Mark A. Francek

Clarification of Selected Misconceptions in Physical Geography

Abstract A number of student misconceptions commonly surface in introductory physical geography classes. They often seem to have a life of their own and persist from one generation to the next. The repetition of and a reluctance to discard such erroneous notions result in their perpetuation. In addition to locational misplacements, misconceptions are also common in the oceanographic, atmospheric, and geomorphic realms. Appropriate correction and explanation is offered, where possible, to clarify problem situations. Exposure of these myths can serve as a useful pedagogical tool.

Soil lead levels in a small town environment: a case study from Mt Pleasant, Michigan.

Few studies are made on the potential soil Pb burden for a small city in rural environment. Data obtained by atomic absorption spectrophotometry suggest a somewhat weak significant positive relationship (r=0.27) between increased traffic volume and roadside soil Pb content. Median soil Pb levels along the most heavily travelled roads are 320 microg g(-1) while background concentrations are 200 microg g(-1). No significant relationship is found between predominant wind direction and soil Pb content. Zones where cars idle have only slightly elevated Pb levels. Older homes have soil Pb values exceeding 1000 microg g(-1); a significant positive relationship (r=0.59) exists between increasing soil Pb and home age. Schools, which are mainly located away from heavily travelled roads and typically of brick construction, have soil Pb concentrations at background levels. In general, the small city Pb burden is lower than in major urban areas. However, soils around older homes and in special locales, such as salvage yards, have Pb levels comparable to major urban areas.

A Compilation and Review of over 500 Geoscience Misconceptions

This paper organizes and analyses over 500 geoscience misconceptions relating to earthquakes, earth structure, geologic resources, glaciers, historical geology, karst (limestone terrains), plate tectonics, rivers, rocks and minerals, soils, volcanoes, and weathering and erosion. Journal and reliable web resources were reviewed to discover (1) the frequency of misconceptions by subject matter, group (primary, middle-school, high-school, middle-/high-school, college, pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and undefined) and source (journal versus web); and (2) the pattern of misconceptions across age groups and (3) directions for future research. A total of 502 misconceptions were discovered, with over 40% targeting a middle- and high-school audience. Plate tectonics comprised 19% of all misconceptions, with another 14% and 13% associated with weathering/erosion and historical geology, respectively. Over 80% of all the misconceptions were derived from peer-reviewed journals or web sources, the rest originated from reliable sources on the World Wide Web. The supernatural origin for many of the geoscience phenomena listed here is abandoned by middle school, but in other cases, some misconceptions seem robust through adulthood. Examples of such misconceptions include the origin/pattern of earthquakes, thickness of the earths crust, oils origin, movement mechanisms for glaciers, co-existence of humans and dinosaurs, water movement within karst terrains, the nature of plate boundaries, the power of water as an agent of geomorphic change, what constitutes a mineral and a rock, thickness of the soil layer, the distribution of volcanoes, and the difference between weathering and erosion.

SOIL LEAD LEVELS IN ORCHARDS AND ROADSIDES OF MISSION PENINSULA, MICHIGAN

The Pb content in orchard soils at Mission Peninsula, Michigan was determined to assess the impact of historical lead arsenate applications. Soil samples at 72 sites located in five orchards were collected at depths of 2−, 20-, 50−, and 100 cm. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify Pb levels (jig g−1). Mean surface Pb levels at individual orchards ranged from <1–136 pg g−1 and rapidly decreased with depth, to < 1-5 μg g−1 at 100 cm. The impact of textural class and slope angle on Pb levels was also analyzed. Correlation coefficients linking Pb levels with textural class were weak, ranging from 0.21 to −0.07. Varying slope steepness and slope position within orchards failed to affect the spatial pattern of soil Pb.Soil Pb levels were also compared at 5 sites along local roads with varying levels of automobile traffic. Samples were collected 1 m from the roadside at the same depth intervals studied in orchards. Average daily traffic along the busiest roadsites ranged from 8200 to 16 000; these sites had Pb levels of 90–210 μg g−1. Such locales had Pb levels similar to the more intensively sprayed orchards.

A SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEW YORK DRUMLIN FIELD

This study spatially evaluates the applicability of a deformation approach to drumlin genesis for the New York drumlin field. It also assesses whether the Onondaga Escarpment, Appalachian Plateau, and Glacial Lake Iroquois influenced the spatial characteristics of drumlins. Spatial and morphometric analyses generally show a random drumlin distribution, down-ice increases in drumlin density, and down-ice decreases in drumlin elongation. These patterns are consistent with the deformation model. The Onondaga Escarpment, located transverse to ice flow, superimposed additional patterns. Compressive ice flow conditions near the escarpment: (1) nucleated drumlins through variable rates of clast deformation, drumlin densities thus increase and become clustered; and (2) reduced ice velocity so that drumlin streamlining was retarded. As the glacier advanced onto the Appalachian Plateau, drumlin-forming conditions declined because ice was nearly immobile on interfluves. Active ice was instead funneled into valleys n...

Small town lead levels: A case study from the homes of pre-schoolers in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

This study evaluates the relationship between household Pb levels and four variables (home age, distance to road, traffic volume adjacent to the home, and the amount of exposed soil) for 42 homes in a small city. As a whole, Pb levels for the Mt. Pleasant sample were very low compared to large cities. Home age appeared to have the greatest impact on Pb levels as determined by atomic absorption soil = 65 microg g(-1), vacuum dust = 620 microg g(-1), window sill = 291 microg m(-1), indoor play area = 22 microg m(-1), and home entrance = 291 microg m(-1). The correlation coefficient for increasing home age and soil Pb level was r=0.63 (p<0.000). An inverse relationship (r=-0.45, p=0.003) occurred between soil Pb levels and distance from the road. Household Pb levels generally increased both with higher traffic volumes and greater amounts of exposed soil although both trends were not statistically significant. Study participants kept their home in a good to excellent state of repair and resided on lightly trafficked streets; as such, Pb deposition through the weathering of Pb-based paint and the former combustion of leaded gasoline was minimized.

The Persistence of Selected Geographic Misperceptions: A Survey of Junior High through Undergraduate College Students.

Abstract The degree to which students misperceive the relative locations of continents, states, and ocean sizes was assessed. In order to test suspected geographic misperceptions, identical questionnaires were given to more than 700 students from the junior high school through upper undergraduate levels, including future teachers. Misperception rates as a function of class level, gender, and expressed student interests were tested using Chi Square. Geographic misperceptions were found to persist across all measured educational levels. Upper level undergraduate geography and earth science students had the best overall score. Junior high school students scored better than students entering both general elementary and science-related teacher preparation classes. Junior high males did significantly better than females. This gender difference decreased in high school and was virtually absent at the university level. No significant differences in misperceptions were found between students with different subject...

Using Food to Demonstrate Earth Science Concepts: a Review

This paper categorizes over one hundred print and web resources that use food to demonstrate earth science concepts with the goal of placing these resources in a more usable format for K-12 earth science instructors. Most activities: 1) are found with nearly equal frequency from journals and from the web; 2) feature geologic rather than weather-,water-, or space-related themes; 3) are designed for a primary and middle school audience, but are adaptable to almost any education level, including introductory college classrooms; 4) meet the “Structure of the Earth” middle school National Science Standard; 5) require less than 30 minutes of instructor preparation; 6) cost less than

Teachers' Notebook Web-based Exercises in Physical Geography

20 in materials for a class of 25; and 7) are adaptable for variety of group sizes. Outstanding examples of edible earth science include using candy bars to demonstrate weathering concepts, orange peels to mimic plate tectonics, and cookies to demonstrate mining and environmental reclamation. These activities are interesting, promote active learning, facilitate the teaching of the K-12 National Science Standards, and offer opportunities for interdisciplinary education. The main disadvantages of using this approach are safety concerns and, in some cases, extensive preparation.

HOME CONDITION AND LEAD LEVELS : A CASE STUDY FROM THE HOMES OF PRE-SCHOOLERS IN MT. PLEASANT, MICHIGAN

Abstract This article provides over 20 examples of how the World Wide Web can supplement physical geography class instruction. Potential exercises involve such topics as weather, climate, river discharge, earthquakes, and Earth-Sun relationships. A plate tecton ics exercise is included as an example of a Web-based activity.