Acknowledgements & Credits

We are grateful to the following reviewers, each of whom edited one or more chapters of The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ to the Earth Science of the Western US: Warren D. Allmon, Scott Babcock, Robert De Groot, Don Duggan-Haas, Bryan Isacks, Robert Kay, Judith T. Parrish, and Harold Wershow.

Richard Kissel managed early development of The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ series. The glossary was developed by Paula Mikkelsen and Andrielle Swaby.

Funding for this Guide came from National Science Foundation DR K-12 grant DRL-0733303 to the Paleontological Research Institution. Funding to start The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ series was provided by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Jane (Ansley) Picconi did page layout for the first Guide in the series, The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ to the Geology of the Northeastern US (Paleontological Research Institution special publication 24, 2000), many features of which have been adopted for this Guide.

Figure Credits

Chapter 1: Geologic History

  • 1.1: Jim Houghton
  • 1.2: Jane Picconi
  • 1.3: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 1.4 - 1.5: Frank Granshaw
  • 1.6: Jim Houghton
  • 1.7 - 1.8: Frank Granshaw
  • 1.9: Jim Houghton
  • 1.10: Frank Granshaw
  • 1.11: Adapted from image by William A. Cobban & Kevin C. McKinney, USGS
  • 1.12: Frank Granshaw
  • 1.13: Wade Greenberg-Brand, with inset from NOAA
  • 1.14: Alexandra Moore
  • Sedimentary Structures Box: Jim Houghton
  • Pangaea Box: Adapted from USGS
  • Crust Box: Jim Houghton
  • Plate Boundaries Box: Jose F. Vigil, USGS
  • Volcanic Stages: Andrielle Swaby

Chapter 2: Rocks

  • 2.1: Jane Picconi
  • 2.2: Chip Caroon [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 2.3: Brocken Inaglory [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 2.4: USGS
  • 2.5: Sam Schlesinger and Audrey Wilson
  • 2.6: Yukinobu Zengame [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
  • 2.7: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 2.8: William Borg
  • 2.9: Colin Faulkingham
  • 2.10: Adapted from image by Washington State Department of Natural Resources
  • 2.11: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 2.12: Ken Lund [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 2.13: Alisha Vargas [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 2.14: Wendy Van Norden
  • 2.15: Wing-Chi Poon [CC-BY-SA-2.5] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 2.16: Jon Sullivan
  • 2.17: Wendy Van Norden
  • 2.18: Adapted from image by Shannon Chan [CC-BY-SA-4.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 2.19 - 2.20: Lyn Topinka, USGS
  • 2.21: USGS
  • 2.22: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 2.23: Wendy Van Norden
  • 2.24: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 2.25: Adapted from image by the National Park Service
  • 2.26: Dana Styber [CC-BY-ND-2.0] via Flickr
  • 2.27: Gary Lewis
  • 2.28: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 2.29: Jim Houghton
  • 2.30: Adapted from image by NASA
  • 2.31: Dave Bezaire and Suzi Havens-Bezaire [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 2.32: USGS
  • 2.33: Alexandra Moore
  • 2.34: USGS
  • 2.35 - 2.36: Alexandra Moore
  • 2.37: Jen Lewis
  • 2.38: Gary Lewis
  • 2.39: Alexandra Moore
  • Surface Rocks Box: Jim Houghton
  • Stromatolite Box: James St. John [CC-BY-2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • Dune Box: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • Columnar Jointing Box: Wendy Van Norden
  • Metamorphism Box: Jim Houghton
  • Stratovolcano Box: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • Turbidity Current Box: Wade Greenberg-Brand

Chapter 3: Fossils

  • 3.1: Brendan Anderson
  • 3.2: A) and B) from Grabau & Shimer (1910) via Orr, E. L., & W. N. Orr, 1999, Oregon Fossils, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Dubuque, IA, 381 pp.; C) © Christi Sobel; D) Redrawn by Christi Sobel from Caruthers, A. H., & G. D. Stanley, Jr., 2008, Systematic analysis of Upper Triassic silicified scleractinian corals from Wrangellia and the Alexander Terrane, Alaska and British Columbia, Journal of Paleontology, 82(3): 470 - 491.
  • 3.3: Redrawn by Christi Sobel from A) Boucot, A. J., R. B. Blodgett, & D. M. Rohr, 2012. Strophatrypa, a new genus of Brachiopoda (Atrypidae), from upper Silurian strata of the Alexander terrane, southeast Alaska, Bulletin of Geosciences (Czech Geological Survey, Prague), 87(2), 261 - 267; B) Johnson, J. G., & G. Klapper, 1978, Devonian brachiopods from central Oregon, Journal of Paleontology, 52(2): 295 - 299; C) Meek, F. B., 1864, Description of the Carboniferous fossils, pp. 3 - 16 in: Palaeontology, Volume I, Geological Survey of California, Sacramento; D) Blodget, R., 2012, Alaska fossil of the month. Kirkidium alaskense (Kirk & Amsden), Alaska Geology, 42(5): 5 - 6
  • 3.4: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.5: USNM specimen, photo by Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 3.6: Eastman, C. R., ed., Text-book of Paleontology, adapted from the German of K. A. von Zittel, 2nd edition, Vol. 1, Macmillan & Co., London, 1913, p. 839
  • 3.7: A) © Christi Sobel; B) Mike Henderson [CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 3.8: A) Eastman, C. R., ed., Text-book of Paleontology, adapted from the German of K. A. von Zittel, 2nd edition, Vol. 1, Macmillan & Co., London, 1913, p. 839; B) Grabau & Shimer (1910) via Orr, E. L., & W. N. Orr, 1999, Oregon Fossils, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Dubuque, IA, 381 pp; C) and D) © Christi Sobel
  • 3.9 - 3.11: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.12: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 3.13: A) and C) Gabb, W. M., 1864, Description of the Cretaceous fossils, pp. 57 - 217, in: Palaeontology, Volume I, Geological Survey of California, Sacramento; B) Eastman, C. R., ed., Text-book of Paleontology, adapted from the German of K. A. von Zittel, 2nd edition, Vol. 1, Macmillan & Co., London, 1913, p. 839
  • 3.14: Justin Leif
  • 3.15: Manchester, S. R., 1994, Fruits and seeds of the Middle Eocene Nut Beds flora, Clarno Formation, Oregon, Palaeontographica Americana, 58, 205 pp.
  • 3.16: Knowlton, F. H., 1902, Fossil flora of the John Day Basin, Oregon, US Geological Survey Bulletin 204, 113 pp.
  • 3.17: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.18: Redrawn by Christi Sobel from Retallack, G. J., E. A. Bestland, & T. J. Fremd, 1996, Reconstructions of Eocene and Oligocene plants and animals of central Oregon, Oregon Geology, 58(3): 51 - 69
  • 3.19: Chappell, W. M., J. W. Durham, & D. E. Savage, 1951, Mold of a rhinoceros in basalt, Lower Grand Coulee, Washington, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 62(8): 907 - 918
  • 3.20: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.21: Walcott, C. D., 1886, Second contribution to the studies on the Cambrian faunas of North America, US Geological Survey Bulletin 30, 369 pp.
  • 3.22: A) © Christi Sobel; B) Mark A. Wilson
  • 3.23 - 3.26: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.27: Gabb, W. M., 1869, Palaeontology, Volume II, Geological Survey of California, Sacramento.
  • 3.28: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.29: Arnold, R., 1903, The paleontology and stratigraphy of the marine Pliocene and Pleistocene of San Pedro, California, California Academy of Sciences Memoirs, 3, 419 pp.
  • 3.30: Joel [CC-BY-ND-2.0] via Flickr
  • 3.31: Robert Bruce Horsfall
  • 3.32: Sarah Murray [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 3.33: John Hackensacker [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3.34: “Wallace63” [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3.35: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.36: United Kingdom Virtual Microscope Collection [CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0] via virtualmicroscope.org
  • 3.37: Imlay, R. M., 1955, Characteristic Jurassic mollusks from northern Alaska, US Geological Survey Professional Paper 274-D, pp. 69 - 96
  • 3.38: James Havens [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3.39: A) Anthony R. Fiorillo & Ronald S. Tykoski [CC-BY-2.5] via Wikimedia Commons; B) Tom Parker [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3.40 - 3.41: © Christi Sobel
  • 3.42: Adapted from image by Stanton F. Fink [CC-BY-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3.43: A) John Gerrard Keulemans; B) Karl Magnacca [CC-BY-SA-2.5] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3.44: Emma V. Reed
  • 3.45: “Pretzelpaws” [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • Archaeocyathid Box: © Christi Sobel
  • Brachiopod Box: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • Graptolite Box: A) © Christi Sobel; B) from E. L. Palmer, 1965, Fossils, D.C. Heath, Boston
  • Ammonoid Box: Adapted from image by www.renmanart.com
  • Mastodons and Mammoths Box: © Christi Sobel
  • Crinoid Box: © Christi Sobel

Chapter 4: Topography

  • 4.1: Jim Houghton
  • 4.2: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 4.3: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 4.4: Google Earth
  • 4.5 - 4.6: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 4.7: “Dsdugan,” public domain via Wikimedia Commons
  • 4.8: Lynn Suckow [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 4.9: Judith Totman Parish
  • 4.10: Jim Houghton
  • 4.11 - 4.12: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 4.13: Geology Café
  • 4.14: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 4.15: Paxson Woelber [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 4.16: Adapted from images by Dorothy Nelson
  • 4.17 - 4.18: Alexandra Moore
  • 4.19: Jeff Kubina [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 4.20: Adapted from image by Google Earth
  • 4.21: “ErgoSum88,” public domain via Wikimedia Commons
  • 4.22: Alexandra Moore
  • 4.23: Bryce Edwards [CC-BY-2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 4.24: Caroline Gagné [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 4.25: USGS
  • 4.26: Gary Lewis
  • 4.27: Daniel Ramirez [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • Elevation Map: Andrielle Swaby

Chapter 5: Mineral Resources

  • 5.1: Jane Picconi
  • 5.2: David Gillam
  • 5.3: Karl Musser [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 5.4: Patrick Huber [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 5.5: Chris Ralph
  • 5.6: Jim Houghton
  • 5.7: James St. John [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.8: US Forest Service
  • 5.9: James St. John [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.10: Elton Lin [CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.11: Doc Searles [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.12: David Gillam
  • 5.13: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 5.14: Jim Houghton
  • 5.15: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 5.16: “jdj150” [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.17: Cecil Sanders [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.18: Mark Stevens [CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.19: Mike Beauregard [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 5.20: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 5.21: Jen Lewis
  • 5.22: Fiona Lewis
  • 5.23: Gary Lewis
  • Hydrothermal Solution Box: Jim Houghton
  • Jade Box: James St. John [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr

Chapter 6: Glaciers

  • 6.1: Jim Houghton
  • 6.2 - 6.4: Frank Granshaw
  • 6.5: Jim Houghton
  • 6.6: Frank Granshaw
  • 6.7: Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 6.8: Jeremy Keith [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 6.9: Rowan McLaughlin [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 6.10: Jim Houghton
  • 6.11: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 6.12: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 6.13: Boris Kasimov [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 6.14: Aaron [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 6.15: David Iliff [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 6.16: USGS

Chapter 7: Energy

  • 7.1: Jim Houghton
  • 7.2: Adapted from image by US Energy Information Administration
  • 7.3: US Bureau of Reclamation
  • 7.4: Peter Nester
  • 7.5: Stephen G., public domain via Wikimedia Commons
  • 7.6: Tom Walsh [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • Geothermal Box: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • Oil and Gas Box: Jim Houghton
  • Coal Box: Jim Houghton

Chapter 8: Soils

  • 8.1: Adapted from image by USDA NRCS
  • 8.2: Alexandra Moore
  • 8.3: Adapted from image by USDA NRCS
  • 8.4: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 8.5 - 8.11: Adapted from image by USDA
  • 8.12: Karl Musser [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 8.13: Rear Admiral Harley D. Nygren, NOAA [CC-BY-2.0] via Flickr
  • 8.14: Miguel Vieira [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 8.15: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 8.16: EPA
  • 8.17: Anja Leidel [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 8.18: Brewbooks [CC-BY-SA-2.0] via Flickr
  • 8.19: NASA SeaWiFS

Chapter 9: Climate

  • 9.1: Jim Houghton
  • 9.2: Robert Rohde
  • 9.3: Adapted from Wikipedia
  • 9.4: Frank Granshaw
  • 9.5: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 9.6: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 9.7: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 9.8 - 9.11: Adapted from image by Scenarios for Climate Assessment and Adaptation
  • 9.12: National Park Service and USDA
  • 9.13: NASA MODIS
  • 9.14: Alexandra Moore
  • 9.15: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 9.16: Alexandra Moore
  • 9.17: Adapted from 2013 Rainfall Atlas of Hawai’i, Department of Geography, University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • 9.18: Adapted from 2014 Hawaii Evapotranspiration Project, Department of Geography, University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • 9.19: NOAA
  • 9.20: USDA National Resources Conservation Service
  • 9.21: US Global Change Research Program
  • Köppen box: Adapted from figures by NOAA and Grieser et al., 2006, World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated, Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 15: 259 - 263.
  • Rainfall Box: Alexandra Moore

Chapter 10: Earth Hazards

  • 10.1: Adapted from image by California Emergency Management Agency
  • 10.2: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 10.3 - 10.5: USGS
  • 10.6: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 10.7: Wendy Van Norden
  • 10.8: Wendy Van Norden
  • 10.9: Symac [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
  • 10.10 USGS
  • 10.11: Wade Greenberg-Brand
  • 10.12: Susan Cannon, USGS
  • 10.13: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
  • 10.14 - 10.15: USGS
  • 10.16: Game McGimsey, USGS
  • 10.17: Adapted from image by NASA
  • 10.18: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 10.19: USGS
  • 10.20: Adapted from image by USGS
  • 10.21: J. D. Griggs, USGS
  • 10.22: NASA
  • 10.23: USGS and Google Earth
  • 10.24: USGS
  • 10.25: USGS and Google Earth
  • 10.26 - 10.28: NOAA
  • 10.29: NASA MODIS
  • 10.30: Adapted from image by USDA
  • 10.31: National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • 10.32: Union of Concerned Scientists

Chapter 11: Fieldwork

  • 11.1 - 11.2: PRI
  • 11.3: Don Duggan-Haas
  • Appendix
  • A.1 - A.3: Next Generation Science Standards