Ecology Essentials: Abiotic and Biotic Environmental Factors
Ecology Definition by Ernst Haeckel
Ernst Haeckel first used the term ecology. Ecology is the branch of natural science focused on the study of living organisms and their relationships with the abiotic and biotic environment.
Abiotic Factors
1. Water and Sanitation
Water is the universal solvent and a primordial factor in ecosystem formation. Alongside wind, it can change the geography of an area. It is a renewable natural resource, intervening through the hydrologic cycle, giving character to an ecosystem.
Read MoreScientific Method, Earth Structure, and Cosmic Origins
Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry
One can consider a range of general characteristics that define scientific work.
The Role of Questions
Posing questions is a crucial aspect of science. The ability of scientists to ask critical questions about reality is fundamental.
Hypothesis Formulation and Testing
The formulation of hypotheses starts from an idea based on observations or the knowledge of those who have previously studied the phenomenon. Making assumptions is a key moment. Statistical hypotheses
Read MoreDrilling and Blasting Techniques in Tunnel Construction
Overbreak Definition and Consequences
Overbreak is an undesirable effect produced when the volume of rock excavated due to blasting is larger than the theoretical volume. It can be expressed as the ratio of the difference between the actual cross-section (Sa) and the theoretical one (St): (Sa – St) / St. The over-profile or extra-profile can also be defined as the ratio of the difference between the theoretical and real areas of the cross-sections to the perimeter of the tunnel, excluding the floor:
Read MoreUnderstanding Material Types, Properties, and History
What Are Materials?
A material is any substance used for the construction of an object. Raw materials are resources obtained from nature to be used in subsequent production processes.
Evolution of Material Use
Technology and progress are strongly related to the number and types of materials utilized. Each new historical stage incorporated new materials, some serving to define an era, such as the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Primitive humans used materials like stone, wood, and clay.
Material
Read MoreGeosphere Dynamics: Geological Processes & Volcanic Hazards
Geosphere Dynamics and Processes
External Geological Processes
These processes occur on the most superficial layer of the lithosphere. External agents like atmospheric gases, water, ice, and wind drive geological processes such as:
- Weathering: The physical or chemical alteration of rocks.
- Erosion: The movement of weathered materials to lower areas.
- Transport: The carrying of eroded materials.
- Sedimentation: The settling of transported materials, which can eventually transform into sedimentary rocks.
Internal
Read MoreGothic Architecture: Cathedrals, Monasteries, and Innovations
Gothic Architecture: Cathedrals and Monasteries
In the mid-12th century, Romanesque buildings began to be replaced by large and slender European churches in cities. These Gothic cathedrals were financed by nobles and abbots of the great monastic orders. The groups involved in building these cathedrals were linked to the new social group: the bourgeoisie. The Gothic building style appeared around 1140, coinciding with the construction of monasteries, reflecting the influence of monastic life and thought
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