Mapping lab

A Choropleth map is a type of thematic map, where areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the variables being displayed usually to indicate the average quantity or values in those areas.In this type of map, a dark color typically means more and a light color means less.

A dot density map is another type of thematic map that shows the geographic distribution of phenomena using an arrangement of symbols. The symbols used are most commonly dots. The dot density map is one of the primary techniques for representing geographic patterns that is used today.

A proportional symbol map is another type of thematic map, where data is displayed on these maps with proportionally sized symbols to show differences in occurrences and the data values found at each location. These symbols are usually circles but can also be squares and other shapes. 

An isarithmic map can fall into a couple of categories which include topographic, weather and bathymetric map types. An isarithmic map is also known as a contour map or an isopleth map and depicts smooth, continuous phenomena such as precipitation, elevation or temperature. Each line or curve bounded area in an isarithmic map represents a region with the same value.

Contour lines for Stone Mountain, Georgia

Dendochronology Lab

The purpose of this lab: was to determine the relative age of a tree by counting the number of tree rings present on the tree.The tree rings represented the xylem of the tree This lab was also done to figure out weather conditions such as rainfall and temperature along with events that would have occurred as the tree grew and the number of tree rings increased. This lab was also a a way to do hindcasting using dendochronology.


Elm Tree Sample from Palm Springs, California, specifically from the San, Hasento Mountain Range, with a desert soil type and a hot, dry climate
By counting the tree rings in the picture, this tree is estimated to be around 30-35 years old. 

Pine tree Sample from Macon, Georgia
By counting the tree rings in the picture, this tree is estimated to be around 50-55 years old.This tree also seems to very healthy as the inner tree rings are darker in color and more defined showing that it survived in pretty favorable weather conditions.

Note:
Based the observations I made by looking at the photos of the tree rings, the tree rings are somewhat uneven and jarred at the edges in both pictures. The reason the outer rings are misshapen is because of how the tree was cut. The blades of the saw during the cutting process were maybe not consistently moved or too unstable to make a clean cut. On further observation of the tree rings, the inner rings seemed to be quite narrower than the outer rings. A reason for this narrowness could be the presence of a drought or another weather event that prevented the tree from getting enough water.



Next, in order to truly understand how the trees lived, the climate conditions and thickness of the tree rings found in Palm Springs and Macon, Georgia have to be examined dating back to 1960's in intervals of 5 years.The rough average temperature of Georgia was about 79 degrees and the average temperature of Pal Springs was about 91 degrees. The average thickness of the tree rings in Georgia ranged from the lowest being 0.13 to the highest at 2.42. The tree ring thickness in Palm Springs was much less varied with the lowest being 0.29 and the highest being 1.17.

Here is a chart for reference: 

Here is an XY scatter plot to show whether or whether not there is a correlation between tree ring thickness and temperature:

This scatter plot shows that there is a huge difference in temperatures between the two trees because they are located in two different climate conditions. However, both trees from the different areas are pretty matched in their tree ring thickness and this shows that temperature did not have a huge effect on the tree rings of these tress. However, it can be noted that in most circumstances, warmer temperatures usually make trees grow better.


Lastly, these two tree samples also represent a much greater idea in terms the environment that the trees lived in. Many major events happened during the growth of these two trees.

Here are two pictures of the tree samples along with major historical events superimposed on them to show that trees can withstand the test of time and live through almost anything including catastrophic events.

To conclude:There is a lot that can be learned from this lab. It is a wonder how tree rings can be such a great indicator of so many things like climate, precipitation and even soil conditions. It is also amazing how tress have such a long lifespan and are not affected very easily because of their strength and resilience.

Rocks + Soils Lab

Obsidian- is an extrusive, igneous rock that forms when molten rock material cools so rapidly that atoms are unable to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure.It has a smooth uniform texture. It is usually the color black but it can also be seen with a brown or green type color or even multiple colors  caused by light reflecting from minute inclusions of mineral crystals, rock debris or gas. This is called "Rainbow obsidian" caused by light reflecting from minute inclusions of mineral crystals, rock debris or gas. Here's a picture of this specific type of obsidian.

http://geology.com/rocks/obsidian.shtml

http://www.stonecontact.com/products-229350/rainbow-obsidian-rough

This is a picture of the Marble Caves that are located on the border of Chile and Argentina. These caves are purely made of marble and are one the most beautiful places on earth. There is no other place in the world that has a structure like this completely made of marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock. It is of metamorphosed limestone composition. Marble comes in many different colors. The color of the marble is determined by it's mineral composition during formation and what impurities are present in the limestone during the crystallization process.

http://www.travelingmyself.com/2013/04/28/marble-caves-chile-lago-general-carrera-lake-patagonia/

http://www.ethosmarblecare.co.uk/stonecleaning/marble-restoration-polishing.shtml

This is an example of a sedimentary rock formation.This picture shows the honeycomb weathering at Elgol, Scotland, looking towards the
Cuillins on Skye beach. This honeycomb structure resembles bones.It s beleived that this structure is a result of salt weathering, where salty water percolates through the pore spaces of rocks and evaporates at the surface,disaggregates the grains and break up the clay and cement that holds them together becoming more and more aggressive.The honeycomb weathering is made up of sandstone, which is a type of sedimentary rock.Sandstone is composed of small, sand- sized grains of mineral, rock or organic material. These small grains are created by weathering and transportation caused by moving water, wind or even ice. Sandstone is one of the most common types of sedimentary rock. It is mined for construction material or as a raw material used in manufacturing or even serves as an aquifer for ground water or as a reservoir for oil and natural gas.

http://www.geopoem.com/2013/03/stone-lace.html

http://geology.com/rocks/sandstone.shtml

12 Soil Types of the World

http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/soilorders/orders.htm

Soil Triangle

 The soil diagram is one of the ways we look at soil. This triangle helps to determine types of soil particles.

Homemade Barometer lab

This lab was necessary to learn how to measure barometric pressure by making a homemade barometer. This lab also allowed work with Microsoft Excel to make a professionally, appealing graph and table.                                              Calibration of Homemade Barometer                                               Atmospheric Pressure(ATM)                           Ruler Reading(mm)                                                                                          0.90                                                          15 0.95 20 1 25 1.05 30