natural History. Rock cycles have no actual beginning, because each type of rock is made from the others in an endless chain.

Sedimentary Rock

When you place moderate amounts of pressure on layers of sediments, they compress to form sedimentary rocks such as sandstone. Sediments are either biological detritus such as bones and plants or pieces of other rocks called clasts. Sedimentary rocks are named for the size of the particles used to make them--such as sandstone from sand, siltstone from silt and mudstone from mud, according to the Idaho Museum of Natural History. For a geologist, gravel means anything with clasts from 1/10 to 1/5 inch in diameter. Conglomerates are made from rounded gravel, and breccia is made of angular or sharp-edged gravel. Limestone forms from organisms that have recrystallized under pressure, but it is still considered stone.

Metamorphic Rock

When you subject sedimentary or igneous rock to extreme heat and pressure, it transforms into metamorphic rock. Meta means change and morph means form, and change-form is exactly what the molten metamorphic rock does. Also called magma or molten rock, it only forms at specific locations, usually near fault lines. When magma cools, it crystallizes just like ice from water, according to Vision Learning.

Igneous Rock

Though all igneous rock forms from metamorphic rock, they form in two very different environments. Extrusive rocks cool quickly on the surface of volcanoes forming basalt. Quick cooling makes the crystals too small to see without a magnifying glass or microscope. Intrusive igneous rocks cool in plutons (cool areas) deep below the Earth's surface. It takes a long time for these rocks to cool, so they have time to grow much larger crystals. Each type of extrusive rock has an intrusive counterpart such as rhyolite and granite or gabbro and basalt, the Idaho Museum of Natural History says.

Timeline

Some rock processes, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, happen instantly. Others, such as rising mountain ranges, happen slowly. Any rock can be pushed up and exposed to weathering and erosion, and similarly, any rock and be pushed down and melted. Therefore, the rock cycle is not a circle, because many paths connect the three states, according to Vision Learning.

Tags: Idaho Museum, Idaho Museum Natural, Museum Natural, Museum Natural History, Natural History, rocks cool

Facts About The Red Rocks Of Sedona

The Red Rocks of Sedona are located in Central Arizona within newly developed Red Rock State Park. Walkways and trails wind around impressive pinnacles of red sandstone rock. The presence of iron is responsible for the rock color and the redness is actually rust. Sedona and its surrounding area make for a genuine paradise for visitors.

Red Rock Mountain Dwellers

Sedona is rich with Native American history and is considered sacred land. Cliff dwellings, though abandoned many years ago, give visitors an insight into previous dwellers. A sub-culture of the Anasazi, known as the Sinagua, worked the land, hunted and gathered food from the canyon and beautiful valley nearby. The reason for their disappearance is unknown.

In the late 1800s, pioneers came to the area and formed a settlement of farmers and artists. To this day, energy vortexes or cosmic energy fields in this striking area of Red Rocks draws spiritual healers and New Age inspiration or motivation seekers.

Red Rock Geography

The red rocks are the main feature of Coconino National Forest, also part of Red Rock Secret Wilderness Mountains, maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Millions of years of water and soil erosion caused the formation of monolithic majestic shapes as well as narrow, deep canyons surrounded by arches, buttes and cliffs. Iron oxide flowing in the erosive waters left warm shades of red as it washed over and through porous sandstone.

The high mountains contain thick Ponderosa pine forests that decline into an arid lowland desert. The valleys are rich with wildlife and vegetation. The rough land of this area provides a natural defense against the increasing volume of tourists and traffic.

Red Rock Backdrop

The development of this area traces its history back more than 320 million years when central Arizona lay under water in a sea of sorts. Sedona's rocks have an initial layer made from shells of assorted sea creatures. As the sea dried, rivers formed and flowed, depositing sediment that erodes quite easily. Today, we call it red sandstone. The rivers deposited that sand in a delta that became Sedona.

Rocks from the ancient sea-to-land-to-river transformations are rich in color and form the backdrop for today's city of Sedona, Arizona. Researchers offer an educated guess that approximately 1,900 feet of rock covers the entire area of Sedona.

Erosion Formations

Several million years ago, the Colorado Plateau experienced a sensation--most likely a complex earthquake. The crack that developed near Sedona got longer and wider. It made an appropriate route for flowing water over the last million, or so, years.

Erosion from the flowing water formed such wonders as Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Rock and Coffee Pot Rock. Fortunately, a layer of limestone coats the rock formations, which is a preservative feature, making them erosion-resistant.

Time, Weather and the Red Rocks

The Red Rocks of Sedona have a base that traces back to sediment in a sea or flood plain as well as some that formed from sand blown in from dry land or coastal area beaches. A point of origin determines the variation in sand color. It ranges from bright orange to shades of red and some tan. White or gray rocks are also visible. Once quite colorful, the effect of limestone or flushing water might have drained the color.

Much can happen in a million years. Along with geological changes, there were also climate changes during that stretch of time. The Sedona area has been under water. It did emerge as a seacoast and then experienced transformation into a desert. Each change left a mark on the landscape of Sedona and its red rocks, a change that must be seen to be appreciated fully.

Tags: million years, Rocks Sedona, flowing water, rich with, this area, under water

Hike To The Top Of Pyramid Peak In California

A view from the Sierra Nevada mountains

The Pyramid Peak trailhead is located 85 miles east of Sacramento, California, and 21 miles west of the California/Nevada state line on U.S. Highway 50, between Strawberry and Twin Bridges. The 4-mile all-day hike climbs approximately 4,400 feet through mixed conifer and alpine forest to reach the peak at 9,983 feet above sea level. The hike includes photo opportunities of Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada range of which the peak is a part, and the California Central Valley. The best months to hike the peak are July and September.

Instructions

1. Arrive around 7 a.m. to avoid the worst of the summer heat. Park in the dirt turnout near the Caltrans Chain Control sign located at mile marker 59. If that area is full, drive down the highway and look for another pullout.

2. Walk up the highway for 300 feet toward the east. The trailhead is not marked, but several paths climb up the loose rocks of a steep cutbank on the north side of highway. Once you're on top, the trail becomes obvious.

3. Follow the steep trail heading up slope on the east side of Rocky Creek. Take your time when crossing fallen logs to be sure you don't get diverted off the main trail. Take photos of the large trees and cascading waterfalls.

4. Take a break at 7,500 feet elevation where the trail crosses the creek and heads west. Fill up your water supply. Use a filter or add purification tablets. Check your feet for blisters and apply moleskin or adhesive bandage if necessary. Enjoy the first views of the summit.

5. Follow the trail as it turns toward the north at 8,000 feet elevation and climbs through rock outcrops and juniper trees. Drink plenty of water and travel slowly; this will be the hottest part of the hike if there is no wind.

6. Scramble with caution up the last 500 feet where the route climbs a pyramid shaped pile of 3- to 6-foot boulders. The easiest approach to the peak is on the southwest side, where boulders give way to solid bedrock. Once you're on top, eat lunch, take photographs, and send a text message with photo to your friends.

7. Navigate back down the rocky upper pyramid. Locate the trail as soon as possible to avoid getting lost in the juniper scrub. Follow the trail back down the same way you came up, stopping regularly to rest your knees.

Tags: back down, feet elevation, Follow trail, Pyramid Peak, Sierra Nevada

What Is Ice Mechanical Weathering

Ice is an important agent of weathering.

Weathering is the natural process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces. This is an important process because it eventually leads to the development of functioning ecosystems; life would not exist if not for the process of weathering. Ice is one of several different agents of weathering. Does this Spark an idea?

Categories of Weathering

There are two different categories of weathering. Mechanical weathering, also referred to as physical weathering, occurs when a rock is physically broken down without changing its chemical composition. Chemical weathering occurs when a rock is broken down by a chemical process that alters the rock's chemical composition. Chemical and mechanical weathering are complementary processes. Ice is a factor in two different forms of mechanical weathering: glaciation and frost wedging.

Glaciation

Glaciation is a form of mechanical weathering caused by glaciers. Glaciers are large masses of ice that slowly move over time. As they move, glaciers carve deep valleys into bedrock, breaking it apart and carrying pieces of it away. Glaciers are, therefore, an agent of erosion as well as an agent of mechanical weathering. In the form of glaciers, ice not only breaks down rock, but quite literally shapes the surface of the Earth.

Frost Wedging

The other form of mechanical weathering that involves ice is referred to as "frost wedging." Frost wedging occurs when water seeps into a crack or pore in a rock. If that water freezes, it will expand, creating pressure in the crack and widening it until the rock fractures. This type of weathering depends on temperature changes to occur and can be a major problem for people in colder climates because of the potentially destructive effects that it has on roads and buildings.

Salt Crystallization and Ice Wedging

Another form of mechanical weathering is known as "salt crystallization." Much like frost wedging, salt crystallization occurs when a saline solution enters a crack or pore in a rock and then crystallizes due because of a temperature change, eventually fracturing the rock. Salt crystallization can occur on its own, and it can also occur in tandem with frost wedging. According to Michael Pidwirny, associate professor of physical geography at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, the effects of frost wedging are increased by the presence of salt.

Soil Formation

By breaking apart rock into smaller and smaller pieces, the processes of glaciation and frost wedging help to form soil. This is incredibly important because soil is necessary for plants to live and function. Weathering allows plants to access the minerals and nutrients in rock by breaking it down into tiny, manageable pieces. In this way, glaciation and frost wedging help ecosystems form and make life on earth possible.

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Mountains Of West Africa

Many of West Africa's highest mountains are active volcanoes.

West Africa is more famous for its steamy tropical forests and political turbulence than for its mountains. Most of the region is low lying, although Cameroon has one mountain over 13,000 feet in Mount Cameroon. Other lesser peaks and volcanoes are to be found across the region but none are higher than 10,000 feet. West Africa is home to a number of active volcanoes and many of its peaks are remote or inaccessible.

Mount Cameroon

The highest peak in West Africa at 13,255 feet Mount Cameroon is an active volcano that last erupted in the year 2000. Its first known eruption was in the 5th Century BC and was recorded by Carthaginian navigator Hanno. It is the closest African volcano to the sea and rises almost directly out of the Gulf of Guinea in West Cameroon. There is another volcano called the Pico de Santa Isabel which reaches 9,868 ft on an island just off the coast. Mount Cameroon was first climbed in 1861 by explorer Sir Richard Burton and can be climbed by hikers, provided it is not erupting.

Pico Basile

Formerly known as the Pico de Santa Isabel this 9,878 volcanic peak sits on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea. It last erupted in 1923 and its lower slopes are covered in tropical forest. Mount Cameroon can be seen from the summit and both mountains are part of the Cameroon line; a rift zone stretching from Lake Chad in the East out into the Gulf of Guinea.

Mount Nimba

At 5,748 ft Mount Niimba or Mount Richard-Molard sits on the borders of Liberia, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire and is the highest mountain in all three countries. It is also the highest point in the Nimba Range. The whole mountain is rich in iron ore, and the Liberia section has been extensively mined while Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire have declared their parts to be nature reserves. The protected parts of the Nimba Range have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mount Bintumani

The highest peak in Sierra Leone Mount Bintumani or Loma Mansu is 6,381 ft high and the highest peak in the Guinea Highlands range. The mountain is difficult to access as there are no tarmac roads close by.

Pico de Sao Tome

Pico de Sao Tome is only technically 6,640 ft above sea level but is in fact the emergent peak of a giant shield volcano that sits on the sea bed in over 10,000 feet of water. This makes it the highest mountain in West Africa despite being mostly under water. As the highest point of São Tom island in the Gulf of Guinea the mountain is a continuation of the Cameroon Line. The upper slopes of the mountain are forested and inside the Obo National Park.

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Careers Related To Physical Science

Physical science is the study of the physical world, which includes sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, engineering, oceanography, meteorology and geology.

Considerations

One needs at least an undergraduate to be a physical scientist. Other careers require postgraduate and doctoral degrees. Because many employers prefer employees with computer skills, computer courses are also necessary. Careers can be found both in the private sector and in government.

Time Frame

Undergraduate degrees usually require 4 years of study for a bachelor's degree. A master's would require 5 to 6 years of study. A PhD degree will require 8 or more years, with extensive thesis work.

Career Requirements

Undergraduate science majors usually study engineering, mathematics, physics, environmental studies and computer sciences. For teaching or research, one usually should pursue a doctoral degree.

Benefits

Because the field is so diverse, there are many career opportunities available with median annual salaries ranging from $68,000 to $110,000 or more. For those pursuing doctoral degrees there are many opportunities for travel and experiencing other cultures.

Top Schools

The top schools for physical science studies are Dakota State University, at http://www.departments.dsu.edu, Murry State University at http://www.murraystate.edu, and Southwest Missouri State University at http://www.missouristate.edu/.

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What Is Contained In Topsoil

Top soil contains minerals and nutrients.

Topsoil is the exterior most layer of soil. It provides an environment rich in nutrients, minerals and water to plants and crops. The topsoil is also known as the A horizon in soil classification systems. According to "Barron's AP Environmental Science," healthy topsoil should consist of about 45 percent minerals (in combination with clay, silt and sand), 5 percent organic matter, 25 percent water and 25 percent air.

Minerals & Nutrients

Minerals are the main constituents of topsoil. Topsoil minerals are derived from their bedrock parent material, which include rocks and meta-sedimentary rocks--such as gneiss, schist and granite. Phosphorous (P), potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) are common topsoil minerals and nutrients.

Water

Water exists in topsoil and functions in the decomposition of mineral grains. Soil solution is a mixture of dissolved nutrients and minerals in water. This nutrient-rich soil solution carries essential substances to plants via their root hairs and facilitates the movement of soil bacteria.

Air

Air (oxygen) is a component of topsoil, which provides a conducive environment for aerobic bacterial activities. Aerobic bacteria decompose dead organic matter into essential soil nutrients. This decomposing takes place in the presence of oxygen, which is provided by the air. Topsoil air pores also act as water reservoirs and can hold immense quantities of underground water.

Organic Matter

According to "The Basics of Earth Science," the organic layer of topsoil is also called its O layer. This surface layer is made up of organic compounds and substances that support plant life. Carbon-rich organic substances are broken down in the topsoil to produce humus. Humus acts as a binding agent (or the glue) and brings together all other components of the topsoil.

Organisms & Microorganisms

According to "The Basics of Earth Science," topsoil contains trillions of mites, insects, worms, protozoa, fungi, bacteria and algae. Certain helpful bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be easily usable by plants. An example of a nitrogen-fixing bacteria that exists in the topsoil is the Rhizobium, which recycles nutrients by decomposing litter and dead organic matter.

Sand and Silt

The topsoil also consists of a layer of loam, clay, silt and sand. Clay is present as fine particles that clump when wet, have a low permeability to water and cause water logging. Silt is a sedimentary material that is made of fine particles that get easily displaced by water. Sand is coarser than silt, and is useful for plants and crops that require low water. Loam comprises of humus, silt, sand and clay. It is rich in nutrients, retains water but prevents water logging.

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Uses Of Sphalerite

Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide mineral. It is the primary ore of zinc and is commonly mined for its content of cadmium, indium, germanium or gallium. It is often found in replacements, fracture filings and cavity fillings in limestone. Furthermore, it is also found in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphism deposits and in many igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

The Facts

Sphalerite is found in a variety of colors including black, red, green, white, light brown, pale yellow and colorless. Its streak (color of mineral when its powered) can be white and brown to light yellow and its luster (the way the mineral reflects light) is resinous. Sphalerite's hardness is between 3.5 to 4 and its specific gravity is between 3.9 to 4.1 It is chemically classified as a sulfide and its crystal system is isometric. Furthermore, according to Geology.com, it is easily identifiable as a result of its six directions of cleavage and its strong sulfur odor.

Definition

In the past, sphalerite has been difficult to identify and distinguish from more valuable minerals such as acanthite, tetrahedrite and galena. As a result, it came to be known as blended, meaning "blind" or "deceiving" in German. The word sphalerite also means treacherous rock in Greek, according to Galleries.com.

Features

Sphalerite has the same chemistry and shape as two other minerals called wurtzite and matraite. The three minerals are called polymorphs, however, of the three, sphalerite is the most common. Zinc's many ores include hemimorphite, smithsonite, willemite, zincite, and franklinite. However, according to Galleries.com, sphalerite is by far its most important.

Uses

Sphalerite has very little industrial use except as the main ore of zinc. An ore is a metal-bearing mineral mass that can be mined for profit. Zinc is primarily used to galvanize metal such as iron and prevent corrosion, according to

WebElements.com. It is also used for roof cladding and dry batteries. Some zinc metal is also used in lightweight coins such as the one cent found in America and Canada. The uses of zinc sulfide include the making of luminous dials, TV screens, non-toxic paints, X-ray screens and fluorescent lights.

Considerations

Though the uses of sphalerite in industry are rather limited, it is highly valued in the gem and jewelery business. In pure form, sphalerite is a mineral with amazing sparkle. Its high refractive index of 2.37-2.42 is important to gemologists who take advantage by polishing the mineral and making it into a beautiful specimen.

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What Are Land Features In California

California's landscape includes everything from low desert to coastal lagoons.

California, known as the Golden State, is located on the West Coast of the United States. Like many American states, California contains an extensive range of land features, from towering mountains to beaches and agricultural regions. Many of these land features are popular tourist attractions, offering a range of natural sights and opportunities to pursue outdoor activities and sports.

Mountains

California features some towering mountains, in stark contrast to its more low-lying areas. The largest mountain in the state is Mount Whitney, which can be found on the western edge of the Great Basin Desert. Mount Whitney reaches 14,491 feet above sea level, according to the California Map website, and is part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, a group of peaks located in the eastern part of the state, which run from north to south. The Sierra Nevada range covers around 430 miles, and sights include glaciers and the picturesque Yosemite Valley. Other prominent ranges in the state include the group collectively known as the coastal mountains: the Coast Ranges, the Transverse Ranges, the Peninsular Ranges and the Klamath Mountains. These coastal mountains run from the edge of Del Norte County all the way south toward Mexico and are almost constant across their 800-mile length, with few interruptions.

Central Valley

California's Central Valley region--home to a huge agriculture industry--can be found in-between the state's coastal mountain system and the Sierra Nevada range. Much of this 400-mile area is occupied by farmland, and the Central Valley is noted for its immense food production, with the region supplying around 25 percent of the food for the United States as a whole, as described by the NPR news website. In the 21st century, the Central Valley has begun to become increasingly urbanized, with cities growing in size as agricultural areas shrink.

Coast

With a coastline running for close to 840 miles, it's not surprising that California features plenty of beaches as well as beach-side resorts and villages that have grown up around these sandy tourist attractions. Landscape features along the coast include redwood forests and lagoons.

Desert

California contains two major desert regions, the Colorado--part of the extensive Sonoran Desert--and the Mojave; together, the two areas contain approximately 25,000 square miles of desert. The California desert plays host to a number of attractions and parks. To the east, Death Valley National Park, the lowest-lying area in the state and part of the Mojave Desert, features canyons, mountains and sand dunes spread across around three million acres. To the south, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offers hiking opportunities and a chance for visitors to spot animals such as bighorn sheep, after which the park was named, kit foxes and roadrunners, as well as flora such as cacti plants.

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Make Preschool Science Activities

Use scientific experimentation to nurture young children's natural curiosity.

Using science experiments with preschoolers is a way to enhance and develop the natural curiosity of young children. Develop activities that are hands-on and allow for plenty of student-driven exploration. Plan ahead to ensure you have all the needed supplies on hand and specific procedures in place. If possible, secure extra adult supervision for activities that will require a lot of guidance. Teach students expected behaviors and routines before the first science activity including behave during the experiment, access supplies, get help if needed and clean up when finished.

Instructions

1. Use correct vocabulary when discussing scientific processes, names and concepts. It is not necessary to create kid-friendly words to explain things like photosynthesis, respiration, the water cycle or any other "big" scientific words. As children grow so will their understanding of these concepts.

2. Create activities that do not involve a lot of lecture or explanation by an adult. Let the children explore and draw their own conclusions. Examples of self-explanatory activities include a water or sand table with lots of different items like trucks, nets, plastic animals, strainers and funnels. Set up a science table with magnifying glasses and different objects for students to observe including bird feathers, fur, insects, leaves and sticks.

3. Develop activities that teach the scientific method of observing, predicting and checking. Place an ice cube in the window on a hot, sunny day and predict how long it will take to melt (or if it will melt), observe the process throughout the day and discuss what happened once it has melted. Plant seeds in small cups and water one cup but not the other then observe, monitor and discuss what happens to each plant.

4. Create activities based on the four seasons. Take students outside at different times of the year with journals and allow them to record sights, smells, sounds and tastes. Set up a table in winter where students can experiment with snow, predict how long it will take to melt, try different things to cause it to melt and draw conclusions about it. Spring and summer activities might include tracking the sun, noticing where it is in the sky and a discussion about shadows. Allow students to collect leaves in the fall. Place them under paper and rub over them with crayons to make leaf rubbings or examine leaves and make a chart about the characteristics of leaves.

5. Allow children to explore with scientific tools like rulers, balance scales, magnifying glasses, telescopes, binoculars and microscopes. Set up a table with one or two of these tools and several different objects to observe, weigh or measure.

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Sierra Nevada Mountain Facts For Kids

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are considered a "young" mountain range.

The Sierra Nevada mountains are a range of mountains that extends over 600 miles, from north to south, throughout the state of California. This particular range is considered to be "young" and "active" when compared to other ranges around the rest of the United States. This means that the Sierra Nevada Mountains are continuously being "built" by the shifting of the earth's tectonic plates. This mountain range has a wide variety of weather types from heavy rains to high winds to bright sunshine to snow and an even greater variety of plant and animal life as well as interesting geology.

Geology

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains "provides evidence of ongoing mountain building" which means that the shape and movement of these mountains are influenced by the shifting of tectonic plates beneath the earth's surface. Because of all this shifting, this region is also peppered with volcanoes.The Sierra Nevada Mountains are comprised mostly of granite that was formed from the lava of volcanoes. This mountain range is considered "young" when compared to others because it only started to emerge from the earth due to the erosion of the volcanic rock roughly 5 to 20 million years ago.

Nature

The Sierra Nevada Mountains is well-known for its vibrant display of wildflowers in the summers and its mild climate. Although the highest parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains will still have some snow even in the summer, the temperatures are generally mild to slightly cool and many people take advantage of the generally pleasant summer weather to engage in outdoor activities like hiking, boating and enjoying the beaches of Lake Tahoe. The rainy season lasts from October to May and, during that time, the higher elevations can receive as much as 30 feet of snow, which makes skiing an ideal sport in this area.

Lake Tahoe

One of the most famous lakes in the United States is found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains: Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe spans a 21-mile by 12-mile area and is an average of 1000 feet deep. Lake Tahoe is also known as the "jewel" of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is heavily protected by the U.S. Government in order to support and preserve its natural beauty, although many parts are open to outdoor sports like boating, rafting, swimming and visiting the beaches. The area is also guarded against wildfires, which can occur at random times due to the dry summer climate.

Conservation and Foliage

Fifteen percent of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is listed as designated conservation land. Most of the lower portions of the mountain range, however, are privately owned and conservation of the land is left up to the landowners. Because of this, the "biodiversity" -- the variations of thriving plant life -- is considered to be vulnerable. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are a mixture of various types of pine trees, pine and oak woodlands and grasslands. Timber harvest, agricultural development, recreation, animal trapping and mining are some of the most common activities in and around the area.

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Hunt For Gems In Georgia

You can find precious and semi-precious stones all over Georgia.

According to Gold n Gem Grubbin, a business in Cleveland, Georgia, that allows panning for gold and gems on the premises, more gold has been found in Georgia than was panned in California during the great Gold Rush of the 1800s.

Although gold is not a gem, there are also plenty of opportunities for finding precious and semi-precious gem stones, including rubies, topaz, amethyst and emeralds, in the Peach State, at Gold n Gem Grubbing or out on your own

Instructions

1. Contact other enthusiasts. Georgia State University has a geology club, and Atlanta has a geological society. The members of these clubs are "rock hounds," too, and will know about the best sites in Georgia for gem hunting. Email or call the clubs for more information, and also ask if you have to be a member to accompany them on a gem hunting outing.

2. Create a gem hunting equipment kit. At minimum you will want a rock hammer (hammer with a single point on one side), a basic magnifying class for initial identification, a jeweler's loupe for a more detailed identification of your gem stones, a gem identifying book, and an assortment of small glass vials with caps to store your finds until you get them home. You will also need a backpack to carry your equipment in. Many of the sites favored by Georgia gem hunters are in the mountains, so be sure to add a sturdy pair of hiking boots to your gem-hunter's kit. Other basic hiking supplies like insect repellent and a bottle or two of water should be added to your kit.

3. Dig for stones. The best place to find gemstones in Georgia is in old mines, and not necessarily gem mines. There are old gold mines in Georgia if you feel like branching out from stones to precious metals, and you can find small gemstones in just about any old mine. Other Georgia enthusiasts will tell you where to go. Once you get there, take out your rock hammer and start digging. Once you think you've found a stone worth keeping, wash it off and give it a closer look with your magnifying glass and jeweler's loupe. Check with your gem identification book to see what specific stones look like "in the rough." If it still looks like a keeper, place it in one of your glass vials for safekeeping and keep digging. You never know what you will find next.

Tags: glass vials, jeweler loupe, precious semi-precious, precious semi-precious stones, rock hammer

Visit Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley is named for the mushroom-shaped "hoodoos" dotting the 3,654 acre landscape. This state park, located in southern Utah, is a haven for hikers, photographers and families wanting to explore this geological playground. As a matter of fact, the 1999 movie "Galaxy Quest" was filmed, in part, at Goblin Valley. You can spend as little as an hour hiking the goblins and spires, or you can plan to stay longer and visit some of the nearby attractions, such as Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Read on to learn visit Goblin Valley State Park.

Instructions

1. Plant the visit. Summer visitors can expect daytime temperatures to soar near 100 degrees F and intense thunderstorms can threaten unexpectedly. Winter can give the hoodoos an interesting look with a dusting of snow. Visitors during the colder months should dress warm as temperatures can drop below freezing. If you are a fair weather hiker, try visiting during the fall or spring.

2. Arrange transportation. Goblin Valley is located nearly four hours from Salt Lake City International Airport. If planning on flying, you can fly into Salt Lake City and travel by car to Goblin Valley. Another option is to take a charter plane from Salt Lake City into Moab, which is about one hour and 45 minutes away. Moab is the home to Arches National Park and close to Canyonlands for some added sightseeing.

3. Make reservations. Goblin Valley has a 25-unit campground and sites can accommodate large motor homes. Each site has a grill and picnic table. There are hot showers, modern restrooms,and an RV dump station. Campsites can be reserved in advance or on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to stay in a hotel, you will need to travel a bit because of Goblin Valley's remote location. Green River, about an hour away, has several hotel options.

4. If you are planning to camp during your stay at Goblin Valley, claim your camping spot upon arrival if you don't have reservations.

5. Walk to the covered observation deck to get a view of the hoodoos and to read about Goblin Valley's geology on the information placards. This is also a good time to lather on some sunscreen and fill up water bottles.

6. Hike down into the goblin maze and be prepared to do some exploring. Visitors enjoy scrambling to the tops of the hoodoos and spires. Families enjoy playing hide-and-go-seek; some even like to play the game with flashlights on a summer night. A game of "Capture the Flag" can be exciting among the towering mushroom-like shapes.

Tags: Goblin Valley, Lake City, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, about hour

Education Requirements For A Planetary Geologist Career

Venus, one of the planets that planetary geologists study.

Planetary geologists, sometimes called astrogeologists or exogeologists, study the geology of celestial bodies such as planets, as the name implies. However, they also study asteroids, comets, meteorites, moons and other types of celestial bodies. The internal structure of planets, the atmospheres, planetary surfaces, mapping, the nature of volcanoes and what we can learn from impact craters all make fascinating topics for a planetary geologist. The outlook for planetary geologists reveals a growth in demand until the year 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Degree Options

Most entry-level planetary geologists need at least a bachelor's degree. Most geoscientists need a master's degree, according to ChaCha.com, because the best career prospects for planetary geologists exist for the ones with master's degrees. A Ph.D. suits your requirements if you plan to do high-level research or move into college-level teaching positions. Planetary geologists applying for these teacher and research positions face more competition than applicants for positions that require only a bachelor's or master's.

Science Coursework

Among the courses you take while getting your planetary geology degree(s) include mineralogy, petrology, hydrogeology and structural geology, according to University.com. Computer skills are important for aspiring planetary geologists. Graduates with computer experience hold an advantage. Prospective planetary geologists who come to the employment marketplace with experience in computer modeling, data analysis/integration, digital mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Global Positioning System (GPS) have great prospects, according to the BLS.

Communications Coursework

Geoscientists often work in teams with other environmental scientists and engineers. Because of this, interpersonal skills are required, as well as oral and written communication skills. Planetary geologists must write highly technical reports, prepare involved research proposals and present their research face-to-face in a variety of settings. Good science skills alone are not enough to sustain a career in geoscience. You must communicate your findings effectively if you hope to move to the next step in your career.

High School Preparation

Aspiring planetary geologists should take as much advanced math, physics, chemistry and biology as possible in high school. Particularly, courses in geology, hydrogeology, and the environmental sciences help, if offered at your school. Mastery of English, drama and public speaking help you develop essential communications skills. Prepare well for the ACT and SAT scores, since these are unavoidable requirements for admission to college. Good test scores improve your chances of getting into the college(s) of your choice.

Tags: planetary geologists, celestial bodies, planetary geologists

Facts About Japan

The country of Japan has has the second largest economy in the world. Japan has a population of nearly 127 million people, most of which live on one small island. Japanese culture is of growing interest to people around the world who want insight into this fascinating country.

Geography

Japan is located in Asia and consists of many islands. The largest of these are Hokkaido, Kyushu, Honshu and Shikoku. At 87,805 square miles, Honshu is the largest island in Japan, and about 80 percent of the Japanese population lives here. Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan, but is home to only 5 percent of the population. Kyushu is the third largest island, with 11 percent of the population, and Shikoku is the smallest island of Japan. Several continental plates meet beneath Japan, making this area especially prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Mount Fuji is Japan's largest volcano. Though it is classified as an active volcano, Mt. Fuji has been dormant since 1708. The climate in Japan varies greatly by location. In most major cities the weather is temperate with four seasons. Winters are usually mild while summers see heat, humidity, rain and typhoons. Further north, in areas of Hokkaido, winters are much colder and have heavy snowfall.

History

Japan is home to the oldest surviving monarchy in the world. Japan was founded by Emperor Jimmu in the seventh century B.C. Buddhism was introduced over the next two centuries. Chinese culture also began to arrive in Japan around this time, including the Chinese writing system. The national flag of Japan is known as the Hinomaru and features a red circle against a white background. The circle is meant to symbolize the rising sun, a very important element of Japanese culture. Amaterasu Omikami is the original deity of Japan and is a sun goddess. The national anthem of Japan was written in 1880 and is called Kimigayo, meaning "The Emperor's Reign." The music for the anthem was composed by Hiromori Hayashi, a musician of the Imperial Court.

Function

Japanese food is popular all around the world. However, the dishes served at home in Japan may very greatly from the food served in Japanese restaurants in other parts of the world. Most Japanese people include rice in every meal. Tea is often included with all meals as well. Fruit is incredibly expensive in Japan, so most meals consist of meat, fish, vegetables and rice. Pork, beef, chicken, fish and seafood flavored with a variety of soy sauces are commonly used in main dishes. The people here prefer to shop daily for the ingredients for their meals, so refrigerators in Japan tend to be much smaller than those in other countries. Sushi is a popular Japanese dish made with rice and raw fish. Another favorite is miso soup, made from seaweed stock and soybean paste. Meals are usually eaten with chopsticks, known as hashi.

Features

Kendo is Japan's oldest form of martial arts. The name means "the way of the sword." Japanese poetry is known as haiku. A haiku poem consists of only three lines. Another well-known Japanese art is the unique paper folding known as origami. Many people are familiar with the popular origami crane, but this art includes a variety of shapes, including flowers, animals and geometric shapes. Noh is an ancient form of Japanese theater that is still very popular. Noh theater first emerged in the fourteenth century as a unique combination of Chinese theater and Japanese dance. This type of theater can last as long as 8 hours.

Considerations

When entering a home in Japan, footwear should always be removed. In the house, slippers are worn, though even these are removed for meals. There are special slippers for use in the bathroom. In small villages, the communities are especially close-knit. The entire village will participate in the preparations and ceremonies performed for events such as funerals and weddings. The Japanese drive on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car.

Tags: island Japan, largest island, around world, home Japan, Japan home

Find Federal Lands That Are Open To Gold Mining Claims

Finding federal land open for gold mining claims involves contact with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The federal government owns thousands of acres of property where members of the public can prospect for gold. Individuals who find an area with significant amounts of gold will want to file a claim for the area, which gives you a right to remove the gold from the property and provides certain protections from other people mining the property. The first step in filing a federal mining claim is to determine which pieces of property are available and still eligible for claims. The process will involve searching specific maps and contacting both county and federal government officials.

Instructions

1. Pick a state to begin your search for federal lands that can be claimed. The U.S. Department of Interior lists the following states as being the most likely areas to find valuable minerals on federal land: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

2. Order a Surface Management Edition map from the appropriate regional office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Once you've selected a state to begin your search, you can determine which regional office of the Bureau of Land Management to contact by visiting the bureau's website. The Surface Management Edition maps show which areas of a state are owned by the federal government, and thus potentially available for a mineral claim.

3. Narrow your search to a specific plot of ground on federal property. Generally a federal mining claim must be made on a piece of property 20 acres or less. Once you've identified a piece of property that you believe has mining potential, very clearly mark its location on your Surface Management Edition map. If you have access to GPS technology, also mark its GPS coordinates.

4. Contact a property ownership officer in the county courthouse in which the property is located. Often property ownership information can be found in county offices with names such as Register of Deeds, County Assessor, County Appraiser or County Clerk. Show the appropriate county officer the map location or GPS coordinates of the plot you are researching. Ask for a legal description of the property. The legal description lists the township number, range number, section number and section quadrant.

5. Use the legal description to request a claim report for the plot of ground you are researching. The regional office of the Bureau of Land Management will have the claim report. The claim report will list any mining claims that have been filed on the property, and list whether they are active and in good standing. If the plot of property does not have any active claims, it then can be considered a piece of federal ground open to a mining claim.

Tags: Bureau Land, Bureau Land Management, Land Management, claim report, federal government, legal description

Facts About Canyons

Canyons are formed over time by erosion.

Canyons are found throughout the world and many are popular sites for hiking, rafting, camping or simple admiration. These geological formations -- sometimes also known as a gorge -- are formed over time by erosion; consequently, today, canyons are found between cliffs and many canyons feature rivers that run through them.

Types of Canyons

Not all canyons are created the same. Box canyons are smaller canyons with walls on three sides. The cliffs of these canyons are usually very steep. Slot canyons are narrow on the ground. These canyons are formed by occasional bursts of water cutting through a small area. Submarine canyons are created by currents from the ocean -- so they are underwater -- and tend to occur at the point where a large body of water flows into the ocean.

Famous Canyons

There are several famous canyons throughout the world. The most famous of all is the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The Grand Canyon was formed by the Colorado River and is 277 miles long as well as over 5,000 feet deep. Arizona's Horseshoe Bend is another well-known canyon. This canyon is literally shaped like a horseshoe. Also, the Tara River Gorge, in Montenegro, is Europe's longest, at 51 miles and is also a World Heritage Site. Mexico's Copper Canyon is actually a series of canyons formed by six rivers and is home to the Tarahumara tribe.

Canyons in Outer Space

Both the planet Mars and Saturn's Moon Tethys are home to canyons. On Mars, the Valles Marineris canyon system -- also known as the "Grand Canyon of Mars" is approximately 4,000 kilometers long -- the length of the United States. At points, the canyons can be 600 kilometers deep and 100 kilometers wide. Saturn's moon Tethys hosts Ithaca Chasma, a canyon running about 2,000 kilometers across the moon and reaching, at times, 100 kilometers deep.

The Word "Canyon"

The word "canyon" is an Americanism of the Spanish word "cañon." In Mexican Spanish, the word "cañon" was used to refer to a pipe, tube or gorge. The creation of this Americanism can be traced back to 1834 or 1835. The root of the word is the Spanish word "cano," which means "tube." Today the word is used throughout the world to refer to a deep valley or gorge.

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Factors That Influence Ecosystems

Factors That Influence Ecosystems

An ecosystem consists of the living organisms and non-living processes within a given area. The living components are plants, animals, and microorganisms. The non-living components are air, water, rocks, soil, and weather. These components act and interact on each other in a constant state of energy flow. How well these elements are balanced to sustain the life within an ecosystem depends on many factors.

Abiotic Factors

Abiotic or non-living factors of an ecosystem include light, temperature, chemical processes, water, and atmosphere. The Sun is central to the system of interconnected processes that sustain life on the planet. Temperature either helps or inhibits the growth of microorganisms, plant life, animals, and geological forces. Chemical processes produce the chains of energy that flow from one system to another. Water sustains even the most elemental of living matter and transforms much of the non-living environment that living things inhabit. Atmosphere encompasses it all, providing the guiding system under which all these factors interact. Weather can have a significant impact on living species and the environments they inhabit.

Biotic Factors

Biotic, living factors include the kinds of organisms inhabiting an area and how they interact with each to survive. The population of each individual species has a direct effect on the other species in the ecosystem. Competition for resources is another factor that allows bigger, stronger species to dominate an ecosystem. Territorialism, the need for certain kinds and sizes of territory, can determine whether a species survives or disappears. Some species within an ecosystem may have a predator-prey relationship, and others may derive benefit from living in close proximity and cooperation with other species in a kind of symbiosis or mutualism that allows both species to flourish. How all these things are balanced or how they change are important factors in terms of what happens within an ecosystem.

Human Factors

Humanity, as part of this complex system of processes and interdependencies, is unique, in that it can observe consequences and change behaviors. Factors such as pollution can be examined, measured, and changed to limit destructive effects on the environment. Factors like overpopulation, with its increased competition for resources that can cause famine and war, can be limited with biotechnologies and cultural constraints. Environmental destruction from industry can be repaired, and new methods of mining and building can be invented. The devastation from war can be modified and limited by military technology and medical science. How smartly or recklessly people use land, water, soil, and energy in sustaining their lives is a significant factor for the entire ecosystem in which they live.

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Information On Using Pond Water For Plants

You can use pond water for your plants.

As more and more homeowners decorate their yards and gardens with ponds, they are becoming increasingly curious about how they can use pond water for their garden plants. Pond water has been used for centuries as a means to irrigate plants. However, there are precautions that need to be taken if you are going to use pond water for your plants. Does this Spark an idea?

History of Using Bodies of Water to Irrigate

The ancient Aztecs, Egyptians and Chinese perfected the use of large bodies of water for irrigating plants. Though others over the last two thousand years have tried, the Aztecs, Egyptians and Chinese were successful because they followed a few basic rules.

First, the ancient irrigators used well-drained soil. Because the soil drained easily, the water did not merely run off and away from the plants. Second, the Aztecs, Egyptians and Chinese had a good supply of water. Whether the water was a bit salty or limey, the hydraulic engineers had a lot of it, which allowed them to use only the top layer for plants, letting salt- or lime-laden lower layers remain in the pond. Finally, they fertilized the soil. The Aztecs did this by engineering land masses, called chinampas, for their plantings at the center of lakes that had been stocked with fish. The fish waste and algae provided excellent fertilizer.

Pond Water's Benefits

Pond water not only contains algae as a beneficial fertilizer for plants, but fish excrement, as well. Both algae and fish waste make great fertilizer. Even without fish, pond water contains plant decay in the form of leaves and nutrients in the form of insects and thus can contain a variety of elements needed for healthy plant life.

Disease & Fungi Precautions

Water-borne disease and fungi are real threats when it comes to watering plants with pond water. Anthracnose is a fungal, water-borne disease which causes spores to spread via irrigation. Leaf blight consists of a variety of viruses in the Pseudomonas family, which will cause discoloring of vegetables and grains and lead to cysts and damaged crops.

Salt, Acid & Lime Precautions

Salt, lime and acid are three other concerns when using pond water to water your ground plants. Rain water found in ponds is generally acidic in nature, and thus, can cause alkali-loving plants to diminish. Lime, an alkaline, in pond water has the opposite effect, causing plants that love acid to wither. Both acid and lime are abundant in ponds and lakes.

In areas of the country where bodies of water are even mildly salty, not using enough water, or having poorly drained soil can cause your garden soil to become salty. Salt is a known destroyer of plant life.

Use Pond Water for Plants

There are a few ways to kill bacteria and fungi in your pond water before using it on your plants. Place a gallon of pond water under a UV light for a few hours. The light will kill the bacteria and fungi in the water. You can also use potassium permanganate to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses in your water by mixing the chemical in the water.

Once you have your water ready, make sure the soil around your plants is not hard or compact, then pour the water over the plants. Tilled soil will absorb water more quickly than hard soil.

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Make A Cheat Sheet

Making a cheat sheet depends upon fitting relevant information into the space allowed.

Creating a cheat sheet for a test is a variation on the "open book" style exam some teachers prefer to administer. Cheat sheets relieve student anxieties about taking the test, and cleverly encourage the student to study class material by placing the student in the position of an editor deciding what should be included in the limited space available. Several tools and strategies exist for creating and making the most of a cheat sheet.

Instructions

Creation

1. Review class notes and relevant portions of your textbook. Decide what material is worth recording on the cheat sheet by asking yourself if you are likely to remember the information if it is not included. Complex information containing symbols, numbers or multiple steps such as mathematical formulas and chemical equations should be added to the sheet. Historical dates and place names are also good candidates for inclusion.

2. Obtain the correct size of paper as specified by the teacher. Some might allow the use of an 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheet of paper, for example, while others might permit a 3-inch by 5-inch note card. Refer to your class syllabus or any assignment handouts for details.

3. Use a fine ballpoint pen to transfer the information from your notes and textbook to the sheet. Write neatly enough that you will be able to read it again later. Avoid using a pencil to add information to the cheat sheet, since smudging is more likely to result. Take advantage of all the "white space" on the sheet to maximize the amount of material you can fit into the area available.

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List Of The Minerals Found In The State Of Washington

Gold mineral is just one of hundreds of minerals found in Washington State.

Minerals are abundant in Washington State. More than 550 minerals have been found in the state, and many are mined for their monetary value and various uses. Some of these minerals are more common on the west coast while others can be found across the country. Knowing what these minerals look like and where they are commonly found can help you identify minerals you may find.

Copper, Silver and Gold

Gold, silver and copper are very valuable minerals that are often found in rock deposits near springs. According to a U.S. Geological survey conducted in the late 1990s, Washington State holds about 519 metric tons of gold, 4,040 metric tons of silver and 13,200 metric tons of copper. According to the Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom website, gold nuggets often contain traces of silver, copper and iron. Gold is one of the heaviest minerals and is usually of a bright golden yellow color. The higher the traces of silver found in the gold, the whiter the color is. Silver is a metallic mineral with a silver-white color, and copper is another metallic mineral with colors that range from copper-red to brown.

Quartz and Calcite

Quartz and calcite are abundant minerals in Washington State. Calcite is a very common mineral that appears in almost every color possible. Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate and is very brittle. Calcite sometimes contains iron, magnesium and zinc. Quartz is a very common mineral as well and also occurs in many colors. Quartz is made up of silicon dioxide and is commonly found lining the inside of geodes, a naturally occurring hollow rock made of agate or chalcedony.

Talc and Pyrite

Talc is the softest mineral and is made up of basic magnesium silicate. This mineral also occurs in many different colors and often has a waxy and greasy look. Talc is often found in metamorphic rocks, a type of rock that forms after two rocks merged together due to heat and pressure in the earth's crust. Pyrite is another type of mineral found in Washington, and it is often referred to as fool's gold because it looks and feels similar to gold, according to the Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom website. This mineral is made up of iron sulfide, and it ranges from yellowish-gray to gray in color.

Arsenic and Sulfur

Sulfur is a bright yellow to yellow-brown mineral that gives off a slightly rotten odor. This mineral is soft, lightweight and yet also very brittle. This mineral is often found in rock near volcanoes and volcanic deposits near hot springs. This mineral has a greasy feel, and it dissolves easily in warm water. Arsenic is another mineral found in Washington State. Arsenic is a poisonous metallic mineral that is usually a tin-white color unless it has tarnished due to contact with the air, after which it turns dark gray to black. This mineral gives off a strong garlic odor and is often found in metamorphic rocks.

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