HONORS ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT—2014

For Honors Environmental Earth Science, the summer reading book is The Control of Nature, by John McPhee. As you read, consider the questions in the study guide that relate to each chapter. You are expected to TYPE answers to those items that are starred with an asterisk. Your completed study guide will be collected in class within the first week of school (see rubric, p. 4). You may also wish to take notes as you read. Focus on the “big ideas” and concepts, rather than on the tiny details or statistics. (Note: Important technical terms below are in italics.) Much of the science content in the book will be part of the curriculum for the coming year.

  • Students are expected to abide by the Lexington High School Honor Code (see Student-Parent Handbook: online at Cheating or any other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students giving or receiving answers to others, copying homework or labs, “cutting and pasting” from Internet sources without citing the source, or engaging in other acts of academic dishonesty will receive a zero for the assignment. While you will often be asked or encouraged to work with other students, it is expected that the work you submit for grading will be your own unless you are directed otherwise. Cooperation and teamwork are effective techniques for learning important social skills; plagiarism and other forms of cheating are not.

You will encounter a lot of new vocabulary in this book. You will get more out of your reading if you take a few minutes to look up the definitions of words with which you are unfamiliar.

When you come to school in the fall, you will be asked to write an essay based on the book. We will provide details for the assignment, as well as a rubric for the content and format of your essay. Keep the statements below in mind as you read the book. These statements are the “Enduring Understandings” for the year, and represent the “big ideas” that are essential to Earth Science.

1)Earth is a dynamic and constantly changing planet.

2)Earth systems are interconnected to, dependant on, and shaped by life systems.

3)Matter moves through Earth's spheres in cyclical processes, over varying periods of time, and at different scales.

4)Energy, from the Sun and from Earth's interior, drives all of Earth's cycles and processes.

5)Earth’s surfaces and processes are altered by human engineering.

Atchafalaya

  1. As you begin, go online to to see a map of the Atchafalaya Basin and to learn about the natural ecosystem of that region.
  2. Use this website to learn the basics about rivers and streams. Note: there are links to many additional pages on related topics within this website if you are interested.
  3. *What are the competing interests between groups of people who depend on the river for their livelihood?
  4. *The long-term engineering of artificial levees along the Mississippi River has been driven to a great extent by economic forces. What would happen to New Orleans if (when?) the Atchafalaya River “captures” the Mississippi River?
  5. *People often speak of the “law of unintended consequences” (see for an explanation). How does this law apply to the control of flooding events along the Mississippi River?
  6. *Louisiana is losing its wetlands to the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of about one football field every 38 minutes— ( or 75,000 square kilometers per year. How does the construction of artificial levees contribute to this growing environmental problem?
  7. *How does the loss of wetlands affect the vulnerability of cities such as New Orleans to damage by severe storms(remember Hurricane Katrina, 2005)?
  8. You can watch a video clip of the Old River Control Structure holding back the Mississippi River on Youtube at
  9. *What has been gained by engineering the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers? What has been lost?
  10. Last year (2013) saw considerable flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Search the Internet for a recent news articles about this event. Print a copy of the article.

Cooling the Lava

  1. To understand the events that took place on Heimaey, you will need some background in plate tectonics. For a brief review of plate tectonic theory, go to
  2. This is the website for theUnited States Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. If you’re interested in volcanoes, you can use this link to check out any volcano on the planet!
  3. *Compare and contrast the volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and Iceland. Your answer should address the geological differences and/or similarities.
  4. *On this website, you’ll find some basic information about Eldfell and Heimaey. What type of plate boundary is represented by this location? What geologic process is occurring there (what is going on at this location)?
  5. Go to Youtube to watch actual footage of the Eldfell eruption.
  6. *How did the people of Heimaey cope with the onset of volcanic activity?
  7. *What was unique about the location of Heimaey that made it possible for anyone even to contemplate cooling the lava?
  8. *What interventions were required to cool the lava? What consequences related to the eruption of Eldfell could not be mitigated by human interventions?
  9. *How does the outcome of events in this chapter differ from that of the other two?
  10. What has happened in the years since the eruption of 1973? Search the Internet for recent articles about volcanic activity during 2010 in Iceland. Print a copy of the article.

Los Angeles Against the Mountains

  1. Go online (search Google images for “San Gabriel Mountains alluvial fans” to see a few aerial photographs of the San Gabriel Mountains and their alluvial fans.
  2. For a general description of the San Gabriel Mountains, go to
  3. *Describe a debris flow. How fast can a debris flow move downslope? Why are debris flows so dangerous to humans? How does an alluvial fan form?
  4. You can watch a debris flow in action on Youtube. Take a look at (Devore, CA), (Southern Utah)

and (Colorado).

  1. *The theory of plate tectonics provides the key to understanding the San Gabriel Mountains. Describe the relationship between the San Andreas Fault and the San Gabriel Mountains. What type of movement is typified by the San Andreas?
  2. *Why are the slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains especially prone to debris flow formation?
  3. *What have the people in Los Angeles done to control debris flows at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains? Have they been successful?
  4. *What are the benefits and risks for people who live on the alluvial fans of the San Gabriel Mountains? What about the people who live higher up, in the canyons? If you were in their shoes, what would you do—move away, or rebuild? Explain your reasoning; justify your answer.
  5. *The title of this chapter has two interpretations: one geological, the other anthropological. Interpret the meaning of each point of view.
  6. Search the Internet for an article about debris flow (not necessarily in Southern California) during the last decade. Print a copy of the article.

Beginning
(2 points) / Needs Improvement
(4 points) / Proficient
(6 points) / Exemplary
(8 points)
Appearance and format of study guide / Assignment is not typed; writing is sloppy, barely legible. / Assignment is not typed, but writing is neat and legible. / Assignment is typed, but answers to questions are not labeled. / Assignment is neatly typed; answers to questions are clearly labeled.
Sentences, spelling and grammar / Makes grammatical and spelling errors that compromise the meaning; answers are in “bullet” phrases only. / Makes grammatical and spelling errors that distract but do not compromise the meaning; several answers are not written in complete sentences. / Uses appropriate grammar and spells correctly most of the time; most answers are written in complete sentences. / Uses appropriate grammar and spells correctly throughout. All answers are written in complete sentences.
Quality of answers/content of study guide / Answers read as though they were copied from the book. / Answers cursory with little evidence of understanding & supporting details are lacking. / Answers demonstrate some understanding of scientific concepts & include some supporting details. / Answers to questions demonstrate a firm understanding of scientific concepts & include supporting details.
Printed articles / No articles are included w/ study guide. / One article is submitted. / Two articles are submitted. / Three required articles are included w/ study guide.
Timely submission of study guide / Standard late penalty (without prior consent of teacher) of 40% applies. / Completed study guide is turned in on time.

TOTAL POINTS ______/ 40