PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast

Latest Episodes:

How is water in the ground measured? (GeoShort) Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

In this GeoShort, we briefly discuss how people measure groundwater, from the fairly rudimentary (stick a measuring tape down a well) to the highly sophisticated (satellites and conductivity!).
We highlight the GRACE satellites that have been used for decades to monitor and predict groundwater levels around the world.
And we also briefly discuss work by future Penn State Professor Dr. Chloe Gustafson, who uses electromagnetism to measure groundwater underneath the Atlantic Ocean (see her publications here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hFaSe94AAAAJ&hl=en).
In summary, groundwater is awesome and measuring it can be both simple and very difficult!

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How is Obsidian Formed? (GeoShort) Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

Have you ever heard of obsidian? Mostly likely you have; it is the rock that was commonly used by early humans to make arrowheads and other weapons. Obsidian is a very beautiful rock types, but it's formation is often misunderstood. In this GeoShort, we briefly highlight how obsidian is formed and discuss how unique it is. Obsidian is actually a glass, meaning it has no crystals in it! In fact, obsidian is naturally very unstable at Earth's surface so it breaks down quickly. This means that obsidian is usually a very young rock; no ancient obsidian occurs on Earth!
Obsidian has been used for thousands of years by humans. However, obsidian formation is usually misunderstood by people! In this GeoShort we discuss how obsidian forms, which has more to do with the composition of the magma than the cooling rate. The felsic (silica-rich) magma type that obsidian forms from is very thick and sticky. This means that it cannot flow very quickly (a term called viscosity, or the resistance to flow) which also inhibits elements from diffusing within the molten rock. The lack of diffusion means that crystals cannot form quickly, and the magma cools before mineral grains can form. This creates a glass! Obsidian is often used in lapidary work as well as it polishes well and often occurs in beautiful colors!
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The Voices of Volcanoes: Interview with Volcanologist - Dr. Diana Roman Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode we had the great pleasure of interviewing Dr. Diana Roman, a volcanologist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC! Diana is not only a spectacular and prolific researcher, but she is an excellent communicator of all things volcanoes!
In this interview we talk to Dr. Roman about a wide range of topics including her career trajectory and former life as an economist and venture capitalist! Now, Dr. Roman is a leading researcher into volcano seismicity, or the earthquakes associated with volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. Diana draws an analogy to volcanoes and famous vocalists, in that the pitch of a volcano's earthquakes changes through time!
We also discuss Dr. Roman's path to geoscience, what her career path looked like, and what it is like being a high-profile woman in the sciences! She also discusses the future of volcano research, and how the field can go from pattern recognition to a deeper understanding of the processes of volcanism on Earth.
Give this interview a listen; we think you'll learn something interesting! As always, if you enjoyed this episode we simply ask that you share it with someone who you think will get something from it too!

Why don't beaches erode quickly? Plus an interesting beer question (GeoShort) Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we answer a listener question! Thanks to Tom for the excellent question which is, Why Don't Beaches Erode Quickly? Basically our answers are the same, that beaches do erode quickly both in storms and in every day wave action. But, we answer them in two different parts.
Tom also wondered what was our favorite beer to drink while looking at the Grand Tetons. Another excellent question! Chris enjoys a hazy IPA from the Snake River Brewing Company (Earned It) or any beer from Grand Teton Brewing Company and Jesse would choose a nice cold Narragansett after a long day of hiking (though Chris judges him for it).
Thanks for the questions Tom and keep them coming!
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Where is Earth's Water? Examples from the Great Lakes Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Jesse and Chris talk about water. That's right - water. Where is the worlds water? We begin by lumping all of the worlds water into 6 geological basins: oceans, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, atmosphere, and rivers. We then assign relative percentages to each reservoir and then demonstrate how much water each would hold if all of the worlds water were scaled down to 5 gallons (19 Liters).
What comes to light is that less than 1% of all the worlds water is useable for human consumption - less than a half of a cup on a 5 gallon scale! That "1/2 cup of water" is enough to keep 9 billion people alive, but it is not evenly distributed over the planet.
We use the Great Lakes in the Mid-West United States to illustrate the "haves and have nots". The Great Lakes contain 21% of all the standing fresh surface water on Earth. Despite having this incredible amount of water, the Great Lakes Basin is already dealing with water issues. Our groundwater is being depleted and our standing water is being diverted.
We use the Chicago River diversion to illustrate some of the issues and concerns about moving Great Lakes water out of the Basin. We also use Waukesha, Wisconsin as an example of an area that has a poor groundwater source but has been granted access to Great Lakes water to avert their needs.
Although we talk a lot about the Great Lakes region in this episode, the issues here are an analogy for the entire planet. World population might reach 9 billion in 20 years. Fresh water is finite and we need to be aware of the issues we will face - and are already facing while we still have time!

Bonus Story from Harlan Kredit: Yellowstone Park Ranger Nov 25, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to PlanetGeo - a short episode. Today, we have a bonus story from our interview with longtime Yellowstone Park ranger - Harlan Kredit. We were asking him about some of his most memorable experiences during his 48 year tenure. Late one night, Harlan got a call about a baby that was lost at Lewis Lake in the Southern part of the park. He talks about the grueling task of working a gird search in rough terrain. Buried in this story, is a powerful life lesson as he made a crucial decision that resulted in rescuing the baby. This is worth the listen.
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Interview with a Yellowstone Park Ranger - Harlan Kredit - 48 years and counting Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we interview a real gem - Yellowstone Park Ranger Harlan Kredit. At 81 years old, Harlan has taught high school biology and earth science for 58 years and worked as an interpretive ranger for 48 years in Yellowstone. Don't be fooled by his age; Harlan hasn't lost a step; Chris' high school students have a hard time keeping up with him on hikes! Arguably, Harlan has more of an intimate knowledge of Yellowstone than anyone other human - past or present. He is also the best teacher we've had the privilege to watch and he has won almost every teaching award possible, including the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellency in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Harlan as has his own Wikipedia page; not something many people can say!
Today, Harlan talks about a wide range of topics regarding Yellowstone National Park, including funny stories and problems facing the park in the future.
Throughout the interview, our discussion spans many different topics such as:
- Reintroduction of the wolves - Harlan participated in releasing one of the packs.
- Yellowstone usage and the problems the park faces.
- Why he chose to stay at one park for so long.
- The threat that invasive species pose to Yellowstone.
- The impact Covid-19 has had on Yellowtstone.
- The fascinating impact of social media in the park.
- Climate change and forest fires.
- The intersection between geoscience and biology.
- In the opinion of Harlan, the most interesting geoscience feature in the park.
- Interesting stories someone who has worked for 48 years in the park might tell.
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Listener Question - Can Human Noise Damage the Earth? (GeoShort) Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

In this GeoShort Episode we answer the listener question: Can human induced earthquakes damage Earth? The short answer is....no.
Human seismic noise is actually really really small, but everywhere. Much like static in the radio signal, it creates a little background buzz in many place.
In this episode, we talk about how small the human background seismicity is and also the misconception that earthquakes are rare events. Earthquakes are actually quite common; it's the big earthquakes that are rare. Small earthquakes are occurring all the time except that they just cannot be felt by humans. Our really sensitive instruments do pick up these vibrations though! Millions occur every year all over the planet but they don't have a major impact on our lives.
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Hiking Recommendations for the Tetons (GeoShort) Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

In this GeoShort Chris gives recommendations for several hikes to do in the Grand Teton National Park! These recommendations range from short day hikes to see cool geoscience within the Park, to full-on weeklong backpacking trip suggestions if you need to get away from it all for awhile.
Backpacking: Teton Crest Trail. Unrivaled beauty along this well-defined trail. Four to six days depending on what you want to do.
Day Hikes: Amphitheater Lake. This well defined trail takes you up to a cirque and tarn. It's a large area at the destination which enables the hiker to get away from people if you want.
Black Tail Butte: Short day hike (maybe 4 miles) that offers great views of the Eastern slopes of the Tetons.
Best Geology Hike: I was only allowed one so I picked Paintbrush Canyon. It's amazing and if you're feeling adventurous, you can hike over the divide and down to Lake Solitude.
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The Greenhouse Effect Unpacked Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com
Join us as we discuss the science behind the greenhouse effect and how it all works.
In this episode, we talk about the forgotten history of the greenhouse gases. The science behind greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water is 200 years old. What we began to understand two centuries ago came long before humans had any impact on the composition of our atmosphere and it certainly never occurred to Joseph Fourier and John Tyndall that humans could ever influence the greenhouse effect. The discussion then turns to what scientists know about the greenhouse effect and, more precisely, how it works. This natural phenomenon is a good thing as it makes our planet habitable by keeping it warm and preventing the oceans from freezing.
We then turn our attention to the chemistry of burning fossil fuels using coal, natural gas, and gasoline as examples. The main gases produced by burning fossil fuels are carbon dioxide and water. We use this knowledge to talk about the carbon cycle. By following Carbon atoms as they make their way through the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, we can clearly identify a Carbon cycle. Specifically, we discuss a long carbon cycle (can take 100,000's of years for this cycle) and a fast Carbon cycle (years or even seasons). Through this part of our discussion, we have only discussed what science has established as fact. The greenhouse effect, the gases involved, and the ways Earth regulates Carbon in cycles is a good thing for our planet. We can't help but point out that through continued Carbon emissions, humans will upset this balance. In fact, we have a nearby example in Venus as a case study of a runaway greenhouse effect.
We hope you enjoy this episode. We sure had fun making it. Cheers.
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