Marcellus Shale Conference

This article on a conference that recently took place about the Marcellus Shale is interesting in that industry leaders are at least paying lip service to the notion that being environmentally responsible in the production of gas from shale is good business. Naturally, with business, actions speak louder than words! They also seem to recognize the ignorance of those whose lands lie atop these deposits with regard to the processes involved in drilling and fracking wells. Of course, the more education that people have, the more cautious they become in signing lease agreements. And rightly so! The industry's environmental record with respect to fracking is not exemplary, as we've seen evidenced in many places. Before it happens in Virginia, we need to be sure that as many people get educated on the process, risks, and yes, potential benefits, as possible.

In geology, we're wrapping up our chapter 9 materials. Tuesday next week, the 16th, we'll take the chapter 9 quiz.

Astronomy students may find this article on the dwarf planet Eris to be interesting. It seems that it is smaller than originally thought, just slightly more diminutive than Pluto. However, it is more massive. So, it must be more dense than Pluto. Why? This is the big puzzle now. The outer solar system is becoming more and more interesting!

But, before we get there...

Today, we talked about the formation of the solar system. Your lab is due next class. We will be in the computer lab next time, exploring Mercury and the Messenger mission in more detail. Venus is up next!

Oh, and by the way, if you are awake at 5:30-6:00 am, be sure to check out Venus AND Saturn in the pre-dawn sky.

Closest Images Ever Taken of a Comet!

The Deep Impact spacecraft took some fantastic pictures of Comet Hartley 2 this morning. Check them out!

Rare Earths and a $100 Billion Dollar spacecraft

Geology students should check out this article on China's monopoly on rare earth elements and how this may or may not affect America's national security. These elements, like Neodymium and Samarium have unique properties that allow them to be used in batteries and other hardware. The trouble is, while they are not really "rare", they are hard to find in economical quantities. They are expensive, as a result, for western nations to mine. China has managed to mine them quite cheaply and thus controls 97% of the world's supply. Your cell phone needs them. Your computer needs them. Your car needs them...but they ALL come from China.

BRCC students should remember their sediment samples and the GPS units by tomorrow. Friday, we'll analyze the dry samples. On the 15th and 17th, we have two field trips coming up. Expect to come early. We'll need extra time!

Geology students -- We're in the computer lab tomorrow and will be travelling to Timberville Park on Monday. Dress warmly! I'll give you permission slips tomorrow.

Upload your Virtual River Worksheet

Astronomy students should ask themselves whether the $100 billion dollar international space station was worth it. This station has always been controversial, even among scientists. Read the article and put some thought into it.

We will be wrapping up the History of Astronomy and taking the quiz on that chapter next time (6th period -- Friday, 1st period -- Monday. Be ready! Our next topic is the solar system.

Best Wishes...

Your Day At School -- ERHS 2010

Below are links to the documents that participants in my inservices at YDAS will need:

Google Earth: More Than Just a Neat Way to View Your House!

Google Earth Resources

Using Google Earth

Visualizing the Earth: Using Satellite Imagery to Explore the Globe

Visualizing the Earth Activity

Docs for today...

Rivers Activity

Rivers GE file

Competition for Everest and Oceans on Mars

Geology folks should check out this very interesting article that discusses the question of whether Everest really is the tallest mountain on earth. As it turns out, it just depends upon where you measure the mountain!

Geology -- We will be in the computer labs today using Google Earth to explore various characteristics of rivers. Next week, we'll be in the lab again exploring river discharge.

BRCC -- Collect those sediment samples and data points! On Tuesday, we'll sieve them and analyze their composition. We'll then plot them in a GIS and see how they compare to a geologic map of the county.

Astronomy folks ought to check out this article on how oceans on mars may have formed. It turns out that the water may have come from the ground...

We will finish the nine weeks with "Voyage to the Planets" a neat BBC production that explores what a manned mission to many locations in the solar system might entail. Next week, we'll finish the Kepler lab and then take the quiz over chapter 4. Finally, we'll be moving on to the solar system!

Have a great long weekend!

Discovery's final, new planets, an amazing field trip, and hot rocks under West Virginia!

Geology folks of all stripes should check out this very interesting article on the potential for geothermal energy production in West Virginia. It seems that some good has come of all those gas wells that have been drilled :). They now know that West Virgina has more baseline electrical generation capacity via geothermal energy than it does in its coal reserves! And, since geothermal doesn't run out...well, all the better!

Geology folks -- We started chapter 9 today and took the chapter 18/19 quiz. Thursday, we will be in the computer lab using Google Earth to explore the different shapes of rivers as well as various aspects of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Let's hope that the computers are in a good mood!

BRCC geology folks -- What a trip on Monday, eh? I hadn't been to the Virginia DMME office before, but I came back inspired. I hope that you did also, at least a little bit. I've already spoken with Mr. Good about the possibility of putting together a BHS rock garden! The geologists there were great and extremely helpful. We didn't come back with as many water well records for Bergton as we had hoped, but we did come back with some direction on that as well as information on how to download relevant natural gas well logs of various types, geophysical and otherwise. So, we have some information to work with. Additionally, we found out that their office is in the process of beginning work on a surificial geologic map of the Broadway Quad. Serendipitous? I think so! We may be able to contribute. One idea is to map one (or more?) or your family farms. What a great opportunity.

Our test over chapters 6, 7, 13, and 1 is tomorrow. Be ready. After the test, we'll talk about some of these ideas that are crystallizing. I'm open to adjusting our curriculum as needed to accomodate interesting projects rather than spending our time lecturing and so forth.

Astronomy -- One sad piece of news, the final flight for the Shuttle Discovery is now set for November 1st. I grew up with the space shuttles. I was a little guy in elementary school when the news came of the Challenger disaster in 1986. Despite some tragic setbacks, it's been an amazing program. I hate to see it go. In particular, the thought of having to rely on Russion capsules to ferry our astronauts for the time being kind of stinks. I just hope that our politicians can get their act together to allow NASA the time and continuity of program that is necessary to develop and fly its replacement!

On a lighter note, since our next topic is our solar system (in about a week), it's timely to note the discovery of two Jupiter sized planets that were found, in all places, in a binary star system! It's been thought that the gravitational effects of a binary system preclude, or at least make quite difficult, the formation of planets. Neat, huh?

Homecoming and computers messed us up! We will get back on track, though. Tomorrow, 6th period will share their research on ancient observatories. After break, we'll have the quiz on chapter 4 and then begin diving into the solar system. Don't forget your observation for the month of October is due November 3rd!

See you in class...