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ADAPTATION: Ice Stupas of Ladakh

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In this video, learn how communities in the arid high-mountain region of Ladakh rely on glacial water to feed streams and water crops during the spring and summer months. Global warming is dramatically reshaping the future of these areas. Meet a Ladakhi teacher and engineer who devised a method to capture and store glacial runoff into magnificent ice pyramids that are used as water resources throughout the summer and during peak agricultural months.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

Authors: Alize Carrere, Public Broadcasting Service

All About Gemstones

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Have you ever wondered what defines a gemstone? Or, maybe you have a favorite and want to know how it's formed. No matter what the reason is, this resource was created to help you learn more about gemstones! This resource includes facts about rubies, sapphires, emeralds, tanzanite, opals, and diamonds including where they are formed, how they are formed, colors for each, and more! Then test your new knowledge with a quiz! Student OER: Jessica Brown, Author 

Material Type: Homework/Assignment, Reading

Authors: Rose Van Moorlehem, Jessica Brown

Hydraulic Fracturing Model

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Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are used to produce oil and natural gas from non-porous rock formations. Use this model to explore how such wells are drilled and fractured to release methane from a layer of shale. Like every energy-extraction process, there is the potential for contamination. Use the model to explore how contamination of aquifers might happen during the hydraulic fracturing process.

Material Type: Simulation

Author: Concord Consortium

Magma Viscosity Demos

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This is an interactive lecture where students answer questions about demonstrations shown in several movie files. They learn to connect what they have learned about molecules, phases of matter, silicate crystal structures, and igneous rock classification with magma viscosity, and to connect magma viscosity with volcano explosiveness and morphology.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture, Simulation

Author: Barry Bickmore

Earth Surface Processes in the Critical Zone

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Rapid changes at Earth's surface, largely in response to human activity, have led to the realization that fundamental questions remain to be answered regarding the natural functioning of the Critical Zone, the thin veneer at Earth's surface where the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere interact. EARTH 530 will introduce you to the basics necessary for understanding Earth surface processes in the Critical Zone through an integration of various scientific disciplines. Those who successfully complete EARTH 530 will be able to apply their knowledge of fundamental concepts of Earth surface processes to understanding outstanding fundamental questions in Critical Zone science and how their lives are intimately linked to Critical Zone health.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Tim White

Geology

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The course contents is general knowledge of the system Earth, tools for the 3D geometric representation of geological objects and methods and techniques for the recognition of fundamental minerals and rocks. The Geology 1 course is composed of three parts dedicated to 1) general knowledge of the system Earth, 2) tools for the 3D geometric representation of geological objects and 3) methods and techniques for the recognition of fundamental minerals and rocks.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Dr. G. Bertotti

Geomorphology

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This course presents a topical approach to landform analysis and process. Map interpretations are used to demonstrate relationships to constructive and destructive processes during landform development. Planning economic and social considerations are examined.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: John Looney

An Introduction to Geology – Free Textbook for College-Level Introductory Geology Courses

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This text is provided to you as an Open Educational Resource which you access online. It is designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to Geology at no or very nominal cost. It contains both written and graphic text material, intra-text links to other internal material which may aid in understanding topics and concepts, intra-text links to the appendices and glossary for tables and definitions of words, and extra-text links to videos and web material that clarifies and augments topics and concepts. Like any new or scientific subject, Geology has its own vocabulary for geological concepts. For you to converse effectively with this text and colleagues in this earth science course, you will use the language of geology, so comprehending these terms is important. Use the intra-text links to the Glossary and other related material freely to gain familiarity with this language. Faculty who adopt this text for their course should contact the authors at edits@opengeology.org so that the authors can keep faculty users up to date of critical changes.

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Cam Mosher, Chris Johnson, Matthew D. Affolter, Paul Inkenbrandt

Applying Lessons Learned to the Volcanic Risk at Mt. Rainier

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In this jigsaw-method activity on subduction zone volcanism, students apply lessons learned from four historic eruptions to the volcanic hazards associated with Mt. Rainier in the Pacific Northwest. (Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Laurel Goodell

The Essential Guide to Planet Earth

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This textbook is written for an audience of introductory college students in a non-science degree program. It is intended to provide a detailed comprehensive knowledge of Planet Earth, including basic aspects of physics, chemistry, geology and biology. As a major scientific overview of the entirety of Planet Earth, the intention is to only present key concepts that will enhance, enrich, and engage the readers interest in Earth Sciences. It is intended to make any reader, such as yourself, at least a little more knowledgeable of the amazing place that we all live within. Hosted as a WikiBook.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Benjamin Burger

Geological Structures: a Practical Introduction

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This manual is about structures that occur within the Earth’s crust. Structures are the features that allow geologists to figure out how parts of the Earth have changed position, orientation, size and shape over time. This work requires careful observation and measurements of features at the surface of the Earth, and deductions about what’s below the surface. The practical skills you will learn in this course form the foundation for much of what is known about the history of the Earth, and are important tools for exploring the subsurface. They are essential for Earth scientists of all kinds. The course that this document supports is about doing structural geology. It’s not possible to be a good geologist (or to pass the course) just by learning facts. You have to be able to solve problems. Do your lab work conscientiously and get as much as possible done during lab sessions when instructors are available to help you. This manual consists of both readings and lab exercises, which alternate through the text. The readings are designed to be read and understood outside the lab sessions, whereas the labs contain specific instructions and questions to be completed. Before each lab, be sure you have covered the readings that come immediately before it.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: John Waldron, Morgan Snyder

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