Gothic Architecture: Cathedrals and the Search for Light
Gothic Architecture: The Cathedral
Gothic architecture, particularly in cathedrals, is characterized by several key features:
The Search for Light
Light becomes a metaphor for the search for God.
Elevation
Buildings are constructed that rise up, symbolizing the soul of Christ rising to God.
Dominance of the Wall Disappears
Solid walls were replaced by stained glass windows, allowing light, fragmented into a multitude of colors, to flood the interior of cathedrals.
Tapering Columns
Extremely thin ribs accentuate
Earth’s Layers, Plate Tectonics, and Mountain Formation
What Are the Different Layers of the Planet?
The Earth is made up of three concentric zones: the crust, mantle, and core.
The crust is the thin outer layer forming the continents and the ocean floor. Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust. Some ocean floors are only 15-20 km thick. The crust is enriched in O, Si, Al, Ca, Na, and radioactive elements.
The mantle is the middle layer, rich in Mg, Fe, and silicates (combinations of mainly silica and oxygen), and the core is the dense
Read MoreEnvironmental Science: Systems, Cycles, and Human Impact
Interconnectedness & Systems Thinking
- Interconnectedness: All components of the environment are linked; changes affect the entire system.
- Systems: Closed/Open; feedback loops:
- Negative Feedback: Stabilizes (e.g., predator-prey dynamics)
- Positive Feedback: Amplifies changes (e.g., melting ice reduces albedo).
- Dynamic Equilibrium: Interactions between atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere.
- Fossil Record: Evolutionary history of life on Earth.
Geological Cycles
- Rock Cycle: Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
Earth’s Energy Dynamics and Geological Processes
Types of Energy That Cause Changes
- Internal energy is contained inside the Earth from the time of its formation and triggers *endogenous* geological processes.
- Solar energy influences the atmospheric dynamics and hydrosphere.
Distribution of Solar Energy
- In polar regions, the sun is low on the horizon, just heating the air, and temperatures are low.
- Equatorial regions receive more direct solar energy.
Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Wind
The wind is generated when air moves from areas of higher atmospheric
Read MoreEnvironmental Impact: Causes and Consequences
Definition of Environment
Environment is defined as the set of physical-chemical, biological, and social components that may cause an effect on living beings. This means that whatever changes the means in which living things live or alters some living being in some way is part of the environment.
Environmental Impact
Environmental impact refers to the transformation of the natural environment.
Human Impact
The living being with the greatest impact on the environment is man, due to the development of
Read MoreUnderstanding Air Pollution: Sources, Types, and Impacts
Air Pollution: An Overview
Air pollution: The presence in the air of substances or forms of energy that imply danger, harm, or serious inconvenience for people and goods of any nature.
Sources of Contamination
- Natural: The activity of the geosphere and the biosphere. Volcanic eruptions release sulfur compounds. Respiration processes of living beings increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. The decomposition of anaerobic organic matter produces methane. Other emission sources are fires and electrical