Note.

All entries in this assignment have been drawn from (and heavily quoted from) the text book we utilized in our Physical Geography class. Every post, and every fact found in this blog has been drawn from this text.

Physical Geography The Global Environment, Second Edition: 
Harm J. de Blij, Peter O. Muller, Richard S. Williams, Catherine Conrad and Peter Long

ISBN 13: 9780195428971

Click Here For More Information!

Note: While I am not in every picture, I did at least take those I was not in. My wife is standing in on those picture in which I am not in, that I am drawing on from past vacations. 

Chapter 22 - Igneous Rocks

Igneous rocks form as molten magma or lava as it cools. This can happen on the surface of the earth, or deep inside of its crust. Magma is thrust through the layers of the earth, collecting various minerals and gasses that are absorbed through the melting of other sediment. Magma that cools within the earths surface forms igneous rock that is known as intrusive, magma that reaches the surface and cools is known as extrusive. Granite is a form of igneous rock, and this picture illustrates the use of granite with in the construction of a down town building in Edmonton. 

Chapter 22 - Intrusive Forms

There are two types of intrusive igneous rocks: concordant and discordant. Concordant intrusive igneous rocks do not disrupt or destroy existing structures. Conversely, discordant igneous rocks cut across previously formed strata effectively destroying and consuming what had previously formed. An axampel of a discordant rock formation is that of the batholith which is a massive pluton (a body of plutonic rock) that has melted and assimilated most of the existing rock structures it has invaded. Concordant rock formation can be broken down into two further categories: sill, and laccolith. A sill is the intrusion of magma between strate without disturbing or destroying the surrounding layers. Laccolith is a chamber, fed by a magma pipe, that grew dome like, and in the process pushed the surrounding strata into a bulge without destroying it. This picture is of granite used at Canada Place in downtown Edmonton; certain types of granite form through intrusive processes.

Chapter 43 - Soil

On the landmasses, soils and vegetation lie at the interface between the lithosphere and the atmosphere, at the plane of interaction between rocks and their minerals, on the one hand, and the air with its moisture and heat, on the other. Soil is very important to plant life as it contains mineral nutrients and stories water. Decaying vegetation adds to the nutrients of the soil through decaying matter which is converted into reusable nutrients.  This cycle sees the vegetation as both consumer of nutrients and producer of nutrients, and in both cases totally dependent upon the soul for the nutrients. The decay and return of nutrients to the soil is perfectly illustrated by a compost, which creates very nutrient dense soil through the decay of vegetation. This picture is of our co-op’s garden, and in specific this is what is left of our compost that was past its prime (this summer we will make a new one!).

Chapter 18 - Anthropogenic Forces

Anthropogenic forces are human activities that change the planet and influence climate. The biggest anthropogenic force of current concern is that of carbon dioxide levels rising due to fossil fuel combustion emissions. Other factors of concern are: aerosal emissions, land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture, and deforestation. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, and thus raise the global temperature, are often called greenhouse gases. While not all greenhouse gases enter the environment because of man there are many that do. Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oils, coal, natural gas), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions such as the manufacturing of cement. Methane is also released during the production and transportation coal, natural gas, and oil, as well as from the decay of organic waste in municipal landfills, and released from livestock. Nitrous oxide, and Hydrofluorocarbons are also released as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels and industrial processes. This picture of the refiners in Edmonton illustrates the release of detrimental gases into the environment, while I can not vouch for the specifics of the gas, clearly they cannot be all positive.

Chapter 43 - Conservation and the Biosphere

Human beings pose many threats to the earths biosphere. The overuse and erosion of soils are worsening global problems. Humans invade the last refuges of wild life bringing about the extinction of animal and plant species. Our increasing consumption of resources, and the burning of fossil fuels, has lead to vast changes to the climate that have effects the world over. Focusing on soil, plants or animals, it is clear to see that the earths biosphere is under severe stress. Conservation is an important response that may help to turn the tides of this environmental degradation, if it is not already to late. Conservation entails the careful management and use of natural resources, the achievement of significant social benefit from them, and the preservation of the environment. Sustainable development is an integral part conservation, and can be defined as development that meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This picture illustrates the way in which humanity moves into an environment and totally takes it over making it ‘functional’. It illustrates the way our values need to shift as a people to see the environment not as something utilitarian, or nice to look at, and rather as something with innate value of invaluable importance to creation as a whole. This tree, walled in by cement, illustrates our view of nature, it is nice to look at and have around, but we want to limit and control its presence in our environments.  

Chapter 9 - A Model of The Surface Circulation of Air

The Hadley cell circulation model represents atmospheric pressure distribution in a simple and understandable way. As previously discussed, the equator to the 35th parallel receives a great deal more heat then the area 35th parallel to the poles. The are around the equator is known as the equatorial low, and exhibits a low pressure due to the high heat. This hot, low pressure air, rises to the poles. Subsequently, the poles are colder then the equatorial low zone, and thus the pressure is higher. So as the low pressure rises to the poles it is cooled and becomes high pressure that returns pack to the equator. This cycle repeats continuously, ensuring that the surface air and temperature is circulated, ensuring the earth is habitable.