What is metamorphism? How does it work? What processes are involved to make a metamorphic rock?

What happens when a rock undergoes metamorphism? What changes do we observe? What features are gradually destroyed during metamorphism?

What do we mean by contact metamorphism? What do we mean by regional metamorphism? Where do the two types of metamorphism mainly occur?

Why is time so important to geologists? What do they get out of it?

Prior to radiometric age determination in the 20th century, how did scientists try to estimate the age of the earth?

Be sure you understand what uniformitarianism really means (physical and chemical laws governing geological processes do not change with time, therefore from a study of present processes those of the past may be inferred). Do large meteorite impact invalidate uniformitariamism?

Look over the various methods that geologists use to determine the relative age of associated rocks (faunal succession, superposition, inclusion, cross cutting). What is the underlying principle for each method?

What are unconformities? What are the three types? What is the sequence of events that is implied by each unconformity type? What do they all have in common?

Review the geologic time scale. Make note of the major subdivisions (Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic) and their approximate age brackets (in millions/billions of years). What percentage of geologic history is represented by the various subdivisions?

Radioactive decay and age determination. What are possible sources of error when you use the potassium/argon method for age determination (think metamorphism, think that argon is a gas). What do we mean by half-life?

How would you define a system (as explained and illustrated in this class)? What is a system?

We learned a variety of things about systems and self-regulating systems. Know the meaning and implications of such terms as dynamic vs stable equilibrium, homeostasis, self-organization, self regulating, negative and positive feedback.

What are open vs closed systems?

What are the basic facts about the Earth system?

What do we mean with the greenhouse effect? Which is the main substance involved? How does the greenhouse effect actually work? What does the greenhouse effect do for earth temperature? What are the consequences of CO2 buildup in the atmosphere?

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow at projected rates, what are the predictions concerning earth temperature between 1990 and 2100?

We learned a variety of things about systems and self-regulating systems. Know the meaning and implications of such terms as dynamic vs stable equilibrium, homeostasis, self-organization, negative and positive feedback.

The carbon cycle. Know the reservoirs (sinks) and their relative sizes. What is the largest, second largest, etc. ………. reservoir of carbon in the global carbon cycle?

In the context of the carbon cycle, what do we mean by the "biological pump"?

What observation in particular, made James Lovelock think that the Earth's climate may be in part controlled by the biosphere?

What is Daisyworld? What are the underlying assumptions/premises?

What are the properties of Daisyworld? What are its responses to change? How is temperature regulation achieved?

Explain the significance of the Daisyworld model. What do we learn from these model calculations?

How far back does evidence for life on Earth go? What kind of evidence is it? How old are the oldest fossils?

What is the Miller-Urey experiment? What was its purpose? What did we learn from it?

Important factors for the origin of life? What are considered to be the crucial steps?