1st Edition
ENVS 101: The Blue Planet
School: The University of New Mexico (UNM )
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Pages: 9Overview of key points that have been made in Lectures 18-27, concluding the final unit of study, Earth systems and the biosphere, including topics such as weather and climate change, as well as the various interactions of the biosphere and the types of energy that are at our disposal. -
Pages: 2Final lecture was an expansion of the two categories of resources perviously covered in class: Mineral resources. The process of assessing a land prior to mining it for resources is discussed, and fossil fuel types are elaborated upon. Final topics include unconventional hydrocarbons and alternative energy sources. -
Pages: 3Introduction to both renewable and nonrenewable resources, followed by a discussion over how the relationship of humans and resources of the Earth changed with the implementation of agriculture. Brief overview of how nonrenewable and renewable resources are managed in the present day. Final topics include the green revolution, and mineral ores. -
Pages: 2Overview of what a biome is, followed by characterization of terrestrial and aquatic biomes.Brief discussion of what population growth is, and dynamics that allow for a population to undergo growth or decline. Final topics include three basic interactions that go on in a community, boom and bust oscillation, and carrying capacity. -
Pages: 3Overview of the components of ecosystems that are found within the Earth, as well as definitions for biomass energy, autotrophs, and heterotrophs. Discussion of food chain processes and their components including decomposers as well as processes that affect organisms of an ecosystem. Final topics include how carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen are essential to life. -
Pages: 2Discussion regarding the precession of the equinoxes, as well as the way in which CO2 plays a role in the greenhouse effect. There is also a brief overview on the way in which there are several positive feedback responses that occur in nature with ocean warming trends, and natural processes/human causes that contribute to the amount of CO2 found in the atmosphere. -
Pages: 2Overview of additional climate proxies from the previous lecture, natural formations which indicate patterns of climate change on Earth. Brief discussion regarding previous Ice age, glaciation periods, and warm periods of the Earth, and environmental impact. Final topics include the variation of seasons of earth, as well as the external causes of why climates change on the Earth. -
Pages: 3There is an overview of Tornadoes and the way in which they are formed, the weather conditions that create them, and the months in which they most often occur.There is also a discussion over dust storms, the effects of desertification, and drought on the Earth. Final topics include monsoons and the effects of both El Niño and La Niña on the climate of the Earth. -
Pages: 2This lecture has an overview of what climate is, and the way in which weather is predicted from various long-term and medium-term conditions, such as El Niño. Brief summary on the various factors that effect the climate system of the Earth and cause changes in the system, ending with other proxies that are used to indicate climate changes -
Pages: 3Brief overview of several different processes that lift clouds, as well as a comparison of sea and land breeze. Definition of weather, and the variables that affect it, and a comparison to climate as well. Final topics include factors that affect both wind speed and direction/ geostrophic winds -
Pages: 2Lecture overview of the universal gas law, and the balance that occurs within the equation (see saw effect) as well as a discussion on absolute humidity, condensation, saturation, and dew point (general interactions with water and energy within the atmosphere. Final topic includes a brief introduction to the various types of clouds that can be found in the atmosphere. -
Pages: 9This study guide contains an overview of some key information that has been in lectures for the last seven weeks or so. There are key points to review over our unit water on the Earth and the Cryosphere. Review concepts including groundwater resources, glacier formations/types, streams and rivers, as well as the cryopshere and our latest unit, the water found in oceans of the Earth. -
Pages: 4Notes for the Oceans unit, as well as information regarding the Earth's atmosphere, topic that was covered Thursday 3/27. There is more information about wave types, formation, and the amount of water in different reservoirs. The composition of the atmosphere and its ability to sustain life is introduced. -
Pages: 3This lecture has an overview regarding the various depth zones through the different oceans of the world, as well as the way in which temperature and salinity will vary in the different climate zones. Brief discussion differentiating meteors, meteorites, etc. and elaboration on ocean salinity. Final topics include ocean circulation and physical properties of seawater. -
Pages: 3This lecture covers the way in which glaciers can move about and how they affect the landscape around them by carving and polishing rock, and how they collect sediment in their path. Different types of glacier formations are also covered in this lecture. Final topics include the formation of sea ice, and the climate change periods that have been going on since the 1800s to the present day. -
Pages: 3Overview of what the Cryosphere of the Earth consists of, and how it impacts our amount of water as a natural resource. Intro to glaciers and the different types leads to discussion of the polar deserts. Final topics include temperature variation in glaciers, and the various zones that are involved when evaluating the advance or retreat of a glacier. -
Pages: 3Discussion of the dissolving capabilities of slow moving ground water, and how caves and sinkholes can form. An elaboration of how Karts topography is formed, as well as speleothems included. Finally, there is an overview of the importance water has to human survival, the way in which it was used, and human activity has impacted this natural resource around the world. -
Pages: 2This lecture contains an overview of groundwater. A discussion of elements dissolved in groundwater is followed by an introduction to infiltration, permeability, and porosity, and the way in which they interact with water. Finally, there is a brief discussion of water use in society -
Pages: 3Overview of what happens to water as it travels downstream. and identification of different types of channels present, and their impact on riparian ecology. Different types of landforms are also discussed ex: delta, alluvial fan, etc. Final topic is a discussion the impact of flooding and fires, and flood prevention on riparian ecosystems. -
Pages: 3An overview of streams is given in this lecture, as well as the various ways in which water is stored in reservoirs. There are also various definitions and quick notes regarding the types of streams, as well as their content, and the factors which make them different. Finally, the five factors which contribute to the varying characteristics in streams are introduced. -
Pages: 2Overview of the way in which plate tectonics occur on different parts of the Earth, and the formations that they are responsible for, i.e.: Mountain Ranges. There is also a discussion of how the theory of continental drift came about, and was developed to be supported by modern science. The final topic is the various margins and plate boundaries that can be found on Earth. -
Pages: 11This study guide discusses the most important concepts and definitions that have been covered in lectures throughout the last couple of weeks. For the exam, which will be available this Thursday night, February 12th, materials from each lecture will be present on the exam with focus on: The history of life on Earth, the types of reservoirs, layers of the Earth, types of energy, minerals etc. -
Pages: 3Introduction to types of waves that occur in an earthquake, elaboration on what primary waves, secondary waves, and surface waves are. The S-P time interval, as well as how the magnitude and intensity of an earthquake are quantified is also discussed. Also, both primary and secondary effects, as well as potential hazards are described. -
Pages: 3Discussion of minerals groups, as well as the contents commonly found in minerals. Overview of crystal structures, and how they affect the hardness of minerals, and examples of minerals. Effects of rapid cooling and slow cooling on volcanic rock. Discussion of physical and mechanical weathering, and introduction to sediment families. -
Pages: 4Overview of matter and minerals, as well as explanations of atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, and chemical elements. Earth materials are also discussed, along with the compounds that form when chemical elements combine. Overview of carbon present within the Earth, organic compounds and biopolymers. Finally the layers of Earth are explored, ending with an introduction to minerals.