Lab 5: Slope of Land

Mount Kilimanjaro Treck

      Mount Kilimanjaro is infamous for its treacherous slopes and three dormant volcanoes cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. As the highest mountain in the world, it attracts the most rugged and daring of mountaineers, and not all make it out alive. There are seven official trekking routes up Kilimanjaro, with the Marangu route being the most accessible and widely traveled of them all. Nevertheless, only 42% of climbers are able to summit the mountain, even when traveling along this route. Many experience headaches, hypothermia, and shortage of breath due to the extremely high altitude of 19,341 feet above sea level. 

      The following image shows the direct path from the Marangu Hotel to the summit of Mount Kiimanjaro. The route is approximately 20 miles, and usually covered in five days by hikers. The elevation gain is 15,027 feet. 

This image was created using certain tools in Google Earth, including the elevation indicator, the "Add Path" tool to mark the route, and the "Add Placemark" tool to indicate the milage.

The following graph shows the elevation gain every two miles of the trek, from the Marangu Hotel to the summit of Kilimajaro:

 The following table shows the elevation gain every two miles of the trek:

Distance (miles)	Elevation (feet)
0	4,314
2	4,977
4	5,966
6	6,863
8	8,146
10	9,372
12	11,112
14	12,919
16	14,325
18	16,938
20	19,021

Lab 4: Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents

Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents

   Hydrothermal vents, first discovered in 1977 by a team of scientists working in the Galapagos Islands, are like geysers—or hot springs—on the ocean floor. Through a process called chemosynthesis, the ecosystem around the hydrothermal vents thrives, housing hundreds of species of animals previously unknown to mankind. Despite the incredibly high temperatures and pressures near the vents, the presence of toxic minerals, and the lack of sunlight on the ocean floor, these small critters have adapted and morphed over time to fit their surroundings. A few creatures that live around the hydrothermal vents include tubeworms, giant clams, limpets, shrimp, small fish, and octopi. See below for a picture of a hydrothermal vent and a few of the critters living around them. 

 

Hydrothermal vents are located along mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates drift apart, magma upwells to form new ground rock, and volcanic mountain chains are formed. There are various types of hydrothermal vents including black smokers, white smokers, and seeps. Black smokers emit hot, dark plumes and are very high in sulfuric content. White smokers are rich in barium, silicon, and calcium. Seeps are characterized by a weaker, cooler flow and can be difficult to spot. Creatures living among these vents must be able to convert the mineral-rich hydrothermal fluid into energy in order to survive in such extreme conditions.

For more information on deep-sea hydrothermal vents, go to:

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/deep-sea-hydrothermal-vents/?ar_a=1

Lab 3: Mineral Identification

Diamond

            The diamond mineral is a highly unique mineral for many reasons. First of all, it is the greatest conductor of heat among minerals. At room temperature, it feels cold to the touch, and it retains heat for long periods of time. It is also the hardest known substance and has the highest melting point of any substance. Due to its strength and luster, diamonds are mostly used in the jewelry market. Diamonds are also used in diamond saws, thermal insulators, optics, and electronics. They can be colorless, white yellow, brown, gray, or black. Diamonds have an isometric crystal structure and form in plutonic rocks deep underground.

To learn more about the mineral diamond, go to: http://www.minerals.net/mineral/diamond.aspx

Garnet

            The garnet mineral is not a single mineral, but rather a group of minerals that vary slightly from one another in physical properties and characteristics. The garnet minerals can be divided into two subgroups: garnets containing aluminum as their second element and garnets containing calcium as their first element. Garnet can be red, brown, black, green, yellow, orange, pink, white, and colorless. It is brittle in tenacity, has an isometric crystal structure, and can form in igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks. Garnet is commonly used in jewelry, especially in its dark red form, and is very popular among mineral collectors.

To learn more about the mineral garnet, go to: http://www.minerals.net/mineral/garnet.aspx

Lab 2: Maps and Topography

Topographic map of Georgia:

      The following map illustrates the topography of the state of Georgia. The orange lines show the elevation contours ranging from elevation 200 (nearest to the coast) to elevation 2,000 (nearest to the northern border). The blue lines show the path that a water droplet would run when dropped at a specific point in the state. 

Choropleth Map:  

      Choropleth maps use graded differences in shading or color inside defined areas on the map in order to indicate the average values of a specific property or quality. Choropelth maps are commonly used to illustrate population density, per-capita income, political party affiliation, etc. The map below displays the population density of the United States within state boundaries.

http://volcanoesmakemeexplode.wikifoundry.com/photo/10530474/US+Population+Density+Choropleth+Map

Isarithmic Map:

      Isarithmic maps represent data sets that have a continuous distribution and smooth change in value. Examples of isarithmic maps include average annual temperatures, topographic maps, and average annual rain fall. The following isarithmic map illustrates politcal party identification in the United States as of 2008. 

https://dsparks.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/cces-2008-party-identification-white.png

Dot Density Map:

      Dot density maps use dot symbols to show density differences in geographic distributions over a landscape. They are commonly used for epidemiological purposes as well as to show general population trends. The following dot density map shows the predicted intensity of Ebola virus disease transmission in West and Central Africa.

https://peerj.com/articles/735/

Proportional Symbol Map:

      Proportional symbol maps serve the same purpose as dot density maps, but rather than using dots to depict values, they use other symbols. For example, wine bottles of varying sizes would be placed on a map to represent the amount of wine consumed in different areas. The following proportional symbol map shows prison populations in the United States using prison icons of various sizes to show population distribution. 

http://personal.frostburg.edu/ingarvie0/Lab%208%20ESRI%20icon%202.jpg