Geo Journal Week #9


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Sedimentary Rock Week 5

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Sandstone Sand refers to the size of the grains in the rock.  Particles can range from 1/16 millimeter to 2 millimeters in diameter.   The grains of sand in sandstone are small particles of rock, mineral, or organic matter that have been reduced in size by weathering.  They tend to be susceptible to physical weathering.  They have traveled or been deposited by means of water, wind, ice, or biological means.   Once they have deposited they will begin the process of lithification.  This is where the particles cement and consolidate into sedimentary rock.  Quartz is usually one of the most common types of sand grain present in sandstone. They are formed in sheets as the water brings in the sediment and it settles and then the process repeats.  These tend to break into sheets after formed.   This is the top of the rock.  One thing I noticed in the purple layer, is a few directional waves or ripples.  They ...
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Soil Mineralogy Annotated Bibliography Week #6

Soil Mineralogy Booth, M. S., Stark, J. M., & Caldwell, M. M. (2003). Inorganic N turnover and availability in annual- and perennial-dominated soils in a northern Utah shrub-steppe ecosystem.  Biogeochemistry ,  66 (3), 311. This study focused on the effect of the introduction of the annual grass, Bromus into Utah.   They were trying to discover how nutrient cycling may be affected.   It could affect how the soil decomposes.   This would affect the availability of inorganic N by altering the soil temperature and moisture content.     They found the introduction of the annual grass leads to higher concentrations of N which in turn increased the risk of fire.   In all of their studies, they showed an increase of N, the greatest increase being 20%.    It did depend on the time of year the sample was taken.   The increase in Nitrogen should be a huge red flag before continuing to use the Bromus annual grass....
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GeoJournal Week #13 Examples of Climate Change

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It was the perfect storm of conditions, drought and a dry springs had officials worried that 2018 would be the worst season for wildfires in years.  That prediction turned out to be true.   "It's kind of a combination of the worst kind,” Basil Newmerzhycky, a meteorologist for the Bureau of Land Management said. At least 856 fires were reported and more than 126,000 acres burned in Utah.  That is a dramatic increase from the previous year.   We had several fires burn here in southern Utah.  One was 3 miles south of us in Minersville.  That felt to close for me.  Our favorite lake was also drained because of firefighting efforts.  I am glad this spring has been so wet!  https://kutv.com/news/local/utah-experiencing-serious-wildfire-season-a-comprehensive-list-of-utah-wildfires Utah could be facing the worst wildfire season in years
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