PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

Today we are talking about the geology of Glacier National Park!  We cover three major things:

1- The Colors:  The rocks in Glacier have stunning colors and you can see them almost anywhere in the park.  The main colors are various shades of red, green, brown, and gray.

First off, focus on the reds: These rocks have a mineral called hematite (Fe2O3).  Hematite forms when iron bearing minerals react with O2 to produce the iron oxide.  This happens either on land or in shallow enough water so the minerals have access to free O2 from the atmosphere.  In Glacier, we know this definitely happened in shallow water.  How do we know this?  These red rocks contain sedimentary structures such as ripple marks that only form in shallow water….. If rocks have as little as 3% hematite, it can stain the rocks bright red. 

Green:  These rocks formed in deeper water.  In chemistry, we call this a reducing environment (as opposed to an oxidizing environment for the red rocks).  Because there is less O2 present in the deeper water, the iron doesn’t combine with oxygen, and instead binds with silica to produce dark minerals like hornblende, biotite, and others.  But, these minerals aren’t as stable as hematite and turn into a green mineral called chlorite with burial.  

So why do the red and green rocks alternate as they are stacked up on top of each other?  

2- The Mountains:  

Most of the rocks we see in the park were sedimentary.  A shallow sea was depositing sedimentary rocks for a very long time (over 18,000 feet).  The sea was actually a result of early continental rifting and higher sea level.

Long after the deposition of the rocks we see, tectonics began to influence the area.  Sedimentary rocks are laid down flat.  The rocks in Glacier are not flat - they are folded and tilted.  This tectonic event is the same event that formed the Rockies extending from Canada to Northern Mexico.  An oceanic plate was subducting beneath the North American plate.

3- Glaciers:

Beginning 2 my ago and ending 20,000 yrs ago, glaciers grew and filled the valleys with immense systems of moving ice.  These powerful, slow, relentless glaciers carved Glacier NP into the rugged beauty we see today.  Although there are active glaciers still today Glacier NP is named for the features that formed during the Ice Age rather than being named after the remnants barely hanging on today.  Glacier NP is a textbook for features like cirques, aretes, U-shaped valleys, 

Lakes fill in these U-shaped valleys.  On the map view they look like fingers!  Very similar to Finger Lakes area in western NY State and formed similarly, glacially scoured valleys that now have lakes in them. 

Another interesting difference between Glacier and other parts of the Rockies is that there are no foothills to the East (think Denver, Calgary, etc).  You go from Prairies to Mountains very quickly. This is because glaciers did a TON of erosion and all the sediments were deposited in the valleys to the East.  So, the foothills are there, just buried by pieces of the mountains

 
 ——————————————————
 Instagram: @planetgeocast
 Twitter: @planetgeocast
 Facebook: @planetgeocast
 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

We recorded a live podcast episode with Mappy Hour! 

We recorded a live episode on the Geoscience a really special place, Glacier National Park and Waterton National Park in Northwestern Montana and Southern Alberta.  The geoscience of these parks is truly special and there are great stories everywhere.

A few of the things we mentioned in these questions are the book Geology along the Going-To-The-Sun Road and the Roadside Geology book series.  Check them out for some great info! 

 
 ——————————————————
 Instagram: @planetgeocast
 Twitter: @planetgeocast
 Facebook: @planetgeocast
 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg

Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Exciting news!  This Tuesday, May 4th, we will be doing a live podcast recording with Mappy Hour.  Register below!

PlanetGeo Mappy Hour Live Recording - Glacier National Park

Today we talk Earthquakes! 
The list of EQ dating back to antiquity is shocking.  The amplitude and deaths caused are estimated, but a glimpse of this list is very sobering.  Below is a list of some of the important and more recent.

• Medieval Europe (italy, spain, portugal) were all very aware of the risks of Earthquakes and were starting to apply new engineering specifically for earthquake mitigation (anchor plates in buildings, exaggerated buttresses). 
• 1700: The Cascadia subduction zone. Research by Brain Atwater has revealed when this EQ occurred.  Estimated to be 8.7 - 9.2 moment magnitude.  Atwater has discovered ghost forests of red cedars that were killed by being lowered and submerged in salt water as a result of a massive EQ.  The tree rings date back to 1699 - the last growing season before the EQ.  Records in Japan confirm a tsunami that caught them offguard.  
• December, 1811 to February 1812: 3 large EQ in New Madrid, MO 8.1,7.8 8.0.  Caused by old stress from a failed rift zone.
• 1906: San Francisco EQ 7.9
• 1964: The Great Alaskan EQ. 9.2 the shaking lasted 4 min and 38 seconds.  The Richter scale put these two as the same strength.  
• 1976: China.  7.6 EQ that unlike the year before, no foreshocks or warnings.  Estimated up to 750,000 people died.
• 2004: Sumatra 9.1  227,000 people died
• 2009: L’Aquila, italy, 5.8, 309 people died; Italian seismologist went on trial for incorrectly reassuring the population that no earthquake would occur. Earthquake was predicted by one researcher a month before, he was called alarmist. Then the earthquake occurred and 7 people (6 scientists and one official) were convicted of giving false or misleading statements that downplayed the risks. This result was criticized by most major scientific organizations and outlets.  These verdicts were later overturned by the Italian Supreme Court 2014
• 2011: Japan 9.0 Almost 21,000 people died

It’s also appropriate to talk about the exponential scale.  The richter scale is outdated and really measures the amplitude and distance the waves travelled.  It’s not accurate in discerning major EQ.  The moment magnitude scale measures the amount of movement along a fault and the force required to make that movement.  It also measures all of the seismic waves produced by an EQ.

The scales vary logarithmically.  In terms of the amount of ground shaking, a difference of 1 varies by an exponent of 10.  But in terms of energy released, it varies by powers of 30 (We round to 30.  It’s actually 31.6.  That means that for each increase in .2, the energy released is doubled) 

Why do Earthquakes occur?

1 - Think back to the plate tectonics episode.  The movement of tectonic plates causes stress along the plate boundaries. 

Use N. America as a starting point (more on the west coast, few on the east coast) but then we compare them to other countries like Germany and the UK (which have very few) Italy (lots of earthquakes with >10,000 killed) and western Pacific (same). 

 
 ——————————————————
 Instagram: @planetgeocast
 Twitter: @planetgeocast
 Facebook: @planetgeocast
 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

This is an Earth Day special!  Today we are talking about this really cool study that came out last week in the scientific journal Science (one of the top journals in all of ‘science’). 

It is by Charles Marshall and others from Berkeley, and the title is “Absolute abundance and preservation rate of Tyrannosaurus rex”
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6539/284

The authors also wrote this very cool Conversation (name of the publication) article where scientists and journalists co-write a summary of research. 
https://theconversation.com/how-many-tyrannosaurus-rex-walked-the-earth-159041

Well the title pretty well describes what this paper is about, but let’s go through the arguments here, and hopefully we will get a chance to talk to one of the authors of this study at some point in the future! 

So, here’s what ‘we’ as the field of science knew before this paper:

1. T. rex mated ~15 years old
2. Estimates of how long each dinosaur lived
3. T. rex walked the Earth for 1.2 to 3.6 million years
4. Rough estimate of metabolic rate, somewhere between mammals and komodo dragon

Armed with this information, Marshall et all performed this cool calculation.  First they figured that each generation of T. rex took ~19 years (average time between consecutive lineages, humans are between 22 and 33)

They then needed population density to figure out how many dinosaurs there were at any one time.  So they applied this relationship between body mass (size) and population density for modern animals (Damuth’s law).  Square mile of grassland supports more rabbits than elephants…Damuth’s law is also dependent on metabolic rate, so apply that data. 

They get an average of 1 T. rex every 42.4 square miles, or 109.9 square km.  This is two individuals in Washington DC!  Ottawa county is 583 square miles, ~13-14 T. rex. 

This calculation can then go one stage further and estimates that ~20,000 individual T. rex were alive at any one time, and 2.5 BILLION T. rex ever existed on Earth!  That’s amazing!  

So, there may be some debate about the actual numbers involved here (and these have a massive uncertainty, between 130 million T rex and 42 billion, using conservative uncertainty stats), but for us it teaches us two important points: 

1. There is a method to uncertainty calculation that is a good lesson here: These calculations are all pretty uncertain, how do we know how reliable these final numbers are?
2. Fossils, especially land fossils, are a very very rare thing! 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Did you know that nuclear fission reactions are natural?  Uranium fission drives many types of nuclear power plants as well as nuclear weapons.  However, these types of reactions occurred on Earth naturally, just billions of years ago.  Today, we discuss the Oklo natural fission reactors in Gabon, Africa.  

These natural reactors are not only amazingly cool, but they have a really interesting discovery story and they can teach us a lot about the overlap between nuclear physics and geoscience, how uranium deposits form, and what Earth's ancient atmosphere looked like! 

These are important for several reasons:

1. Geology and nuclear physics have a very intimate relationship. 
   1. Basically all radiometric dating we use on Earth was developed on the back of research on Uranium nuclear physics and research into nuclear weapons/reactors. 
2. Geoscience and national security are intimately related: 
   1. Nuclear forensics, or using isotope analyses to look for people enriching uranium, use the same techniques and instruments as geochronology
   2. Many PhD geoscientists go to work in national security labs/jobs
3. These natural nuclear reactors help us explain Earth’s history and where Uranium deposits occur.  

Another cool feature of these ancient nuclear reactors is that they may have looked much like geysers in Yellowstone National Park!  They were moderated by natural groundwater, and they cycled on and off in ~30 minute cycles. 

All told, these natural nuclear reactors are one of the single coolest geoscience factoid we know of! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

Are you planning a trip to the Grand Canyon soon?  Are you interested in seeing some cool geoscience features?  Join us today as we discuss a few great hikes to check out while visiting the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, USA.  

We discuss hiking trails such as the South Kaibab Trail down to the aptly-named Ooh Ahh Point (so beautiful!), and end up at Skeleton Point for a full view of the Canyon in all its glory!  Alternatively, you could take the Bright Angel trail, a somewhat nicer hike because of all the restrooms and water stations every 1.5 miles, stop at the amazingly lush Indian Garden, and eventually make your way out to the Plateau Point for a dramatic view directly down to the Colorado River. 

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon has an amazing amount of views and hiking that are easily accessible to everyone, even if you don't want to hike very far. For instance, you could start by visiting the small cairns that contain actual samples of the 1.7 billion-year-old Vishnu Schist, or by walking the Trail of Time, where for every large step you take down into the Canyon is equal to going back in time One Million Years in the rock record! 

As always, don't feed the wildlife, and downhill hikers always yields to uphill hikers , and everyone yields to mule trains! 

If you want to hear an overview of the geology of the Grand Canyon, check out our previous episode covering the full history with detailed descriptions of the major geoscience features of the park.  The Grand Canyon has over 1.9 billion years of geology on display, and it is all very visible in a stunning landscape! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

There is a new climate war afoot.  And, there is a book about it!  Professor Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor at The Pennsylvania State University, has a long history of studying and discussion climate change.  His new book, titled The New Climate War, is out now!

In this episode we interview Mike about his journey in academia, what the new climate war is all about, and what he sees as the best path towards solutions.  We discuss how last climate war has ended, what we all can do to fix the problem, and how Dr. Mann sees the future working out.

Send us your questions, thoughts, or suggestions!

Dr. Michael E. Mann received his undergraduate degrees in Physics and Applied Math from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.S. degree in Physics from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Geology & Geophysics from Yale University.

Dr. Mann was a Lead Author on the Observed Climate Variability and Change chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Scientific Assessment Report in 2001 and was organizing committee chair for the National Academy of Sciences Frontiers of Science in 2003. He has received a number of honors and awards including NOAA's outstanding publication award in 2002 and selection by Scientific American as one of the fifty leading visionaries in science and technology in 2002. He contributed, with other IPCC authors, to the award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was awarded the Hans Oeschger Medal of the European Geosciences Union in 2012 and was awarded the National Conservation Achievement Award for science by the National Wildlife Federation in 2013. He made Bloomberg News' list of fifty most influential people in 2013.  In 2014, he was named Highly Cited Researcher by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and received the Friend of the Planet Award from the National Center for Science Education. He received the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication from Climate One in 2017, the Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2018 and the Climate Communication Prize from the American Geophysical Union in 2018. In 2019 he received the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement and in 2020 he received the World Sustainability Award of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation. He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2020. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Society, the Geological Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is also a co-founder of the award-winning science website RealClimate.org.

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Welcome to the preview to our full interview with Professor Michael Mann, prestigious climate scientist and author of the new book, The New Climate War. 

Professor Mann is a Distinguished Professor at Penn State University, a member of the National Academy of Sciences,  and has won many science and science communication awards. 

In this GeoShort we discuss the feeling of discovery that Dr. Mann felt when publishing the 1999 scientific article that documented the "hockey stick" graph of CO2 increase in the atmosphere.   Below is a short description of Dr. Mann's award-winning career, and join us next week for the full interview with Dr. Mann covering his new book, The New Climate War!

Dr. Michael E. Mann received his undergraduate degrees in Physics and Applied Math from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.S. degree in Physics from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Geology & Geophysics from Yale University.

Dr. Mann was a Lead Author on the Observed Climate Variability and Change chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Scientific Assessment Report in 2001 and was organizing committee chair for the National Academy of Sciences Frontiers of Science in 2003. He has received a number of honors and awards including NOAA's outstanding publication award in 2002 and selection by Scientific American as one of the fifty leading visionaries in science and technology in 2002. He contributed, with other IPCC authors, to the award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was awarded the Hans Oeschger Medal of the European Geosciences Union in 2012 and was awarded the National Conservation Achievement Award for science by the National Wildlife Federation in 2013. He made Bloomberg News' list of fifty most influential people in 2013.  In 2014, he was named Highly Cited Researcher by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and received the Friend of the Planet Award from the National Center for Science Education. He received the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication from Climate One in 2017, the Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2018 and the Climate Communication Prize from the American Geophysical Union in 2018. In 2019 he received the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement and in 2020 he received the World Sustainability Award of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation. He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2020. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Society, the Geological Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is also a co-founder of the award-winning science website RealClimate.org.

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

“Crying: acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon” - Ron Swanson

Today, we talk about the Grand Canyon.  The scenery and geology combine to create one of the Natural Wonders of the World.  If you are planning a trip, or would like to learn more about this spectacular location, listen to this episode! 

It’s hard to show the principles of stratigraphy better than what’s on display in the Grand Canyon.  Each layer gives clues to the environment of deposition and what the Earth was like at the time the sediment was laid down.  It’s one of the best example of the geological Laws of Superposition and Original Horizontality on the planet.  Other relative dating principles, that are also amazing textbook examples, include the principles of lateral continuity and cross cutting relations.

In this episode you will learn about the three main groups of rock formations on display in the Canyon. Really the only way to talk about them is from oldest to youngest - start at the beginning and work to last page in the book.  The three formations are:

1- The Metamorphic Basement Rocks (up to 1.7 BILLION years old!)

2- The Precambrian Grand Canyon Supergroup - all sedimentary rocks with a billion years of missing time. 

3- Paleozoic Strata -  a continuous record of Earth for ~300 million years. 

The bottom line is that the rocks are old, and the canyon is young.  We end this podcast with a discussion of the very young volcanic rocks around the Grand Canyon like Sunset Crater, and we also discuss some scientific ideas about how the Canyon formed, a process that started about five million years ago.  

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort we discuss last week's triple header of large earthquakes off the coast of New Zealand.  There were three major earthquakes that occurred all within a few hours of one another. 

The first, a magnitude 7.3 quake, was likely unrelated to the other two, but the second one, a 7.4, was a precursor to the last one!  The last quake as a giant 8.1, a full 11 times larger than the 7.4 that occurred nearby.  

These earthquakes set off tsunami warnings all around the Pacific ocean from New Zealand to Chile, and everywhere in between.  Tsunami warnings even sounded in Canada.  Luckily, no major tsunamis occurred.  

These earthquakes were generated in a plate tectonic subduction zone, where the Pacific plate is diving beneath the Australian plate to the West.  The Pacific plate gets stuck though and then pressure builds up until it break! 

Check out our previous episode on Plate Tectonics (Ep. 2) and stay tuned for a longer episode on these megathrust earthquakes coming out in a few weeks! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Join us in a wide-ranging discussion with Professor Steve Mattox! 

Dr. Mattox is a professor at Grand Valley State University, where he has taught for many years.  Dr. Mattox had a very diverse career before going the faculty at Grand Valley, and we discuss his career path, how he became interested in the Geosciences, and what he thinks of the future of geoscience.

Dr. Mattox has led several very interesting research projects surrounding geoscience and society.  These include quantifying the number of news articles that relate to the geosciences, studying the tools that teachers used, and developing what is effectively an Advanced Placement Geology course for high schools in Michigan.

Teaching is very familiar for Dr. Mattox and he has won numerous awards for his teaching acumen.  Most notable among them are the Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award in 2020 and the Michigan Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award in 2012.

See below for a summary of Dr. Mattox's experience and a link to his personal website!





TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• Associate Professor, Department of Geology, GVSU, 2003 to present.
• Assistant Professor, GVSU, 1998 to 2003.
• Lecturer, 2001, University of the Philippines College Baguio, Baguio City, Luzon, Philippines.
• Post-doctoral Research Volcanologist, University of North Dakota, 1995-1996.
• Lecturer, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 1991-1996.
• Visiting Lecturer, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois, 1991.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Exploration Geologist (east Java, Indonesia), Golden Valley Mines NL, West Perth, WA, 1997.
• Exploration Geologist (Kimberley), Precious Metals of Australia, West Perth, WA., 1996-1997.
• Consulting Geologist, Belt Collins & Associates, Honolulu, HI, 1993.
• Geologic Investigation Contractor, Utah Geological Survey, 1989-1990.
• Geologic Mapping Contractor, Utah Geological Survey, 1984-1989.

AWARDS, HONORS, AND GRANTS

• GVSU Alumni Association Outstanding Educator Award, 2009.
• Michigan Science Teachers Association, College Teacher of the Year, 2008.
• Pew Teaching Excellence Award for the Science and Mathematics Division, 2002.
• National Science Foundation, co-PI, Volcanology for Earth Science Teachers, 1994-1996, $315,000.
• National Park Foundation, to write "A Teacher's Guide to the Geology of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park", 1993-1994, $21,000.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Collaborating with undergraduate students in writing/presenting innovative teaching materials.
• Establishing a state-wide "AP" geology exam in Michigan.
• Completing "Geology Underfoot in Michigan" for Mountain Press.
• Learning paleomagnetism as a research method.

https://www.gvsu.edu/geology/mattox-steve-r-29.htm

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort, we take a snippet from our discussion with Dr. Steve Mattox from GVSU.  He has an interesting career path that started out in the economic geology sector working for a mining company looking for base metals (copper, zinc, gold, silver).  This took him to some interesting places such as Australia and rural Indonesia.  Steve talks about the interesting skill set that geologists have to make sense of an area.  For example, Steve talks about finding gold in a sand and gravel deposit ( a placer), and following the deposits up the watershed to find the source rock, and higher concentrations, of gold.

Tune in next week to hear the full interview with Dr. Mattox! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode we discuss the many ways in which we determine the ages of rocks.  This is a really common and important question that many people have.  Here, we cover some of the basics.  Basically, the methods used to date rocks range from simple intuition that anyone can do if you just spend some time looking at outcrops, to really advanced techniques involving laser and plasma instruments!  

We introduce this topic by describing the differences between relative dating, where we put events in order, and absolute dating where we assign numerical ages to specific events.  As you might tell from the discussion, the techniques geoscientists use vary widely!  We highlight a few of the key principles established by the OG geologists like Charles Lyell, such as the principle of original horizontality, or the law of cross cutting relations.  We also discuss the most memorable places that we have seen where these principles are clearly shown! 

We then move into discussing how radiometric dating works, and how radioactive decay is very important to our understanding of the age of events on Earth.  We highlight specifically the techniques that Jesse uses in the lab he is building at Penn State to date individual parts of tiny mineral grains that are the size of a human hair!  Amazingly, these tiny mineral grains can record events billions of years apart from one another!  The techniques we use to get actual ages out of these minerals include blasting them with a laser and injecting that material into a plasma so that we can measure the uranium and lead compositions of the mineral.  All fancy stuff that doesn't require a white lab coat!  

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Tiktok: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Have you seen the viral "cookie monster agate"?  If not, check it out via the link below (or our instagram: @planetgeocast)! 

Both Chris and Jesse have had this viral agate image shared with them, and today we discuss how agates are formed, and how the represent a really cool and important geologic process; fluid flow!  

Agate is a form of microcrystalline silica (like quartz) that often forms from super-saturated fluid.  These fluids flow through many parts of the Earth's crust, including through small gaps or cavities in volcanic or sedimentary rocks.  The super saturated fluids will deposit agate (or calcite or other minerals) within cavities and they are deposited in concentric rings that grew much like tree rings grow! The different rings can have slightly different colors due to small impurities in the minerals that are being deposited.  

However, beware!  Agate is a porous material so synthetic dyes can be easily applied to natural agates, turning them to very showing, but artificial, colors.  In fact, most pink or bright blue agates are actually dyed.  

Listen to our GeoShort to learn about the Cookie Monster Agate! 

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-geode-like-rock-bears-an-uncanny-resemblance-to-sesame-street-s-cookie-monster
- rockhounds
- rock collecting
- geology in the field
- agates and geodes

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode, we answer a series of really excellent listener questions.   

Mrs. White, a high school teacher, assigned our plate tectonics  episode to one of her A.P. classes and they came back with some great questions.  Here they are:
1- how far have we drilled into the Earth and is there any hope of reading the mantle?  We have drilled about 12 km which is a tiny amount.  This took about 20 years to accomplish and the high temperatures inhibited drilling deeper.
2- what instruments to we use to determine the thickness and structure of the core and mantle since we don't have any direct samples?  We study seismic waves traveling through the interior of the Earth. 
3- what happens to the asthenosphere as a result of loss of magma during volcanic eruptions?  In answering this question, we discuss the misconceptions of what a magma chamber actually looks like.  It's a very complicated question that requires a complicated answer.

Join us as we discuss the answers to these questions (we have drilled >12km deep into the Earth, which isn't very far!), discuss how the relate to recent scientific discoveries (what is a magma chamber anyways???), and talk about how we image the interior of the Earth using seismic waves! 

Listener questions are always welcomed at PlanetGeo and they usually drive us to think about things more deeply, and sometimes end up with long answers! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort we tell a few stories that highlight how identifying rocks can be sort of difficult, even for those of us with Geology degrees!  Chris likes to call limestone the "Katy Perry" of rocks and Jesse got a question about pumice wrong, one of the easiest rocks to identify on the planet!  So, if you are an amateur rock collector and don't always know what the rocks you find are called, never fear!  It can be hard. 

If you want to know more about limestone, listen to Episode 5: Hard Water and What Makes the Ocean Salty! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Today we interview Dr. Jackie Faherty of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City!  Our conversation runs wild (and a bit longer than normal!) where we cover everything from Jackie's favorite rock, the overlap between geoscience and astronomy, to the BackYard World Citizen Science project that Dr. Faherty launched several years ago. 

Dr. Faherty is an observational astronomer, meaning that she uses telescopes to study our universe, and she specializes in studying brown dwarfs, which she describes as misfits!  Brown dwarfs are somewhere between a planet and a star, and they provide important information about how solar systems ultimately form!  Jackie also tells the incredible story of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing with Neil Armstrong piloting the Lunar Lander safely down to the moon's surface, and she tells us that her favorite rock is in fact a sample from Apollo 17!  

Jackie and Chris also have a great discussion of astronomy education and how best to convey the inherent interest in astronomy to students.  Check it out to learn more! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort, we give you a short preview to our full interview Dr. Jackie Faherty (coming out next week Thursday).  Dr. Faherty is an astronomer who now works at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  Dr. Faherty is a prominent astronomer who has published and presented over 100 papers and has a really unique perspective on the Geosciences!  We were absolutely honored that she agreed to talk about astronomy, geoscience, and generally interesting topics on PlanetGeo!  In this GeoShort, she discusses Jupiter and why she calls it the "bouncer" of our solar system.  She believes that if another planet in some other solar system will be found to harbor life,  a Jupiter like planet must also exist in that solar system.

Jackie also gives us a glimpse into space time and why it's so difficult for humans to comprehend.  This GeoShort is informative and entertaining - Just a short glimpse into the full episode next week.

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode we cover....you guessed it, dams!  Dams are incredible manmade features that can not only dominate the landscape but also dominate the river system and fundamentally change how the rivers operate. 

We discuss everything from the amount of dams in the United States to major dam failures in the recent past, and highlight some of the basics of how dams fundamentally affect streams when they are installed. 

Here are some highlights of the statistics we cover! 

• There are roughly 91,000 Dams in the US
• They Impound over 600,000 miles of river or 17% of rivers
• The average age is 59 years
• The number of high-hazard potential dams is over 15,000 and increasing
• It is estimated that over 70 billion dollars is needed to properly upgrade these dams.  For perspective, 425 billion dollars are spent each year on Road Infrastructure.  About 75% of that comes from state and local governments.  25% comes from Federal.
• Dam regulation is largely up to each state and each person is responsible for about 200 dams.
• All too many are suffering from a neglected investment in infrastructure.
• Dams are this interesting intersection between geology, engineering, government oversight, and humanity.
• So why do we build them?  So many reasons: hydroelectric, irrigation, flood mitigation, recreation, municipal water

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort, we briefly discuss how people measure groundwater, from the fairly rudimentary (stick a measuring tape down a well) to the highly sophisticated (satellites and conductivity!). 

We highlight the GRACE satellites that have been used for decades to monitor and predict groundwater levels around the world.

And we also briefly discuss work by future Penn State Professor Dr. Chloe Gustafson, who uses electromagnetism to measure groundwater underneath the Atlantic Ocean (see her publications here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hFaSe94AAAAJ&hl=en). 

In summary, groundwater is awesome and measuring it can be both simple and very difficult! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Have you ever heard of obsidian?  Mostly likely you have; it is the rock that was commonly used by early humans to make arrowheads and other weapons.  Obsidian is a very beautiful rock types, but it's formation is often misunderstood.  In this GeoShort, we briefly highlight how obsidian is formed and discuss how unique it is.  Obsidian is actually a glass, meaning it has no crystals in it!  In fact, obsidian is naturally very unstable at Earth's surface so it breaks down quickly.  This means that obsidian is usually a very young rock; no ancient obsidian occurs on Earth! 

Obsidian has been used for thousands of years by humans.  However, obsidian formation is usually misunderstood by people!  In this GeoShort we discuss how obsidian forms, which has more to do with the composition of the magma than the cooling rate.  The felsic (silica-rich) magma type that obsidian forms from is very thick and sticky.  This means that it cannot flow very quickly (a term called viscosity, or the resistance to flow) which also inhibits elements from diffusing within the molten rock.  The lack of diffusion means that crystals cannot form quickly, and the magma cools before mineral grains can form.  This creates a glass! Obsidian is often used in lapidary work as well as it polishes well and often occurs in beautiful colors! 

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode we had the great pleasure of interviewing Dr. Diana Roman, a volcanologist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC!  Diana is not only a spectacular and prolific researcher, but she is an excellent communicator of all things volcanoes! 

In this interview we talk to Dr. Roman about a wide range of topics including her career trajectory and former life as an economist and venture capitalist!  Now, Dr. Roman is a leading researcher into volcano seismicity, or the earthquakes associated with volcanoes and volcanic eruptions.  Diana draws an analogy to volcanoes and famous vocalists, in that the pitch of a volcano's earthquakes changes through time! 

We also discuss Dr. Roman's path to geoscience, what her career path looked like, and what it is like being a high-profile woman in the sciences!  She also discusses the future of volcano research, and how the field can go from pattern recognition to a deeper understanding of the processes of volcanism on Earth.

Give this interview a listen; we think you'll learn something interesting!  As always, if you enjoyed this episode we simply ask that you share it with someone who you think will get something from it too!

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode, we answer a listener question!  Thanks to Tom for the excellent question which is, Why Don't Beaches Erode Quickly?  Basically our answers are the same, that beaches do erode quickly both in storms and in every day wave action.  But, we answer them in two different parts.  

Tom also wondered what was our favorite beer to drink while looking at the Grand Tetons.  Another excellent question!  Chris enjoys a hazy IPA from the Snake River Brewing Company (Earned It) or any beer from Grand Teton Brewing Company and Jesse would choose a nice cold Narragansett after a long day of hiking (though Chris judges him for it). 

Thanks for the questions Tom and keep them coming! 

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast                                                            
Twitter: @planetgeocast                                                            
Facebook: @planetgeocast                                                                                           
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com                                                            
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/                                                            

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode, Jesse and Chris talk about water.  That's right - water.  Where is the worlds water?  We begin by lumping all of the worlds water into 6 geological basins: oceans, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, atmosphere, and rivers.  We then assign relative percentages to each reservoir and then demonstrate how much water each would hold if all of the worlds water were scaled down to 5 gallons (19 Liters).

What comes to light is that less than 1% of all the worlds water is useable for human consumption - less than a half of a cup on a 5 gallon scale!  That "1/2 cup of water" is enough to keep 9 billion people alive, but it is not evenly distributed over the planet.

We use the Great Lakes in the Mid-West United States to illustrate the "haves and have nots".  The Great Lakes contain 21% of all the standing fresh surface water on Earth.  Despite having this incredible amount of water, the Great Lakes Basin is already dealing with water issues.  Our groundwater is being depleted and our standing water is being diverted. 

We use the Chicago River diversion to illustrate some of the issues and concerns about moving Great Lakes water out of the Basin.  We also use Waukesha, Wisconsin as an example of an area that has a poor groundwater source but has been granted access to Great Lakes water to avert their needs.

Although we talk a lot about the Great Lakes region in this episode, the issues here are an analogy for the entire planet.  World population might reach 9 billion in 20 years.  Fresh water is finite and we need to be aware of the issues we will face - and are already facing while we still have time!

 
——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Welcome to PlanetGeo - a short episode.  Today, we have a bonus story from our interview with longtime Yellowstone Park ranger - Harlan Kredit.  We were asking him about some of his most memorable experiences during his 48 year tenure.  Late one night, Harlan got a call about a baby that was lost at Lewis Lake in the Southern part of the park.  He talks about the grueling task of working a gird search in rough terrain.  Buried in this story, is a powerful life lesson as he made a crucial decision that resulted in rescuing the baby.  This is worth the listen.

——————————————————                                                            
Instagram: @planetgeocast                                                            
Twitter: @planetgeocast                                                            
Facebook: @planetgeocast                                                                                           
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com                                                            
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/                                                            

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode, we interview a real gem - Yellowstone Park Ranger Harlan Kredit.  At 81 years old, Harlan has taught high school biology and earth science for 58 years and worked as an interpretive ranger for 48 years in Yellowstone.  Don't be fooled by his age; Harlan hasn't lost a step; Chris' high school students have a hard time keeping up with him on hikes!  Arguably, Harlan has more of an intimate knowledge of Yellowstone than anyone other human - past or present.  He is also the best teacher we've had the privilege to watch and he has won almost every teaching award possible, including the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellency in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  Harlan as has his own Wikipedia page; not something many people can say! 

Today, Harlan talks about a wide range of topics regarding Yellowstone National Park, including funny stories and problems facing the park in the future. 

Throughout the interview, our discussion spans many different topics such as:
- Reintroduction of the wolves - Harlan participated in releasing one of the packs.
- Yellowstone usage and the problems the park faces.
- Why he chose to stay at one park for so long.
- The threat that invasive species pose to Yellowstone.
- The impact Covid-19 has had on Yellowtstone.
- The fascinating impact of social media in the park.
- Climate change and forest fires.
- The intersection between geoscience and biology.
- In the opinion of Harlan, the most interesting geoscience feature in the park.
- Interesting stories someone who has worked for 48 years in the park might tell.

——————————————————                                                            
Instagram: @planetgeocast                                                            
Twitter: @planetgeocast                                                            
Facebook: @planetgeocast                                                                                           
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com                                                            
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/                                                            

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort Episode we answer the listener question: Can human induced earthquakes damage Earth?  The short answer is....no.  

Human seismic noise is actually really really small, but everywhere.  Much like static in the radio signal, it creates a little background buzz in many place.  

In this episode, we talk about how small the human background seismicity is and also the misconception that earthquakes are rare events.  Earthquakes are actually quite common; it's the big earthquakes that are rare.  Small earthquakes are occurring all the time except that they just cannot be felt by humans.  Our really sensitive instruments do pick up these vibrations though!  Millions occur every year all over the planet but they don't have a major impact on our lives. 


——————————————————                                                            
Instagram: @planetgeocast                                                            
Twitter: @planetgeocast                                                            
Facebook: @planetgeocast                                                                                           
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com                                                            
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/                                                            

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this GeoShort Chris gives recommendations for several hikes to do in the Grand Teton National Park!  These recommendations range from short day hikes to see cool geoscience within the Park, to full-on weeklong backpacking trip suggestions if you need to get away from it all for awhile.  

Backpacking: Teton Crest Trail.  Unrivaled beauty along this well-defined trail.  Four to six days depending on what you want to do.

Day Hikes: Amphitheater Lake.  This well defined trail takes you up to a cirque and tarn.  It's a large area at the destination which enables the hiker to get away from people if you want.

Black Tail Butte: Short day hike (maybe 4 miles) that offers great views of the Eastern slopes of the Tetons.

Best Geology Hike: I was only allowed one so I picked Paintbrush Canyon.  It's amazing and if you're feeling adventurous, you can hike over the divide and down to Lake Solitude.

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

Join us as we discuss the science behind the greenhouse effect and how it all works.

In this episode, we talk about the forgotten history of the greenhouse gases.  The science behind greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water is 200 years old.   What we began to understand two centuries ago came long before humans had any impact on the composition of our atmosphere and it certainly never occurred to Joseph Fourier and John Tyndall that humans could ever influence the greenhouse effect.  The discussion then turns to what scientists know about the greenhouse effect and, more precisely, how it works.  This natural phenomenon is a good thing as it makes our planet habitable by keeping it warm and preventing the oceans from freezing.  

We then turn our attention to the chemistry of burning fossil fuels using coal, natural gas, and gasoline as examples.  The main gases produced by burning fossil fuels are carbon dioxide and water.  We use this knowledge to talk about the carbon cycle.  By following Carbon atoms as they make their way through the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, we can clearly identify a Carbon cycle.  Specifically, we discuss a long carbon cycle (can take 100,000's of years for this cycle) and a fast Carbon cycle (years or even seasons).  Through this part of our discussion, we have only discussed what science has established as fact.  The greenhouse effect, the gases involved, and the ways Earth regulates Carbon in cycles is a good thing for our planet.  We can't help but point out that through continued Carbon emissions, humans will upset this balance.  In fact, we have a nearby example in Venus as a case study of a runaway greenhouse effect.  

We hope you enjoy this episode.  We sure had fun making it.  Cheers.

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

Check out this photo of Grand Teton National Park to visualize what we discuss in this Episode!
https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/tetonfall.htm

Join us this episode as we take you through a tour of the geoscience history of Grand Teton National Park and discuss why the Grand Tetons are such an amazing place to explore geoscience questions. 

Grand Teton National Park is a totally dynamic place, where there are two competing forces.  First, tectonic uplift works to build the mountains up to high elevations while weathering and erosion works to knock these mountains back down to sea level.  These competing forces make for a very active and restless mountain range. 

We discuss the full range of the geologic history of the Grand Teton National Park, which spans from very ancient metamorphic gneisses that are 2.7 billion years old, to glacial features forming beautiful U-shaped valleys and cirques.  In between there are many dramatic events, including a large mafic dike, very clearly exposed on the face of Mount Moran, that intruded 800 million years ago when North America began to split away from Australia and Asia.  

The reason that the Grand Tetons are so spectacular is a massive normal fault, which is a location where rocks are actively being broken during seismic disasters.  These seismic disasters have moved the Tetons up for the past 15 million years, while dropping the valley floor lower and lower.  Jackson Hole will keep sinking with each future fault movement! 

We also talk about some of the hikes in and around the Tetons that can gain you access to some of the features and events we discuss.  Below is a list of some examples:
1- hike up Cascade Canyon and then the North Fork to Lake Solitude to visit a cirque, tarn, and some of the gneiss
2- hike up Cascade Canyon and then the South Fork to Schoolroom Glacier
3- hike up to Amphitheater Lake to a spectacular cirque, tarn, and horn
4- on the West side of the Tetons - in Idaho, hike into Alaska Basin to see the vast accumulation of sedimentary rocks
5- hike up Death Canyon where you can see the gneiss and the lighter colored halos around garnets and magnetite.


——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

In this episode we cover a range of topics centered around diamonds.  Where do they come from?  Why are they valued?  How are they formed?  Why do diamonds sparkle so much?  

Diamonds are a huge industry, and an economically important resource for many countries.  We cover the basics of diamond formation, what causes them to sparkle so much, and why they are scientifically so interesting!  

It all comes down to density and hardness.  Diamonds are formed deep within the Earth where carbon is put under great pressure.  The extreme pressure required for diamond formation is what makes them so hard, which in turn makes them sparkle more than most gems.  The extreme pressures are also difficult and expensive to replicate in the lab, so making diamonds synthetically is a pretty extreme task.  However, there are ways around this, including putting graphite into a small room with a bomb and blowing it up!  This is one method to make small micro diamonds for industrial uses like in polishing equipment or in saw blades.  

Reach out if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions!  We are @planetgeocast on Twitter and Instagram and planetgeocast@gmail.com; we love to hear your feedback and we have already had some awesome suggestions from listeners. Keep them coming!


——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

This week we tackle a big question: why is the ocean so salty?  Spoiler alert: it's because of the hard water you may have running through your house!

In this episode we cover three major questions: 1) Why is the ocean salty? 2) Why do rivers keep flowing all the time? and 3) What is hard water?  Guess what...they are all related! 

Hard water is water that is "hard" to make a lather with.  This is caused by dissolved ions in the groundwater.  Those ions get there because groundwater interacts with rocks under... wait for it... the ground! This groundwater feeds rivers, which then flow into lakes and ultimately the oceans.  The ocean water then evaporates, leaves behind the salty stuff from dissolved rocks, forms clouds and rain, and starts the whole process over again.  Except, the salty ions are left behind in the ocean and accumulate over time.  

Hard water is extremely important to pay attention to because it can severely damage industrial equipment as well as cost you thousands of dollars in home repairs if you don't get it taken care of it.  Here is a link to a United States Geological Survey article that outlines hard water, where it is found, and what it can cause.  Check out that picture of the clogged pipe!  

https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/hardness-water?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects


——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

In this episode we discuss what happened to our planet during the lockdowns due to Covid in the Spring of 2020.
TL;DR The Earth quieted down and we produced less CO2

We highlight a few interesting articles that have been published recently and discuss the way that scientists measure Earth movement using seismometers!  We can even detect touchdowns during football games with seismometers, and when everyone was forced to stay at home during lockdowns the Earth became much quieter.  Also, air pollution was reduced and we talk about what that might mean going forward. 

Here are links to the articles we mentioned.  Specifically, this Nature commentary outlines the reduction in seismic noise curing Covid Lockdowns
Read this article on the reduction in seismic noise: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00965-x
which has been updated in a more recent article since we recorded this episode! 
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/07/22/science.abd2438

Here are the two articles discussing CO2 reductions and air pollution decreases during the Covid lockdowns
Read this article on the CO2 emissions related to the lockdown
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0797-x

And this short blurb on other pollutants
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200511124444.htm

Thanks for listening and, as usual, please reach to us if you have any questions or suggestions, and leave us a rating/review if you enjoyed the show!


——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of the amazing Geology of Yellowstone National Park, with visuals! Available now at - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

In this episode we get into one of our favorite places to study and teach the geosciences, Yellowstone National Park!  Yellowstone was the United State's first National Park, and arguably the first park of its kind in the world, but there is so much more!  We discuss some of the interesting biology and geology going on in Yellowstone National Park, including cutthroat trout, how elk affect beavers, and the super volcano that created the landforms we see today!  Morale of the story, we love Yellowstone National Park, and if you haven't been there, check it out someday soon!

If you are intrigued about our discussion of the Snake River Plain and want to know more, please check out this excellent webpage created by Paul Link at Idaho State University. 
Also, if you have the time, check out Craters of the Moon National Park next time you are in Idaho; it completes the story of Yellowstone's volcanic history!

All in all, Yellowstone National Park is one of the premier geologic features on the planet!  Join the PlanetGeo discussion by contacting us at our website or reaching out via email!

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

“Plate tectonics makes this planet awesome, flat out.” 

In this episode we take a dive into the fundamental process that makes Earth unique, plate tectonics.  We discuss what a tectonic plate is and what our planet would look like without plate tectonics, which would be pretty boring!  Also, because of plate tectonics we are always moving relative to the center of the Earth.  Listeners in North America are moving very slowly (think of the rate your fingernails grow) away from listeners in Europe and they are both moving away from those in Australia. 

Check this link out for a map of the various tectonic plates on Earth at the moment!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics#/media/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg


——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com

Welcome to the first episode of PlanetGeo!  Here we get introductions out of the way and discuss what excites us about the geosciences. 

We are Chris Bolhuis, an award-winning High School Teacher in Hudsonville, Michigan.  Over his 20-ish year career, Chris has taught Earth Science, Geology, and Astronomy, as well as field courses in the Geosciences.  Chris won the National Earth Science Teacher of the Year award in 2014 and can usually be found sitting on his front porch admiring his substantial rock collection. 

Jesse is a Geoscience Professor at Penn State University, and a former student of Chris’s. Jesse took 9th Grade Earth Science, 11th Grade Geology, and went on a several field courses taught by Chris while he was in high school, which led to his passion for the Geosciences.  Since that time, Jesse obtained his PhD in Geochemistry from the University of Alberta, worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at a research institute in Washington DC for several years, and recently started at Penn State as an Assistant Professor.  

Join us as we explore the Geosciences together.  In this podcast we will do everything from exploring the basics, highlighting societally relevant topics, digging into the economics of the geosciences, and interviewing prominent scientists and industry leaders.  We aim to cover a lot, so keep up!  

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_A82nOMu0nIvZto6zMPqg
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.buzzsprout.com/ 

Download the CampGeo app now at this link.

On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!

Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!

——————————————————
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
Facebook: @planetgeocast
Support us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-us
Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com
Website: https://planetgeocast.com/