Assignment #4
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Geology
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Jan 9, 2024
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Assignment #4 Phys./Chem. Oceanography III
1.
How is it that the beaches of Hawaii have different colored sand? Briefly, describe
the process(es) that leads to green, red, black, and white sand. How are shell beaches
produced? (5 pts)
The beaches in Hawaii have different colored sand because the sand grains (tiny
fragments) come from different colored rocks and minerals. Black sand comes from lava
or may also come from the erosion of black volcanic rock; Green sand comes from
volcanism and those volcanic rocks have deposits of olivine which causes green sand;
Red sand comes from the erosion of a cinder cone which is found at the eastern tip of
Maui; White sand is composed mostly of shell fragments. Shell beaches are produced
because beach materials are carried by wind and waves and as the tide comes in, it
deposits sediment which contains sand, shells, seaweed, and even marine organisms.
2.
Are the Hawaiian Islands moving? Briefly describe how this process occurs. What
will Hawaii’s newest island be (in a few thousand years)? (5 pts)
In a way yes, the Hawaiian Islands are moving. Since Earth's crust is made up of tectonic
plates, those plates come together and sometimes cause volcanoes to erupt, these are
called Hot Spots. The Hawaiian Islands are located on the Pacific plate which is formed
by the volcanic hot spot. The Pacific tectonics plate is moving while the hotspot itself is
fixed. Hawaii’s newest island will be “Loihi”.
3.
The Hawaiian and Galapagos Islands (as well as many other island chains) are home
to many endemic species. Select either island chain, then describe 2 examples of
endemic species found on that island chain (this will require additional resources).
Try not to use the examples presented in the lecture sessions. (5 pts)
The Galapagos Islands
-
Galapagos Tortoise: Many people go and visit the Galapagos Islands for the giant
tortoises. Male tortoises can weigh more than 500 pounds and females average about
250 pounds. They have lifespans of over 100 years, and it is one of the longest-lived
vertebrates.
-
Finches of the Galapagos: There are 13 distinct bird species on the islands, all of
which are native to the area and can be traced back to a single common ancestor.
Known as Darwin’s finches, Galapagos finches have played an important part in
proving the theory of natural selection. While all species have comparable body types
and colors, their beak structures are drastically diverse.
4.
Lastly, briefly describe any experience you have had with marine life. What did you
see? Where did you see it? If you have never been to the beach/ocean, have you been
to an aquarium? Briefly describe your experience (there is no wrong response
here….). (5 pts)
I would like to say I have experienced a lot of marine life being from places that have a
lot of marine life. I come from a small town that is really close to Pismo Beach, so
growing up I went to the beach a lot. My family is also from a part of Mexico, which is
Nayarit, which is very tropical and all that is eaten is mainly seafood. But being able to
see those two different beaches, I am able to recognize the differences and now I know
why those differences exist. For example, the beach in Pismo gets deep a couple of steps
into the water and in Mexico, you can walk about 20-30 feet in and the water only gets
about waist high.
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