Geologic Time

The Mesozoic Era is called the "age of dinosaurs". The Carboniferous Period is famous for its coal swamps. The Precambrian was after the "explosion of Life". Humans first appeared, and the last ice age occured in the Pleistocene Epoch. Human life ended the Mesozoic Era. The time periods are in order from longest to shortest, period, epoch then era.
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/evolvingplanet/post/ep_v8.swf
Tour Through Time
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/quaternary/ple.html
Geologic Time

Florida's Sinkholes

Sinkholes are caused by groundwater erroding limestone in the bedrock. Florida has so many of them because of it's karst topography. Sinkholes worsen in cold weather because it speeds up the errosion. Sinkholes can be hazardous because they can eliminate entire lakes.

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/guide/sinkholes.html
Sinkholes

Nashville Floods

The flooding in Nashville was caused by a torrential rain. The Cumberland River became 50 ft deep, which is 12 feet higher than before the flood. Before the flood, Nashville was protected by a levee. It didn't protect from flooding because it accidentally broke.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/us/04flood.html?src=mv
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/nashville-flooding-29-dead-flash-flooding-south/story?id=10555626

Windspires

GP North should raise money to install a Windspire because having one would mean that North could have wind research be another part for our curriculum. Also, it would create energy for the school, therefore, saving money in the long run. If I wanted to install a Windspire at my house, my neighbors would accept it. I believe they would let me because they understand how necessary it is to help with the bills. If anything, I believe that they would be concerned about the size of the Windspire, and if it would obstruct the beauty of our neighborhood. My monthly average last year was 267 kW/month.

http://www.wcs.k12.mi.us/rei/index.htm
www.gizmag.com/windspire-low-cost-wind-power-alternative/10861/

Kennecott or Not?

AMD(Acid Mine Drainage) is acid that seeps through rock, creating a brew of toxic heavy metals. It is caused by Sulfuric acid which is created when water and air chemically combine with exposed sulfides in the rock. A brownfield clean-up is when Humboldt Mill crushes and grinds rock mined at the company's Eagle Mine. Then nickel and copper concentrates will be separated from the rock and sent to processing facilities. By opening this mine, it will be the
only primary nickel mining operation in the United States. Kennecott will take all water collected from the temporary development rock storage area and put it through a water treatment plant, to purify it for drinking water.

http://www.northwoodswild.og/projects/sulfide-and-uranium-mining
http://www.eagle-project.com/library/media/Heartland_Institute.pdf
http://www.eagle-project.com/our-company21st-Century-Mining/

The Iceland Volcano Eyjafjallajokull

The volcano erupted in Iceland because ice mixing with magma can cause explosive eruptions. Air travel in Europe is being grounded because of the Iceland volcano because planes cannot fly through the "grinding silica ash". Other than the delay of air travel, the volcano has possibly agitated it's neighboring volcano, the Katla volcano. We are now not sure of the volcano's future. This volcano is not affecting the United States because the pyroclastic flow is going from East to West.

Researchers puzzle over how long Iceland volcano will erupt
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0416/Researchers-puzzle-over-how-long-Iceland-volcano-will-erupt
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland Erupts, Disrupts Travel
http://www.pdc.org/PDCNewsWebArticles/2010/Iceland/eruption.htm

Minerals in Daily Life

Everyday I brush my teeth. In my toothpaste there is Fluorite. I watch television regularly. Quartz is used in my television. Sometimes I use baby powder. That is made from Talc. I always look in mirrors. Silver is used to make certain mirrors.

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go336/talkingt/
Common Minerals and Their Uses in Everyday Life. Julie Talkington. December 3, 2001