Petroleum Maturation, Accumulation, and Transformation
Petroleum Maturation
In the first few meters of burial, veins are remnants of bacteria. Due to the anaerobic attack, they provoke the release of methane. As we descend, the combined action of pressure and temperature gives rise to a series of reactions that convert kerogen (organic remains) into an organic polymer, a solid carbon and hydrogen-rich layer formed hundreds of meters deep. With increasing pressure and temperature conditions, the kerogen starts to decompose, distilling oil that gets trapped
Read MoreUnderstanding Soil Types and Mineral Deposits
Soil Types
There are various classifications of soils. Climatic or zonal soils are part of the principle that similar climates produce the same soil types, regardless of the parent rock, vegetation, and other factors. There are three categories of soils:
- Azonal: Independent of soil or climate, they may occur under any climate and latitude. They have a low degree of maturity and occur in floodplains, on mountain slopes, and in the sandy soils of deserts.
- Intrazonal: These soils are somewhat more developed.
Key Environmental Issues and Sustainable Practices
Green Revolution
The Green Revolution refers to the significant increase in agricultural production during the 1960s. This was a result of using modern production techniques, such as monoculture, field mechanization, and the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in many developing countries.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Resources should not be exploited
Read MoreGothic Architecture: Cathedrals and the Search for Light
Gothic Architecture: The Cathedral
Gothic architecture, particularly in cathedrals, is characterized by several key features:
The Search for Light
Light becomes a metaphor for the search for God.
Elevation
Buildings are constructed that rise up, symbolizing the soul of Christ rising to God.
Dominance of the Wall Disappears
Solid walls were replaced by stained glass windows, allowing light, fragmented into a multitude of colors, to flood the interior of cathedrals.
Tapering Columns
Extremely thin ribs accentuate
Earth’s Layers, Plate Tectonics, and Mountain Formation
What Are the Different Layers of the Planet?
The Earth is made up of three concentric zones: the crust, mantle, and core.
The crust is the thin outer layer forming the continents and the ocean floor. Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust. Some ocean floors are only 15-20 km thick. The crust is enriched in O, Si, Al, Ca, Na, and radioactive elements.
The mantle is the middle layer, rich in Mg, Fe, and silicates (combinations of mainly silica and oxygen), and the core is the dense
Read MoreEnvironmental Science: Systems, Cycles, and Human Impact
Interconnectedness & Systems Thinking
- Interconnectedness: All components of the environment are linked; changes affect the entire system.
- Systems: Closed/Open; feedback loops:
- Negative Feedback: Stabilizes (e.g., predator-prey dynamics)
- Positive Feedback: Amplifies changes (e.g., melting ice reduces albedo).
- Dynamic Equilibrium: Interactions between atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere.
- Fossil Record: Evolutionary history of life on Earth.
Geological Cycles
- Rock Cycle: Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic