NAGTrivia

NAGTrivia questions are contributed by NAGT members for the NAGT community, with a new question appearing each month in the NAGTNews e-newsletter sent to all members. The trivia questions are a way for members to share their knowledge and fun facts related to the Earth sciences, and they also hold potential as a teaching resource. Check your response to the latest NAGTrivia question below.

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February 2018

March 2018

After reading Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology as he sailed around the world on the Beagle, this outcrop convinced Charles Darwin that granites were indeed intrusive rock. Where is it? This question was contributed by Callan Bentley, current president of NAGT's Geo2YC Division

A. Fernandina, the Galapagos

B. Santiago, Chile

C. Mauritius

D. Cape Town, South Africa

Correct! This outcrop, called "Sea Point," was visited by Charles Darwin in 1836, towards the end of his round-the-world sojourn on the H.M.S. Beagle. Here, beds of dark colored Malmesbury rock, altered by intense heat, are intermingled and folded with the light colored intrusive granite.

April 2018

May 2018

Most caves are created when naturally occurring carbonic acid dissolves the calcite in limestone. What "grand, gloomy, and peculiar place" is not only the longest known cave system in the United States, but also the world, with over 643 km of explored passages? (The quoted description comes from Stephen Bishop, an early guide of this cave.)

A. Lechuguilla Cave, near Carlsbad, NM

B. Wind Cave, near Hot Springs, SD

C. Jewel Cave, near Custer, SD

D. Mammoth Cave, near Brownsville, KY

Correct! Mammoth Cave developed in Mississippian-aged limestone strata capped by a layer of sandstone. It is known to include more than 415 miles of passageways, with new discoveries and connections adding several miles to this figure each year.

June 2018

The distinctive pattern of iron oxide minerals deposited by groundwater is a common feature in many sandstones around the world. What is the pattern called? This question was contributed by Callan Bentley, current president of NAGT's Geo2YC Division

A. Widmanstätten

B. Liesegang

Correct! In 1896, a German Chemist named Raphael E. Liesegang first described Liesegang banding in his observations from the results of an experiment. Liesegang rings are distinguishable from other sedimentary structures by their concentric or ring-like appearance.

C. Opferkessel

D. Lagerstätten

July 2018

What percentage of American adults think that schools should teach children about the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to climate change? This question was contributed by Karin Kirk, member of NAGT's James H. Shea Award Committee and the InTeGrate and Teach the Earth communities.

A. 97%

I wish! But, nope, it's not that high.

B. 74%

Correct! 74% of Americans either somewhat agree or strongly agree that schools should be teaching about climate change. Only 24% disagree that climate change should not be taught in school. As NGSS standards are being implemented around the country, it's nice to know that most Americans agree that climate change is a topic worth teaching.

Image source: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication; data from November 2016. N=1, 2226 Americans 18 years or older. Read more about this study.

C. 59%

Nope, we're doing better than that.

D. 43%

Thankfully, the situation is not that bad!

September 2018

Which country has emitted the most CO2 over time? In other words, which nation bears the most responsibility for the greenhouse gases currently residing in the atmosphere? This question was contributed by the CLEAN Climate Literacy Quiz. Take the full quiz, or incorporate it into your teaching: click here.

A. China

No, China is the third-highest cumulative emitter, although at present China is emitting more greenhouse gases than any other nation

B. USA

Correct! The USA is responsible for 27% of the world's cumulative emissions from 1815-2011. Read a more in-depth explanation and further sources by viewing the CLEAN Climate Literacy Quiz, question 12.

Image source: World Resources Institute. Read more about this study.

C. Russia

Nope, but they are the fourth-highest emitter.

D. European Union

No, but they are the second-highest emitter, so you are close.

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