Get The Artifact 19

Your clicking finger operates the trigger in cartoon-animated game "Thing-Thing Arena 3."

The Artifact 19 is a mysterious weapon available on "Thing-Thing Arena 3," a third-person online shooter available at New Grounds. The game revolves around killing endless hoards of dim-witted enemies with a variety of weapons. You receive rewards based on the style and volume of your killings. Artifact 19 is an extremely powerful weapon that attacks enemies with thunder bolts, and turns the bad guys into electronic chum. Getting a hold of the Artifact 19 requires some dedicated game play, but it is by no means difficult.

Instructions

1. Kill 50 enemies with your Beretta. Use your mouse pointer to aim for your enemies and click the left mouse button to fire. Find an area where you are comfortable dispatching any enemies that come your way and blast them. Getting 50 kills will give you the "Belligerently Understated" bonus, as well as two others ("9mm Warrior" and "Sidearm Focus") that come with lower kill counts.

2. Get Dual Berettas and kill 100 enemies. The Artifact 19 appears when you have gained all of the weapon bonuses on the game. The Dual Berettas appear when a second Beretta becomes available. This will come through your slaughter of the endless stream of enemies on "Thing-Thing Arena 3."

3. Work through the remaining list of weapons on the game and complete 100 kills with each. You may only carry two weapons and your lead pipe at any one time. It is best to work through the achievements with the weapons you currently have in your arsenal before getting a new one to work with.

4. Change between your weapons by pressing the "E" key on your computer keyboard. You can check which bonuses you have unlocked by pressing "P" to enter the pause menu. Click on "Achievements" and scroll through the list. Essentially, you are attempting to get all of these. The Artifact 19 is awarded as a prize for dispatching obscene amounts of enemies with a combination of all the weapons on the game.

5. Press "Q" to switch to your lead pipe, your melee weapon. You will need to get 100 kills with this too, which grants you the "Lead Pipe Ninja" achievement. Your data is only saved if you die, so play until you receive a fatal blow to ensure your hard work isn't lost.

6. Start a game when you have completed all of the bonus tasks to get the Artifact 19. Now you can really unleash hell; enjoy!

Tags: enemies with, Thing-Thing Arena, Dual Berettas, kills with, that come, weapons game

Security Engineering Training

Secure data systems are a necessary part of doing business today.

Training for security engineering requires a high measure of attention to detail. Security engineers must be able to prevent intrusion through even the most insidious methods. A person entering the field of security engineering should be able to think ahead and predict breaches before they happen.

Bachelor's Degree

The Bachelor of Science degree in engineering (BSE) focuses on core engineering classes with technical emphasis, mathematics and science. A U.S. government job in security engineering requires a minimum education level of BSE from an ABET-accredited college or university.

Master's Degree

A MSISE (Engineering) degree gives graduates the skills to manage teams responsible for security architecture, monitoring and operations as well as auditing and lead information security programming. Graduates will be qualified to seek managerial and directorial positions in security-related fields.

Certification

Those considering a change in careers or new to the field should consider certificate programs in network engineering and systems security. The certificate program prepares students to succeed as networking and security professionals working in design, application, IT and e-commerce environments. It is recommended that the student also gain hands-on experience in a variety of security systems and computer sciences.

Tags: engineering requires, security engineering, security engineering requires

Monument Valley Tours From Las Vegas

One of the Mojave Desert's most recognized locales, Monument Valley has endless vistas, red-sandstone buttes and incredible rock formations.

Monument Valley, one of the American Southwest's most-spectacular locations, is an incredible example of nature's architecture. This 25-mile-wide valley has red-sandstone buttes, mesas, arches, towers, peaks and impossibly balanced boulders. The setting for thousands of movies and the subject of tens of thousands of photographs, this valley is breathtaking. Monument Valley excursions can be one-, two- or three-day tours. These are one-day tours you can take from Las Vegas, Nevada. All tours are conducted by Navajo guides because Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Nation.

Bryce Canyon Tours-Bundu Bashers: One-day Monument Valley-Grand Canyon Tour

Part of the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley's history is intimately intertwined with Navajo history.

Bundu Bashers offers a unique tour of this fantastic valley with frequent photo-opportunity stops, education on the traditions and customs of the Indians by a member of the Navajo Nation and a visit with Navajo weavers and turquoise jewelers.

All tours are done from an off-road vehicle with stops for hiking and close-up views of the formations. The transportation on the tour is done by motor coach and small plane. This is a family friendly tour, but it is not recommended for physically challenged individuals. Pets are not allowed on the tour.

Bundu Bashers

491 S. Main St. #13

Cedar City, UT 84720

800-724-7767

info@bundubashers.com

Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours: Monument Valley Grand Canyon Tour

Enjoy the aerial views of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam on your way to Monument Valley.

A short flight in a small plane begins your Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours Monument Valley experience. Enjoy the spectacular aerial views of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, the Mojave Desert, the Grand Canyon's South Rim and the unforgettable beauty of Monument Valley.

Landing at the Grand Canyon's South Rim, you will transfer planes to continue your adventure to Monument Valley; a motor coach with your Navajo guide will be waiting for you upon landing. While visiting the grandeur and pageantry of Monument Valley, your guide will discuss the history and geology of this extraordinary valley. During your return flight plane you'll enjoy an aerial view of Rainbow Bridge and Lake Powell.

The transportation on this tour is by off-road vehicle and small plane. This is a family friendly tour, but it is not recommended for physically challenged individuals. Pets are not allowed.

Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours

866-218-3427

702-260-0796

sales@lvgct.com

Grand Canyon Excursions: One-day Monument Valley Trip.

After your guided tour of Monument Valley, you'll enjoy a ground tour of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Excursions lives up to its name with an amazing tour that includes a Navajo guided tour of Monument Valley in an off-road vehicle as well as a ground tour of the Grand Canyon.

Extraordinary aerial views of the Mojave Desert, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Monument Valley and portions of the Grand Canyon top off the experience.

The transportation on this tour is by off-road vehicle and a small plane. This is a family friendly tour, but it is not recommended for physically challenged individuals. Pets are not allowed.

Grand Canyon Excursions

4099 N. Old Hwy. 40

Park City, UT 84060

800-724-7767

435-658-2227

info@grandcanyonexcursions.com

Tags: Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, off-road vehicle, small plane, aerial views

Landforms Of California

The rugged landscape of the Sierra Nevadas.

"Go where you may within the bounds of California, mountains are ever in sight, charming and glorifying every landscape." The words of the naturalist, John Muir have delighted many who travel over California's landscape. However, the state's landforms do not stay within the limits of mountains, though those soaring monsters of earth do make up a significant portion of the state's geography. The addition of deserts and valleys create one of the country's most diverse states.

Deserts

Situated in the south and southeast portion of California, the Mojave and Colorado Deserts exchange the state's fertile, forested areas for sandy wasteland. Death Valley occupies this extremely hot, arid region, as well as the lowest point found in the United States, which sinks down to 282 feet below sea level, according to World Atlas. Mostly flat land, a few jagged peaks form in this area. The innovations of irrigation into parts of the deserts have managed to turn some of this inhospitable land into thriving farmland.

Central Valley

Sandwiched between the Coastal Mountains in the west and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the east, the Central Valley region encompasses Sacramento Valley and the San Joaquin Valley, according to the World Atlas. It stretches out for 462 miles through the middle of California. Home to fertile soil, according to E-Teaching Assistance Program, roughly three-fifths of the state's productive farmland lies in this area. Due to this, the Central Valley has become the most essential farming region west of the Rocky Mountains.

Mountains

The Coastal Mountains and the Sierra Nevada range comprise the major mountain ranges in California. Others include the Klamath range in the north and the Transverse, also known as the Los Angeles ranges and peninsular ranges or San Diego ranges in the southwest. The Coastal Mountains create a continuous line for 800 miles down California's coast to the Mexican border, broken only for a space at the Golden Gate Bridge. Mount Whitney, in the Sierra Nevada range, peaks at 14,494 feet in height, making it the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

Water Landforms

Other notable landforms in California consist of rivers and lakes that wind through and dot the landscape. The Colorado River runs along the border of California and Arizona. In the middle of the state, the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers dissect the Central Valley. Lake Tahoe rests in the crook of California bleeding into Nevada, while the Salton Sea sits in the far south.

Tags: Central Valley, Coastal Mountains, Sierra Nevada, according World, according World Atlas

Quartz Monzonite Vs Granite Hardness

Certain definitions of granite include the rock called quartz monzonite.

The tough, ash-colored rock called granite forms mammoth, dome-like mountains and, through human masonry, the equally imposing walls and floors of great buildings and monuments. Actually, the word "granite" can refer to a specific rock or to several related ones, including quartz monzonite. Does this Spark an idea?

Relative Hardness

The hardness of rocks, as measured by their resistance to abrasion, can be assessed on the Mohs scale. By this grade, which runs from one to 10, a mineral can scratch another of equal or lesser hardness. Rocks can be evaluated on the Mohs scale by considering their constituent minerals. Granite typically has a Mohs ranking between 5.5 and 7. The higher the proportion of quartz, which itself has a hardness of seven, the harder the given type of granite. Quartz monzonite, which tends to contain less quartz than granite, is of a hardness - 5.5 to 6 - similar to the low end of the granite Mohs scale.

Class of Rock

Both granite and quartz monzonite are igneous rocks, which, along with sedimentary and metamorphic types, constitute the major classes of rock. Igneous rocks are formed from solidified magma (molten rock sourced in the Earth's interior) or the searing liquids and gases associated with it (igneous comes from the Latin word for fire, "ignis"). Granite and quartz monzonite are further classified as plutonic or intrusive igneous rocks, which means they form when magma cools at depth, without reaching the planet's surface. Magma that does leak or explode aboveground (as lava) forms extrusive, or volcanic, igneous rock, examples of which include basalt and andesite.

Properties

Aside from its hardness, granite is characterized by a mineral profile heavy in quartz - often ranging between 20 and 60 percent - and feldspars. The rock is often phaneritic, which means it consists of an even grain, but much variety exists: Some granites show some large crystals embedded in fine-grained structure, which can be due to a marked shift in the rate of magma cooling in its formation. Depending on mineral type and proportion, granite usually ranges from pale to dark gray in hue. Quartz monzonite is typically medium- to coarse-grained, and often of a darker cast than granite. A monzonite rock is one with a quartz content of 10 percent of less; above that value, it is classified as quartz monzonite.

In the Environment

The ancient, fairly stable, highly durable cores of continental landmasses, called cratons -- and, where exposed at the Earth's surface, shields -- contain significant amounts of granite. The rock also composes the roots of many mountain ranges. Plutons of quartz monzonite and related rocks like diorite or granodiorite - all of them often classified casually as "granite" - can be exposed by the weathering and erosion of overlying materials to stand as mountain ranges. The Sierra Nevada in California is a well-known and striking example.

Tags: Mohs scale, quartz monzonite, igneous rocks, igneous rocks which, mountain ranges, Quartz monzonite

What Is The Meaning Of Weathering

Weathered Stone

While mountains and other rock formations may seem permanent, over long periods of time they all break down and decompose. Weathering, a stage in the rock cycle, is one of several geologic processes that contributes to rock decay.

Weathering

Weathering is the decomposing and disintegrated of rocks on the earth's surface. There are two types of weathering. One is a chemical process that alters the mineral content of rock. The other is a mechanical process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces.

Chemical Weathering

When rocks are exposed to air and water over long periods of time the composition and mineral content is changed.

Mechanical Weathering

This is what happens when larger rocks are broken down into smaller ones but the chemical composition stays the same.

The Rock Cycle

The continuous process that changes the three types of rocks from one type to another.

Rock Types

There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are made of solidified magma. Sedimentary rocks are made of loose sediment that was solidified. Metamorphic rocks are any type of rock that has been changed because of high temperature and/or intense pressure.

Tags: process that, down into, down into smaller, into smaller, long periods

Information On The Dodo Bird

Dodo

The dodo, known scientifically as Raphus cucullatus, is an extinct flying bird that was only found on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It was related to pigeons and doves, and it went extinct during the 17th century.

History

The dodo bird was first recorded in Western literature during the 16th century. Dutch sailors called the dodo bird the wahlghvogel, which may translate to "wallow bird" or "loathsome bird." The name dodo may have come from the Dutch word "dodaars" meaning "knot arse," in reference to the knot of feathers on the bird's rump.

Features

Due to a lack of intact dodo skeletons available, the average height and weight of the bird are unclear. The dodo bird may have weighed between 44 and 50 lbs. or it may have been lighter. It was gray in color. It had a knot or lump of white feathers on its rump, and it also had a large hooked beak. The dodo was a flightless bird, with small weak wings.

Extinction

They built their nests on the ground. Though this was not a problem on an island where they had no natural predators, it put them at risk when humans showed up. Sailors left dogs and pigs on the island that found the eggs and the birds themselves to be easy prey. Similarly, cats and monkeys were also introduced to the island and began to prey on the birds as well.

Environmental Role

The dodo may have played an important part in the propagation of the calavaria tree, which is also known as the dodo tree. The tree produced fruit which would be digested, leaving the seed to be expelled by the dodo bird. The process was integral to allowing the seeds to develop. Though seeds can develop without this process, it is very rare for them to do so. It has been found that turkeys may be able to perform a similar function for the calavaria tree.

Diet

The diet of the dodo bird is unknown, but there is speculation based on the accounts of the sailors who saw them. They ate fruit, and they may also have eaten fish, as sailors talk about them diving into water pools to hunt small fish. Some sailors remarked that they also ate stones, which might have been used to help them digest their food.

Tags: dodo bird, calavaria tree, dodo have, have been, seeds develop, they also

Montessori Science Activities

The animal kingdom is one area of study in Montessori science activities.

The Montessori method of education has been in place for more than 100 years. Maria Montessori believed in teaching children concretely about the world around them. Activities strive to feed children's natural curiosity and can sometimes be cross-curricular. Topics that can be studied include zoology, botany, biology, geology, physics and chemistry. An important aspect of teaching science in Montessori is to learn the nomenclature or vocabulary associated with each unit.

Zoology

The first unit of study in the early childhood Montessori science curriculum is "Living/Nonliving." Children learn the characteristics of living things, then categorize them by plants and animals. From there, they study the life cycles of different parts of the animal kingdom. Initial classification occurs during a unit called, "Fur, Feather, Scales." Then, they learn more about the characteristics of the vertebrates, including mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds. During the elementary years, they have deeper studies within the animal kingdom, including invertebrates, and learn classify animals, all the way down to the species. Classrooms often have multiple pets representing different parts of the animal kingdom.

Botany

Children begin by learning the names of different parts of trees and leaves, plants and flowers. They study the life cycles of each and examine samples both in and outside the classroom. They grow plants from seeds and cuttings and care for a garden. Later studies in botany get into more detail, such as the names of different leaf shapes. Many classrooms have a nature table, in which children can share their findings from the outdoors.

Human Body

Children in the 3-6 classroom start anatomical studies by learning the names of the parts of the body, both internal and external. They also start to learn ways of taking care of one's body, through nutrition and exercise. In the elementary years, students learn about the different body systems.

Geology

Geology is the study of the earth. Children learn to identify different rocks and minerals, as well as the parts of the earth. They study basic land formations, which crosses over into geographical studies. Study of the earth also correlates to further study of the universe and astronomy.

Physics and Physical Science

Physical science Montessori activities allow for fun experimentation with sink/float, simple machines, magnets, and more. Also, children learn about weather and states of matter.

Chemistry

Early childhood studies of chemistry in Montessori may introduce basic elements found on earth. Later studies in the elementary years work on the entire periodic table and some experiments.

Tags: animal kingdom, different parts, elementary years, Children learn, different parts animal

Seminar Topics In Earth Sciences

The study of the Earth can get bogged down in scientific terminology. Keep seminars interesting by hitting the root of the matter.

You've got a room full of 100 college students staring at you blankly, waiting for you to enlighten them on the exciting and amazing world of rocks. How can you entice them to crack open their books and pay attention? The best way is to concentrate on the most interesting aspects of each specific component of the subject. Volcanic processes, evolution, gem stone study and chemical reactions are all attention grabbers and will hopefully suck your students in.

Geology

Volcanic eruptions are just one type of many geological processes.

Seminars on geology will focus on the four main points of study of the Earth itself. These are the materials the Earth is made of, the structure presented in those materials, the effects of outside influences on those structures and how the entirety changes over time. Explain the main materials of the earth, focusing on oil, water, rocks and metals. Talk about the Earth processes affecting each one, like floods, volcanoes, landslides and earthquakes. Take into account the history of geology, including topics like climate change.

Mineral Sciences

Mineralogy includes the process of creating and grading precious gems.

Seminars on mineral sciences will go through how minerals distribute chemicals and nutrients throughout the Earth's soil, helping define the Earth's crust. Specific seminars can focus on certain minerals and their impurities, basing the talks on what makes up each mineral and what specifically causes such defects. The study of minerals includes the study of gemstones, so a talk could deal specifically with discovery and grading of gemstones.

Geochemistry

Rocks in the acid grouping that contain silica will crystallize into quartz.

Seminars on geochemistry apply specifically to the chemistry of the Earth. They would cover the processes and reactions that dictate rock composition. This differs from petrology, which deals with a more biological and physical aspect of rock formation. Go over the classifications of rocks based on their chemical makeup, including: acid rocks, basic rocks, intermediate rocks and mafic rocks. Explain the proportions of each chemical necessary for this classification.

Petrology

Particles within the layers of rock can answer questions about which living species were present at the time of formation.

Seminars on petrology, or the study of rocks, can be an overview of the history of the Earth as told through its many ores and minerals from core to crust. Explain how you can tell time by looking at density and width of each rock layer in any given section of earth and dig deeper by showing what elements students will be looking for to describe what happened during any specific segment. It's evolution through rock bed.

Tags: study Earth

Stones Found In Kentucky

Dissolved limestone created the network of caverns known as Mammoth Caves

The state of Kentucky is home to a wide variety of rocks. All rocks can be divided into three broad categories: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. The vast majority of Kentucky's rocks fall into the sedimentary group. They are the product of sediments and plant debris being squeezed underground for epic time periods. Exploring Kentucky's geological record is a fascinating and educational hobby.

Coal

Coal is easily the most valuable of Kentucky's rocks.

Coal is made from ancient plant matter that has been buried and compressed for millions of years. It can be divided into several subcategories depending upon how long it's been underground. Coal usually occurs in layers called veins and is in high demand as a fuel source. When burned, coal releases the potential energy of the plant material that went into its formation. Whether underground or at the surface, coal mining is one of the linchpins of Kentucky's economy.

Shale

Shale is a brittle sedimentary rock found all across Kentucky. Some varieties have an oily sheen on them and could be a fuel source in the future. These "oil shales" are most abundant in the southern part of the state. When broken, shale fractures into very thin sheets. Quartz and other minerals are frequently mixed in with shale. Sometimes the rock is interspersed with clay. In terms of color, shale is typically gray-green or black.

Sandstone

Sandstone gradually breaks down to sand.

Sandstone is a porous type of sedimentary rock common throughout Kentucky. It is composed of mineral grains bound together by silica or carbonate material. Some varieties of sandstone can be crushed in the hand, while others are very strong and resist the forces of weathering. Sandstone ranges in color from dirty white to red to nearly black. The darkest sandstones often contain small amounts of hydrocarbons like oil or tar. Sandstone is a raw material in both glass manufacturing and road asphalt.

Limestone

The most abundant surface rock in Kentucky is limestone. Typically occurring in layers, limestone was once the floor of an ancient sea. Fossils of prehistoric aquatic life are common in limestone outcrops. The color of limestone is usually blue or gray but can vary depending on what other materials are mingled in the rock. Acids from rain or groundwater readily dissolve the components of limestone. Vinegar poured on the rock's surface will demonstrate this effect. This chemical weathering is responsible for the caves and sinkholes found in many parts of Kentucky.

Geodes

Geodes have a dramatic appearance.

A geode is an egg-shaped stone with minerals inside. Geodes can be a few inches across or more than a foot. Crystalline minerals like quartz grow from the rock into the hollow space inside the geode. Some geodes are solid, as the crystals have completely filled the interior. The Green River and Kentucky River valleys are both good locations to find geodes. The official state rock of Kentucky is agate, which is a specific variety of quartz geode.

Tags: divided into, fuel source, Kentucky rocks, most abundant, rock Kentucky, sedimentary rock, Some varieties

Stones Found In Colorado

A Colorado canyon consisting of sedimentary rock layers left by an ancient ocean.

Colorado has a fascinating geological history. Ancient oceans intermittently flooded the state over millions of years, leaving bright sandstone and intricately carved canyons. Magma rose to the surface under great pressure and formed dramatic mountain ridges. You can easily find evidence of this rich geological past by collecting stones while walking or hiking through Colorado's canyons or mountains. Colorado's best-known stones include granite, sandstone, marble and jasper.

Granite

Granite is an igneous rock, meaning that it forms from crystallized volcanic magma. Colorado's granite is approximately 1.7 billion years old. It occurs in attractive pastel shades of grey, pink and tan, with veins of white quartz, black mica, green feldspar and silver-gold muscovite. Chunks of granite lie strewn about the Colorado Rocky Mountains and canyons, catching the sun with their sparkling mineral veins. Many Colorado landscaping businesses sell native granite.

Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock, which means it forms from pressurized layers of mud, gravel and sand deposited by a body of water. It's abundant in Colorado, due to the state's repeated flooding by prehistoric oceans. Famous Colorado sandstone deposits -- like the Lyons Sandstone, Red Rocks and the Flatirons outside of Boulder -- formed approximately 260 to 300 million years ago. Colorado sandstone is famous for its tan, orange, pink and deep red colors; the shade depends on the amount of iron oxides present.

Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock, which means it formed from another type of rock that underwent extreme pressure and heat. In the case of marble, the original rock is limestone. Colorado's marble is approximately 1.7 billion years old. The town of Marble, Colorado has been famous since the 1800s for its marble quarries. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier was created from a 100-ton block of pure white marble found in the Yule Marble Quarry outside of Marble. Other quarries around the town produced some of the marble used in the Lincoln Memorial.

Jasper

Jasper is a type of chalcedony, which in turn is a type of quartz. Quartz can be igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. Arrowheads and primitive tools fashioned by ancient Indian tribes often consist of jasper. The Indians also used the stone's sharp, hard edges to shape other materials. Jasper occurs in many colors and combinations of colors, which makes it a popular ornamental gemstone. In Colorado, shades of yellow, red and orange jasper are common.

Tags: approximately billion, approximately billion years, billion years, Colorado sandstone, forms from

Create A Project Timeline

A project timeline is essential for any project to keep all team players on the same page.

The process to complete a small- or large-scale project can be challenging. The best way to eliminate project delays is to create a realistic timeline that everyone working on the project can reference. In order to effectively create your timeline, set a project start and end date and make a checklist of tasks to be accomplished.

Instructions

Create

1. Use a format for your project timeline that best suits your needs. There are several options available from a simple dry erase board in a conference room, to a Microsoft Excel timeline or project management software. Creating the timeline electronically allows team players to review and sign off on their steps and due dates.

2. Fill in the blanks with your start date, list of tasks and completion dates.

3. Send the timeline out to team players or department heads for feedback.

4. Implement changes to the timeline from the feedback received from team players and department heads.

Execute

5. Communicate the timeline to your team players. A kick-off meeting can be a great way to present the project timeline and motivate your team.

6. Send out the timeline on a daily, weekly or monthly basis depending on your project. Schedule meetings as required to discuss issues and status updates.

7. Stay flexible throughout the project as unforeseen delays occur. Be reasonable with the timeline to ensure that quality does not suffer.

Tags: team players, project timeline, department heads, players department, players department heads, Send timeline

Find The Best World Atlas For My Needs

An atlas provides more than just geographic information.

The dictionary definition of atlas as "a collection of charts or maps, kept loose or bound in a volume" doesn't do justice to the wealth of information captured in these books. Beyond the geographic features of each country, the maps in a world atlas might provide such diverse information as the climate, languages and geology of each country. The key to selecting the best world atlas is to understand what questions you want answered.

Instructions

1. Make a list of the questions that you want the information in the atlas to answer. Beyond the usual questions of geography, you might be interested in the climate, in population numbers or in the natural vegetation of an area. If you have an interest in a particular country or region of the world, then you might want detailed maps of that area. Will you need to know the latitude and longitude of a place?

2. Assemble a collection of world atlases to examine. Visit your local library or bookstore and look in the reference sections for atlases. There are also atlases available online to view.

3. Check how atlas' currency and relevancy. Look at the publication date of each atlas on the copyright page or on the website. Discard any atlases with a publication date that is 5 years old, unless you are interested in historical world information. Browse through the atlas to see if any geopolitical world change in the last two years is shown in the maps. Check the introduction to the atlas to find the date of the last update to the statistical data in the atlas.

4. Read the table of contents to see if the atlas contains maps with information that answer your questions. Some maps might contain several different types of information. For example, one map might show climate, temperature, precipitation and vegetation. Turn to each type of map and look at the key that explains what the different colors on the map represent. Check that you can distinguish the different colors on the map.

5. Look at the maps to see what scale and level of detail they give. An atlas with just a few maps cannot give the same detail as an atlas with several hundred maps. Are there enough maps that cover the regions that you are interested in? Check that the maps highlight the cities and towns that you are looking for. Make sure that you can read the text on the map. If the map spreads across several pages, make sure that no information is hidden in the bindings of the atlas.

6. Turn to the index at the back of the atlas and see how easy it is to use. If you don't know the new name of a city of country, can you look it up by its old name? Look for entries for all the kinds of information that you need. An atlas with only a few entries in the index makes it difficult for you to find the information that you need, even if it is contained somewhere in the book.

7. Investigate any extras in the atlas that could be of use or of interest to you. Photos add an extra level of detail, and, in online atlases, links to articles about the places on the maps provide further knowledge.

Tags: atlas with, information that, Check that, different colors, each country, information that need

Points To A Map & Calculate The Distance

Use a few simple tools to readily determine distances on a map.

Add two points to a map and determine the distance between them, so you know how long you going to travel. Knowing the distance of your route traveling by car helps in planning for stopping to rest, buying gas and getting a bite to eat. On the other hand, knowing determine distances while hiking could mean the difference between a hot shower and meal and getting stuck in the wilderness at night. All maps include a scale that relates distances on the map to distances in real life.

Instructions

1. Locate the name of the closest town to your current position in the alphabetized index on the back of the map. Use the coordinates given for the town to find it on the map. Typically, the coordinates consist of a letter and a number. The letters will be along one edge of the map while the numbers are along an adjacent side. Place a mark on your current location on the map.

2. Locate the name of the town you need to reach by the end of today's travels. Place a mark on that ending location on the map.

3. Place a string along the scale of the map. Make sure the string is straight and parallel to the scale. Mark the string with a black marker at each division given on the scale. For example, the distance between divisions on the scale might be 1/2 mile.

4. Position one end of the string at your current location on the map. Lay the string out on the map along the path you which to take to your destination. Be sure to bend the string to match the path or road. Do not just place the string in a straight line.

5. Count the number of division marks on the string between your current location and your destination. For example, there might be 18.5 divisions.

6. Multiply the number of divisions between the points on the map by the distance each division represents on the map scale to get the distance to your destination. Completing the exercise leads to 18.5 times 0.5 miles, or 9.25 miles.

Tags: your current, current location, your current location, your destination, determine distances, distance between, distance your

Physical Science Bulletin Board Ideas

A bulletin board can be a useful tool for breaking down the concepts of a physical science.

Bulletin boards are a good way to break down information so that it is easily understood. Nowhere is this more important than in science classes, particularly in physical sciences. Geology, biology, chemistry and physics are all classes that could benefit from the use of bulletin boards to simplify the concepts that are discussed in class as well as to provide a handy reminder for formulae.

Weight and Measurement

For younger students who are just beginning to learn about weight and measurement (specifically about the multiple systems of weight and measurement), a bulletin board may be an easy way of displaying this information. Rather than just putting up the formulas for converting inches to centimeters or pounds to kilograms though, it should be made more personal to the students. Measure the students' height in inches and then show them convert it to centimeters. Do the same with their weight. Once that's done, make a bulletin board featuring each student with their different heights and weights. This may help students build a firm grasp of these concepts that will be helpful later in chemistry and physics classes where knowledge of multiple systems is necessary.

Rainforest

As long as there is still rainforest, there will be scientists studying it. One idea for a bulletin board is to draw a parallel between your classroom and the rainforest. Cover a bulletin board in greenery and trees until it looks like something resembling a cut-out rainforest. A way to get your students involved is for them to each read about the rainforest and to claim a different animal from it. They should make a paper cutout of that animal and write their name on it. Then they should put the animals somewhere in the rainforest bulletin board that fits with that animal's nature. It will get the students thinking about the rainforest environment, and it will teach them about some of the wildlife that lives there. This should be incorporated with some form of biology or ecology lesson.

Scientific Laws

For those who have reached high school sciences, things may get a little more complicated. A helpful idea for a physical science bulletin board is to use it to lay out scientific laws and the formulae associated with those laws. For instance, students may understand that gravity exists, but they may have trouble remembering the exact wording of the law and just what gravity's acceleration is supposed to be. The same goes for the laws of thermodynamics and the laws of energy. Show pictures of examples of the laws (such as a skydiver falling for gravity) and design a general theme to make the bulletin board more eye-catching (a ring of fire for the laws of thermodynamics for instance).

Tags: bulletin board, bulletin board, about rainforest, chemistry physics, chemistry physics classes, concepts that, laws thermodynamics

Mineral & Rock Formations That Produce Gold

Gold originates in several mineral and rock formations.

Prospecting for gold is a risky yet exciting activity for the adventurous entrepreneur. A bit of luck and a lot of searching can uncover enough precious metal to ensure an early retirement. If you want to prospect, learn about the mineral and rock formations that produce gold. Gold originates from several different sources, each of which requires different methods and tools for mining.

Lode Deposits

Lode deposits are found within solid rock formations. Traditionally, a prospector would hit rock with a pick until he reached the lode. However, pure gold nuggets are found very rarely. More often, the deposit consists of other minerals such as quartz, calcite and pyrite. These deposits are found in several types of geologic formations. In places such as Nevada, active geothermal systems below the Earth's crust create veins of gold-enriched metal within fault zones. Another source is gold-bearing solutions that are expelled from magma as it cools. A third possibility involves deeply buried sedimentary and volcanic rocks that turn to gold under enormous pressure and temperatures.

Placer Deposits

Placer deposits require the prospector to pan for gold crystals along a stream. Look for these deposits in places where coarse sands and gravel have accumulated, such as inside bends of rivers and streams as well as areas downstream from large outcrops of bedrock or large boulders. Black sands also are a good place to find gold and even some gemstones. As with lode deposits, placer deposits are created by geothermal heat. Magma or hot water liquefies the gold, which causes it to rise to the Earth's surface. At that point, erosion detaches it from rock, and it often ends up flowing in crystals downstream into the prospector's pan.

Low-Grade Disseminated Deposits

Since 1980, low-grade disseminated deposits have become an increasingly important source of gold. In these deposits, microscopic particles of gold are often hosted in sedimentary rocks such as limestone or dolomite. Many of these deposits lie along a few geologic trends in Nevada. Gold must be extracted from these deposits through a chemical process such as cyanide leaching. While the ore grade of these deposits is high, the particles are so small that metal detectors cannot find them and they eluded independent prospectors until very recently.

Tags: these deposits, rock formations, deposits found, Gold originates, mineral rock

What Is The Composition Of A Lava Rock

Lava rocks are a type of volcanic igneous rock known as basalt.

The geology of the Earth's surface is continually being shaped by volcanic activity. This natural process begins deep beneath the crust, when superheated magma (a liquid rock material made up of minerals and gases) rises toward the surface and erupts through cracks or vents. The molten rock released during an eruption is referred to as lava, which rapidly cools and crystallizes to form igneous rocks. Lava rocks are a type of igneous rock known as basalt, which is composed of various mineral and chemical elements.

Classification as a Mafic Rock

Basaltic lava is typically a fast-flowing lava.

The composition of a lava rock is a function of its mineral structure and chemical arrangement. One factor determining an igneous rock's composition is its classification as either a felsic or mafic rock. Felsic rocks are dominated by silicon and aluminum minerals, whereas mafic rocks are dominated by magnesium and iron minerals. Lava rocks, generally dark gray, black or red in color, are classified as mafic rocks and are normally formed from fast-flowing lava with a quick rate of cooling, or solidification.

Chemical Elements

Basalts contain high amounts of iron and magnesium.

Lava rocks are composed of high amounts of iron and magnesium elements (collectively referred to as the ferromagnesian group) as well as calcium. Due to their chemical composition, basalts are the most abundant rock type of the ocean floor and Earth's crust, and are the primary rock layer of the Hawaiian Islands. These rocks contain a relatively low amount of silicon and aluminum elements. The ferromagnesian elements in lava and magma have a rapid cooling rate, resulting in the fine-grain appearance of basalts.

Mineral Composition

A variety of minerals are present in lava rocks.

A variety of minerals contribute to the composition of lava rocks. The most common minerals are pyroxine, olivine, amphibole and plagioclase feldspar, although low quantities of hornblende, biotite mica, magnetite and quartz are occasionally present. Gabbro, a mafic intrusive igneous rock which solidifies beneath the Earth's crust, has the same mineral composition as basalt. At high temperatures, the mafic minerals cool and crystallize very quickly. As a result, some lava rocks have a thin layer of glass particles on their surface.

Porosity of Lava Rocks

Lava rocks are porous, meaning they are filled with tiny holes or pores.

Lava rocks are very porous, meaning there are numerous empty spaces on their surface for liquids or gases to flow through. The porosity is due to the presence of gas bubbles in the lava or magma flow, which form holes on the surface of basalts during the cooling process. These holes or cavities are known as vesicles. As a result of their porosity, basalts generally have a low density. Their vesicular nature causes lava rocks to have a spongelike appearance, making them popular items for landscaping and rock gardens.

Tags: igneous rock, Lava rocks, lava rocks, amounts iron, amounts iron magnesium, composition lava

Description Of A Chief Mine Geologist Position

A mine geologist must have analytical skills.

A chief mine geologist oversees a company's geological surveying, mine exploration and industrial production activities. The chief also formulates safety standards and policies and supervises the work of mine geologists.

Tasks and Expectations

A chief mine geologist develops and implements exploration and delineation drill programs, interprets geologic and assay data and provides support for short-term and long-term mine production planning. The geologist also inspects mining areas for unsafe working conditions and structures.

Qualitative Abilities and Tools

A top-performing chief mine geologist generally has an analytical penchant, engineering and technology acumen in addition to good communication skills, according to O*NET OnLine. To complete the required tasks proficiently, chief mine geologists often use clinometers, geological compasses, hammers and color plotting printers. They also use analytical software, such as GEO-SLOPE GeoStudio.

Qualifications and Salary

A chief mine geologist usually has a bachelor's degree in geology or a related discipline and significant practical experience. According to the career resources portal Indeed, the average annual pay for a chief mine geologist was $78,000 as of 2010.

Tags: chief mine, chief mine geologist, mine geologist, mine geologist, mine geologists

Explore Channel Island National Park

Channel Islands National Park, close to the California mainland, encompasses five of the eight California Channel Islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara). Like the Galapagos Islands of South America, isolation has allowed evolution to proceed independently on the islands. The study of isolated evolution is fascinating.You can't get to this park by car. You must take a plane or ferry to see it. Because of this, it is rarely crowded.

Instructions

Explore Channel Island National Park

1. Cross the channel to Anacapa Island. It seems to change shape in the summer fog or afternoon heat, a mirage. The three islet of Anacapa Island separate from each other and only accessibly by boat. Waves have eroded the volcanic island, creating steep, towering sea cliffs, sea caves, and natural bridges, such as forty-foot-high Arch Rock—the symbol of Anacapa

2. Hike East Anacapa’s 1.5-mile trail. Thousands of birds use Anacapa as a nesting area because of the relative lack of predators. Sometimes you can see fluffy chicks hatch in May and June. You will see sea lions and harbor seals from Cathedral Cove and Pinniped Point overlooks.

3. Kayak, snorkel or dive in the kelp forests. See the tidepool areas to see anemones and starfish. Shell midden sites on the island show that Chumash people camped on the islands thousands of years ago.

4. Boat to Santa Cruz Island for its variety of flora, fauna, and geology. At over 96 square miles, Santa Cruz contains two rugged mountain ranges, deep canyons with year-round springs and 77 miles of coastline cliffs. See the giant sea caves, tidepools and beaches. Don't miss Painted Cave, named because of its colorful rock types. Painted Cave is nearly a quarter-mile long and 100 feet wide, with an entrance ceiling of 160 feet and in the spring a waterfall pours over this entrance.

5. Santa Rosa Island is a hunting preserve run by the former owners a few months of the year, but visitation is welcome throughout the year.Santa Rosa support a diverse array of plant and animal species. Santa Rosa Island also hosts colonies of seabirds, seals, and sea lions.

6. San Miguel island is shaped by the winds and storms from the Pacific Ocean. Visit this harsh but profoundly beautiful environment. Hikers can make an all-day, ranger-guided, 16-mile round-trip hike across the island to Point Bennett will never forget seeing one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife displays—over 30,000 pinnipeds (including up to five different species) hauled out on the point’s beaches at certain times of year.

7. Kayak to Santa Barbara Island. This one-square-mile island offers resting elephant seals, sea lions, blooming yellow flowers and tumbling Xantus’s murrelet chicks. Snorkel to see sea stars, sea urchins and orange garibaldi fish.

8. Take a half-day non-landing boat tour around Anacapa or a half-day, express boat trip to Anacapa or Santa Cruz Islands via Island Packers. During gray whale season (December through April), take a half-day whale watch trip out of Ventura, Oxnard, or Santa Barbara Harbors.

Tags: Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, National Park, Santa Barbara, Anacapa Island, Anacapa Santa

Summer Camps For Kids In Northern Kentucky

Invent robots at a kids camp in northern Kentucky.

Summer camps in northern Kentucky range from traditional camps with swimming, crafts and friendship building to scientific camps that encourage children to explore a range of interesting topics. Half-day programs are available for children between the ages of 4 and 5 at some camps, while others offer residential stays of a week or more.

Campbell County YMCA

The YMCA in Campbell County offers various residential and day summer camp programs for children ages 5 to 16. Camps for children between the ages of 5 and 10 offer different weekly themes such as School's Out, Games Galore, Holiday Happenings, Wild, Wild West and Operation Y Spy. During the Wild, Wild West week, campers make posters and build a town with a saloon, church and more from cardboard boxes and other materials. The Operation Y Spy camp teaches children about decoding, life detectors and more, and includes mystery meals throughout the week. Children between the ages of 11 and 12 can take part in a week of swimming, field trips and fundraising, while children between 13 and 16 years of age can join the Advanced Camping Experience for leadership and cultural learning. All overnight campers also participate in a variety of physical activities such as rope challenges, horseback riding and canoeing.

Campbell County YMCA

1437 S Fort Thomas Ave

Fort Thomas, KY 41075

859-586-6181

cincinnatiymca.org

Club Scientific

Camp programs are divided into three categories, based on age. Programs for children between 3 and 4 years of age include a Discovery program, Little Engineer, Jurassic and Junior Chemist. The Jurassic program introduces campers to dinosaurs, fossils and geology through projects that include building pteranodon models and a volcano. Campers between the ages of 6 and 8 can choose between programs such as Young Scientist, Paleo, Cosmos, Young Physician, Little Robot Inventor and Grossology. The Young Physician program teaches campers about blood vessels, muscles, hair and more, and campers build model lungs, test for germs and build a spinal column. Programs for children between the ages of 9 and 13 include Emergency Vet, CSI and Video Game Maker. In the CSI program, campers meet real crime scene investigators and forensic pathologists. Projects include analyzing blood, fiber, fingerprints and DNA.

Club Scientific

3306 Clays Mill Rd Ste.102

Lexington, Kentucky

United States

clubscientificbluegrass.com

Kentucky 4-H

The North Central 4-H camp is located on a 350-acre private property and offers summer camping programs to children between 9 and 13 years of age. The weeklong program is a residential camp that offers a variety of traditional activities, outdoors experience and the opportunity to build new friendships. Campers reside in onsite cabins throughout the program with children of similar age. The camp has a common dining hall, store, low-ropes challenge course, athletic field and swimming pool. A six-acre lake runs through the property. Activities include archery, swimming, crafts and canoeing. Campers also go on several nature hikes throughout the area and have several evening campfires.

North Central 4-H Camping Center

260 Camp Drive

Carlisle, KY 40311

859-289-5308

ca.uky.edu

Tags: between ages, children between, between years, Campbell County, children between years, Campbell County YMCA

Natural Disasters Caused By Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics Basics

Plate tectonics are among the most influential forces that shape Earth. The Earth's surface is not a single, solid mass but is instead made up of many plates, each one slowly sliding on top of the planet's underlying mantle. Most of the time, these plates move slowly and only create changes over the course of millions of years. Sometimes, however, two plates move abruptly with respect to each other. When that happens, the Earth's surface is subject to natural disasters. Events such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis all are the result of plate tectonics.

Earthquakes

Most earthquakes occur as the result of the sudden movement along a fault line between two adjacent tectonic plates. The movement of the plates is not always smooth. The plates can "catch" on each other. Since the plates are always moving, these catches cause energy to build up along the fault line. Eventually, this catch has to give way, and all of the energy is released in an earthquake.

The famous San Andreas fault in California marks the location where the North American plate and the Pacific plate slide alongside each other. The two plates move at a rate of about 6 cm per year, causing hundreds of tiny earthquakes yearly and a few major earthquakes less often. The earthquakes that hit San Francisco in 1906 and 1989 were both caused by this fault.

Volcanoes

Volcanoes occur either along fault lines or over "hot spots." When a plate moves over the top of another plate, the energy and friction melt the rock and push it upwards. The increased pressure of this rock causes a swelling in the surface--a mountain. The pressure continues to build over time, and, without any other outlet for release, the mountain eventually explodes as a volcano.

The type of volcanic explosion essentially depends on the underlying rock. Rock that is "sticky" when melted tends to plug the volcano's vents until the pressure of underlying gases causes an often cataclysmic eruption. This type of eruption occurred at Mt. St. Helens in Washington in 1980. Other types of rock flow more smoothly when melted. In this case, the molten rock seeps out of the volcano in gentler and longer eruptions. The famous Hawaiian volcanoes usually erupt in this way.

Tsunamis

Plate tectonics are the indirect cause of tsunamis. When a major seismic tremor occurs underneath a body of water, the energy from that tremor is released into the surrounding liquid. The energy spreads out from its original site, traveling through the water in the form of a wave.

A tsunami wave poses little danger while in the open ocean. When the wave reaches shore, however, it is another story. The trough of the great wave strikes land first, seen as the pulling of water away from the shore. Then the wave peak hits, with disastrous consequences. Depending on the location of the original tremor, the configuration of the local sea floor and the distance from the tremor, the tsunami varies in size, number of waves and arrival time. The devastating tsunami of December 2004, which killed more than 300,000 people around the edges of the Indian Ocean, emanated from an extremely powerful earthquake on the ocean floor near Indonesia.

Tags: along fault, each other, plates move, along fault line, Earth surface, fault line, plates always

Senior Research Technologist Salaries

Senior research technologists assist scientists in the completion of research projects.

Senior research technologists can be instrumental in the completion of research projects by scientists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies senior research technologists as science technicians. The bureau also notes there are eight different types of science technicians who specialize in various fields of scientific research. The salaries for senior research technologists in each of these fields tends to be toward the top of the pay scale.

Salary Range

The salaries of senior research technologists differ according to the field of science in which they work. For instance, the highest paid technologists in the agriculture and food science field made more than $52,600 per year in 2010, according to the BLS. Those in biological science made salaries of $62,890 or higher. Those in the chemistry field made even more at $66,710 per year, while those in environmental science made about the same at $67,630. Forest and conservation technologists made significantly less, on the other hand, bringing in $53,780 or more per year. Geological, nuclear and forensic technologists made the highest salaries at the top of the pay scale. Geological technicians made salaries of $99,860 or higher, while those in nuclear and forensic science made $93,890 and $82,990, respectively.

Industries

The industry in which the senior research technologist works also plays a role in how much he can expect to make. For instance, those chemical technologists made the highest average salary when working for the federal government at an average of $60,990 per year in 2010, while those in architectural, engineering and related services made significantly less at $36,340 per year. The same is true for other fields such as biology where those working in physicians' offices made the highest salaries at $59,080 per year, while those in college and university settings made $41,450.

Location

Location often provides an indication of the expected salary for senior research technologists and other science technicians. In many cases, California was the state with the highest level of employment for many science technicians, but was not always the highest paying state. According to the BLS, New Jersey was the top paying state of agricultural and food technicians at an average salary of $47,170 per year. Biological technicians in Connecticut earned the highest salaries at $50,550 per year. Chemistry technicians in New Mexico made the most money at an average of $59,650 per year. California topped the list for geological and petroleum science technologist with an average annual salary of $93,280 per year.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for science technicians should grow by about 12 percent through 2018. However, the number of jobs in each field is expected to grow at different rates. Each field differs and tends to correspond closely with the expected rate of growth in the field of science in which the technologist works. For instance, biological science technicians can expect above average job growth at a rate of about 18 percent. The same is expected to be true for biological scientists who will experience job growth exceeding 20 percent.

Tags: research technologists, science technicians, while those, highest salaries, made highest, science made, senior research

Become A Forensic Chemist

With the popularity of TV shows such as NCIS and CSI, the career of a forensic chemist, someone who analyzes crime scene evidence such as blood, hair samples and more, is hotter and more interesting than ever. While this field might look fascinating on television, it takes a lot of work, intelligence and specialized education to achieve this career goal.

Instructions

Become a Forensic Chemist

1. Get a broad-based forensic science degree at both the undergraduate and graduate level. In addition to chemistry, forensic chemists must also be well-versed in biology, biochemistry, genetics, geology, materials science and criminalistics, depending on your particular pursuit. More higher-learning institutions continue to offer specialized forensic chemistry degrees.

While some people are able to find jobs with an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree will give you a boost in this increasingly popular and competitive field.

2. Practice your public speaking skills. Forensic chemists who analyze evidence from crime scenes are routinely called on to testify in court. Make sure you are comfortable with this role.

3. Look for work in labs. Labs can be private, but they are often affiliated with a federal or local police department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or a medical examiner's office. Other options include teaching or working in a hospital or morgue.

4. Continue your education even after completing school with updated training courses and seminars that will keep you apprised of the latest developments and techniques in forensic chemistry.

Tags: Become Forensic, Become Forensic Chemist, forensic chemistry

Identify Real Gold From Panning In Fresh Water

There are many places in America where you can pan for gold.

Gold is the most stable commodity in today's market and it has exceeded every other currency in history. It is easy to store, transport and has a consistent value all over the world. Most importantly, no government can inflate its value. For this reason, you may find an interest in adding gold to your portfolio, or better yet, you may like to grab some equipment and go pan for it yourself. If you find this idea intriguing, there are a few things you need to know before you start.

Instructions

1. Research the laws concerning panning in your chosen area. Every state is different. Panning under the term "recreational prospector" will exclude you from most state mining laws, but research your specific state and stay informed.

2. Dig material from your chosen spot with a hand shovel and place it in your pan.

3. Remove larger rocks and pebbles by hand and wash all the mud and clay off before disposing of it so you will not accidentally throw any hidden gold that might be stuck in the clay back into the creek.

4. "Side sweep" the pan by holding it firmly with both hands, moving it side to side in repetitive sweeping motions, about two times per second, working the gold down the pan sideways.

5. Wash the top layer off of the gravel by dipping the pan back into the water, increasing the degree of the angle of your pan a little more each time. Slowly backwash the sand away from the gold to drive the gold sand to the riffles,with the black sand and silt to the top and the gold nuggets to the bottom. Relax and find the rhythm that works for you. If you focus too much on losing gold it will inhibit you from shaking the pan vigorously enough to separate the gold from the silt.

6. Tap the side of the pan rhythmically to differentiate the gold from the gravel. This is called stratification.

7. Suction any gold that is left on the riffled area and the smooth surface in the bottom of the pan and drop into the vial. Carefully remove any gold nuggets at the bottom of the pan and place them in a vial or separate container.

Tags: back into, gold from, gold nuggets, gold nuggets bottom, gold that

What Are The Major Differences Between Topographic & Geologic Maps

Road map

Many different types of maps exist to help us understand the world around us, whether it be the distribution of lakes and rivers or political boundaries. However, topographic and geologic maps are often used to delineate different physical features pertaining to the Earth's surface.

Topographic Maps

Topographic maps are actually several different maps layered on top of one another. They graphically display a third dimension through contour lines used to depict changes in elevation. Each contour line represents its own level of equal elevation.

Geologic Maps

A geologic map, on the other hand, does not display a third dimension; instead, it shows the varying geologic features in an area that are under the ground, including rock types and faults. Typically printed on top of a regular map, or base map, geologic maps use symbols, colors and lines standard to geology.

Key Differences

The primary differences between the two lie in the fact that geologic maps display a third dimension in that they show elevations, while geologic maps only depict in two dimensions various rock formations that exist on a flat surface.

Tags: display third, display third dimension, third dimension, geologic maps

How Does Soil Erosion Happen

When fertile soil blows or washes away, crop yield drops.

Soil erosion refers to the loosening and movement, by wind or water, of soil from its original site to another location. When humans disturb the environment for agricultural or building purposes, they accelerate the erosion process. Since soil forms at a rate of only 0.39 inch per 100 to 400 years, understanding how and why soil erosion occurs is the first step toward reducing its toll. Does this Spark an idea?

Factors Affecting Erosion

Surface cover, topography, climate, water infiltration rate and the characteristics of the soil itself determine soil's vulnerability to erosion. Vegetative surface cover absorbs the force of falling water, slows runoff and deflects wind. Topography affects erosion because as slope length and gradient (steepness) increases, so does volume and speed of runoff, increasing damage. Topography also may deflect or channel wind, reducing or increasing its erosive potential. Climate factors include high-intensity rainstorms and strong or sustained winds. Rapid temperature cycles can cause freeze erosion: water in cracks and underground melts and refreezes rapidly, expanding with enough force to break rock and move soil.

Wind Erosion

Wind moves the heaviest and biggest soil particles by lifting them from the soil surface in a process called saltation; when they return, their impact dislodges other particles. Smaller and lighter particles are moved by rolling, called soil creep, and suspension carries the finest dislodged particles away in what appears to be a fine dust. The Dust Bowl of the 1930s illustrates how the wind erosion process called deflation (because it lowers the land surface) removes the soil's fine particles, leaving only coarser, heavier and less fertile elements behind. When extreme droughts, high temperatures and unsuitable farming practices left acres of soil dry, loosened and bare, high winds stripped millions of acres of topsoil from the Great Plains, carrying some of it as far as New York City. Wind also wears away surfaces through abrasion, a process similar to sandblasting.

Water Erosion

When raindrops hit the Earth, the force of their impact detaches particles from the soil aggregate. This initial stage of water erosion is called splash erosion. Sheet erosion occurs next, when the splashed soil becomes suspended in a thin layer of runoff crossing bare land. As sheet volume increases, the runoff becomes concentrated by the terrain, scouring out shallow rills that carrying soil downhill. Rills too deep to cross with wheeled equipment are named gullies. In streams and rivers, flowing water pulls soil loose from streambeds and banks, carrying it downstream until the water moves too slowly to keep the sediment suspended.

Erosion Control

Preventing fertile topsoil loss and water-quality degradation caused by moving soil and any toxic chemicals it contains requires a two-fold approach: protecting the soil from the erosive forces of wind and water, and capturing any eroded soil before it leaves its original site. Farmers fight erosion by using proper tilling techniques and crop-rotation schedules. They contour land to reduce runoff and leave crop remnants in fields as surface cover. Trees serve as windbreaks. Catchment structures reduce the amount of sediment, fertilizer and manure that enter a watershed. Construction schedules, techniques and barriers can limit bare soil exposure to erosion at building sites.

Tags: erosion occurs, erosion process, from soil, original site, process called, soil from

Attractions Of Trail Ridge In Georgia

The Okefenokee Swamp is near the Trail Ridge of Georgia.

Three miles from the tiny town of Hoboken in southern Georgia is a U.S. historical marker demarcating the Trail Ridge in Georgia. The Trail Ridge is a geological feature, a naturally formed ridge that extends south for 130 miles into Florida. An ancient barrier beach was many miles offshore during the last Ice Age; now the top of the ridge is close to 160 feet above sea level. Native Americans and early European settlers once used the ridge as a natural trail.

The Okefenokee Swamp

Behind the Trail Ridge lies a large, poorly drained area fed by rivers in Charlton and Ware counties, according to the University of Georgia's Geology Department, which used to be part of the sea floor. This area, now the Okefenokee Swamp, is a fascinating place to explore. It is vast, with almost 402,000 acres of cypress forest, lakes, islands and marshland. The swamp is teaming with alligators and more than 400 other species of animals and birds. You can explore in a guided boat tour past cypress forests and historic canals, or canoe and stop to explore winding boardwalks and trails with platforms for wildlife viewing. Okefenokee Swamp is a Wetland of International Importance as designated by the United Nation's 1971 Ramsar Convention.

Annual Bluegrass Convention

Every year in Hoboken, the town closest to the Trail Ridge Historical marker, a private campground hosts two Bluegrass Music Conventions. Twin Oaks Park holds its first convention the weekend before Mother's Day and the second the weekend after Labor Day. The owner, Ira "Whit" Whitmer, and his wife combined their love of the outdoors and bluegrass music when they transformed a cow field into a campground decades ago. In September 2010, Twin Oaks hosted its 37th Annual Bluegrass Music Convention.

Okefenokee Heritage Center

For the past 30 years, the Okefenokee Heritage Center, just outside of Hoboken, has brought art and history to the eight-county community surrounding Waycross, Ga. The Heritage Center is about 15 minutes from the Trail Ridge. The Center displays historical artifacts, hosts educational tours, art exhibitions and fine art clubs. Popular attractions have included "Old Nine," a restored 1912 Baldwin, 100-ton, steam locomotive; an exhibit on Native American cultures of the region which once used the Trail Ridge as a natural passageway; and exhibits on Founder's Hall, the first local courthouse, a Black Heritage exhibit called "From These Roots."

Tags: Trail Ridge, Okefenokee Swamp, Heritage Center, Ridge Georgia, Trail Ridge Georgia, Annual Bluegrass

What Are The 4 Main Types Of Landforms

What Are the 4 Main Types of Landforms?

There are a variety of different landforms that can be found in many locations. These include mountains, plains, valleys and plateaus. All of them have different identifying characteristics. These landforms can be found all over the world and can exist simultaneously.

Mountains

Mountains are formed when there is movement in the Earth's crust. The collision of two plates causes the land to be pushed upwards, resulting in the formation of mountains. They may also be formed as a result of volcanic activity. The basic types of mountains are folded mountains, fault-block mountains, dome mountains and volcanic mountains.

Plains

A plane is a low-lying area of land that can range from a height of above 160 meters above sea level to laying many meters below sea level. Planes can be formed by the uplift of sea coast, erosion from glaciers, wind and water.

Plateaus

A plateau is a landform that has a plain crest area and is higher than its surroundings on one side or more. Plateaus can be formed by lava, water erosion, glaciers and wind. Their surfaces are often plain due to erosion.

Valleys

A valley is an erosional landform that is commonly found in mountainous regions. Valleys can be carved by the flow of rivers as well as the movement of glaciers through already existing spaces. They can be U shaped or V shaped.

Tags: glaciers wind, landform that, Main Types, Main Types Landforms, Types Landforms, What Main, What Main Types

Wind Erosion Science Projects

Evidence of wind erosion.

The wind changes the surface of the earth and other planets. Wind erosion occurs in the processes of deflation---wind removing particles from the surface---and abrasion---the grinding and sandblasting of particles carried by wind. Understanding wind erosion is important in science because it helps determine how the landscape has changed over time.

Barriers

Test different kinds of barriers to see which is the most effective against wind erosion. Create a miniature scene in a box of land affected by wind erosion. Place sand in one half and soil in the other half and three different barriers in between the two halves. One experiment uses three plants: foxtail fern, boxwood shrub and leatherleaf sage. A fan is placed on the sand side to simulate the erosion. Weigh the amount of sand that has passed through each different barrier on different trials to determine the most effective one.

Debris

Show how much wind erosion is occurring in your area. For the project you will need paint stirring paddles from a paint store, double-sided tape, a marker, a camera and a notebook. Tape the paddles to the ground facing various directions around your house. Check the paddles every couple of days to see if any debris has accumulated on the paddles and from which direction it may be coming from. If there is dirt or sand on the paddles, it may have come from wind erosion in that particular direction. Document your findings and draw conclusions about wind erosion in your area.

Rocks and Sand

Show how wind erosion affects rocks over many years. The project requires fine sand, an electric fan, a pie pan, sandpaper, a soft rock and a hard rock. Place the fine sand in the pie pan, take it outside, and turn the fan on. Have the students observe what happens to the sand and ask what would happen if the sand hit some clay or a rock. Have them rub sandpaper against the soft rock and the hard rock 100 times and have them record their observations. Ask them how the sandpaper rubbing is like the windblown sand. This can be done as a science fair project by comparing results among multiple rock samples.

Long-term Erosion

Demonstrate long-term erosion in a short period of time with a can of compressed air. Set up several different types of materials such as soil, sand and gravel. Prepare equal amounts of each in some bowls or containers and let them dry overnight. Conduct an experiment with some compressed air to determine which substance is most affected by the "wind." This can be further diversified by preparing combined mixes of sand and soil, soil and gravel, or whatever other substance you have access to.

Tags: wind erosion, affected wind, fine sand, hard rock, most effective, paddles from, rock hard

Kids' Activities In New Haven Connecticut

Snorkeling is just one activity kids in New Haven can enjoy.

New Haven, less than an hour away from Hartford, offers a long list of activities for children of all ages to enjoy. Residents and visitors alike can participate in the activities for kids that the city has to offer. Whether its sports, games or a learning activity, kids in New Haven will find something to keep them busy throughout the year.

Library Activities

The "Children's Room" in the New Haven Free Public Library (no website; 133 Elm St., New Haven; 203-946-8130) is a place where kids can read books, play computer games and participate in programs, including toddler playgroups and story times, preschool story times, story/craft programs for older kids, the "Tween Book Club" and the annual summer reading program. Kids can also join the chess club in the main library.

Sports and Recreation

New Haven's Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees offers sports and recreational programs for children of all ages throughout the year. Children can swim or take swimming lessons in John S. Martinez School's swimming pool (no website; 100 James St., New Haven; 203-946-8027). Kids from the 5th to 8th grades can join the arena football team. Kickball and dodgeball games are organized for kids of all ages. A basketball clinic for boys and girls ages 8 to 12 is offered. Golf lessons are also offered, and kids can join a chess tournament in their age division.

Day Camps

During the summer, kids can join different six-hour day camps, where they'll go on trips and participate in activities. Children ages 7 to 13 can enjoy swimming, arts and crafts, special activities, trips, and sport in City Camp. Children ages 5 and 6 can join "Nature Pals" and participate in games, hiking, field trips, arts and crafts, swimming, and nature study. Other camps are Eco Adventure Camp for kids 12 to 15, Junior Adventure Camp for kids 8 to 12, College Coaches Girls Basketball Camp for kids 12 to 17, and Swinging Stars Theater Camp for kids 9 to 13. Three two-week sessions are available starting in June.

Outdoor Adventure

New Haven's Outdoor Adventure Program, in cooperation with the city's Park Rangers, offers outdoor adventure activities for kids of all ages. Some of the activities that kids can enjoy are canoeing, kayaking, archery, whitewater rafting, hiking and snowshoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, snorkeling and scuba diving. The program aims to teach team building, cooperation and communication skills, conflict resolution and eco-consciousness.

Park Programs

Kids can join Ranger Programs in the The West Rock Nature Center (no website; 1080 Wintergreen Ave., Hamden; 203-946-8016), Lighthouse Park (no website; 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven; 203-946-8020), East Rock Park (no website; 41 Cold Spring St., New Haven; 203-946-6086) and Edgewood Park (no website; 379 Whalley Ave., New Haven; 203-946-8028). Children will learn about natural history and environmental responsibility through programs that include, geology walks, hiking and nature interpretation, snorkeling and touch-tank, seashore and

sea-life programs.

Tags: Camp kids, Park website, activities kids, activity kids, activity kids Haven

Pan For Gold In New York State

Pan for Gold in New York State

Finding gold nuggets or even a few grains of gold can be thrilling and rewarding as you pan for gold. Besides the possibility of finding gold, gold panning gets you outdoors in nature. The state of New York does not have an age limit for gold panning, nor any fees. After some planning, people have found gold throughout New York state with more success in particular areas over others. Turn panning for gold into a hobby, a family event or an enjoyable outing with friends.

Instructions

1. Locate in New York companies that sell gravel or sand. Small amounts of gold can be found in rivers and streams near these gravel pits.

2. Pan for gold on private property rather than state property. Although New York state regulations do not specifically mention gold panning, New York laws do not allow any kind of disturbance of the stream beds on state property. Get permission first from the property owners before you start gold panning.

3. Pan for gold in New York state where the glacier moraines end, such as the south ends of the Finger Lakes. These glacier moraines, also called gravel deposits, originated from the Ice Age period when New York state was covered with glaciers. The Finger Lakes in Central and Upstate New York are 11 narrow, long lakes, which run almost parallel from north to south and appear as fingers on outstretched hands. Major cities near the Finger Lakes include Syracuse, Ithaca, Rochester, Auburn, Elmira, Skaneateles, Clifton, Geneva and Cayuga. Other locations to pan for gold include northern and western New York state.

4. Join a gold panning club, such as the Gold Prospector Association of America (GPAA). Information about club meeting locations, dates and times in New York state are available on the GPAA website.

Tags: gold panning, York state, Finger Lakes, glacier moraines, Gold York State

What Is The Ring Of Fire

Countries within the Ring of Fire region are susceptible to volcanic disturbances.

The Ring of Fire is an area surrounding the Pacific Ocean that is notorious for frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. It coincides with the edges of one of the largest tectonic plates on the planet. The threat of a volcanic eruption or earthquake is an everyday part of the lives of the billions of people who live near the Ring of Fire. On the positive side, volcanic activity has provided rich farmland and mineral resources.

Location

The Pacific Ring of Fire stretches for about 25,000 miles and touches four of the world's continents as well as several major island chains. Starting from Antarctica, it is found on the Pacific Ocean-facing coastlines of New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, Russia, Alaska, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America and South America.

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

The Learning Haven website states that the Ring of Fire contains over 450 volcanoes and about 75 percent of the world's active volcanoes. According to the World Atlas website, nearly 90 percent of the planet's earthquakes occur within this region. These have included the 2005 Sendai earthquake in Japan, the 2010 Santiago earthquake in Chile and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand. An earthquake occurs every day somewhere within the Ring of Fire, according to the Learning Haven website.

Plate Tectonic Theory

According to plate tectonic theory, the Earth's surface comprises a series of massive plates that float on top of the planet's hot, molten interior. As the plates move away from each other, new sea bed is created when the hot lava flows out and is quickly cooled by the ocean. Sometimes the plates slide past each other and cause earthquakes. When plates move toward each other, one is forced beneath the other on impact. The subsumed plate is driven into the Earth's interior, where the high temperatures partially melt the rock. This molten rock can rise to the surface, resulting in a volcanic eruption.

Volcanic Arcs

The narrow, curving chains of volcanoes that make up the Ring of Fire are known as volcanic arcs. Their particularly violent eruptions require an explanation beyond simple plate tectonic theory. Scientists from Oxford University in England used a mathematical model of heat transport to show that the geometrical patterns of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are located above narrow areas of mantle that do not contain water. When this relatively rare water-free rock melts, violent volcanic eruptions result.

Tags: Ring Fire, each other, Haven website, Learning Haven, Learning Haven website, plates move, tectonic theory

What Are Chocolate Diamonds

Diamonds are available in a variety of shades, from colorless to deep blues or blacks. The brown-hued, or chocolate diamond, is gaining popularity in jewelry settings today.

Definition

Chocolate diamonds range in hue from light champagne to deep chocolate brown. Not to be confused with colored gemstones, these are true diamonds, formed by years of carbon under pressure.

Significance

Chocolate diamonds are less expensive than their colorless counterparts. In addition, the unusual contrast makes them highly fashionable. A popular setting includes a large chocolate diamond surrounded by multiple small white diamonds.

Geography

Chocolate diamonds are mined in Africa, Australia and Russia. The largest producer of chocolate diamonds is the Argyle Mine in northwestern Australia.

Creation

Chocolate diamonds are formed by geological pressure over billions of years. The color of the diamond darkens due to the earth's pressure at the depth where the diamonds are buried.

Fun Fact

The term "Chocolate Diamonds" is actually a trademarked brand of the famed Le Vian jewelry purveyor.

Warning

Be careful while shopping for a chocolate diamond. Unscrupulous jewelers expose lower-grade diamonds to radiation that changes the color to brown. Although the diamonds look authentic, they hold no value and cannot be resold. Always purchase from a reputable jeweler and request a certificate of authenticity.

Tags: chocolate diamond, Chocolate diamonds, diamonds formed