Georgia Geology and Hydrology

A. Georgia Geology

1. Print out a copy of the shaded relief map of Georgia (http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/states/maps1/ga.gif) from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.
   Label the physiographic provinces on the shaded relief map using this index map as a guide (http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/photogallery/physiomap.htm). Carefully and precisely outline on your shaded relief map each of the following provinces, and write their names in the margin of the map:
   
   1. Blue Ridge
   2. Coastal Plain (upper and lower combined)
   3. Piedmont
   4. Valley and Ridge
   5. Appalachian Plateau (Lookout Mountain area in the NW corner of GA).

2. Look for evidence of faults on the shaded relief map, and carefully plot them on the shaded relief map using the map of major faults in Georgia as your guide. Look carefully at the satellite image to see the lineaments or LINEAR FEATURES in the topography that indicate the presence of faults. Match up these topographic lineaments with the named faults.

   If you are in lab, you can also and locate the faults on the Geological Highway map of the Southeastern Region. Copies of the map are for sale in the Clarkston Campus Bookstore.

   Here are the faults to locate and trace on your shaded relief map:

   1. Brevard Fault Zone
   2. Towaliga Fault
   3. Goat Rock Fault
   4. Cartersville Fault
   5. Rome Fault

B. Georgia Hydrology

1. Learn the names and locations of some of the major rivers in Georgia, rivers near Atlanta, and rivers in the news.
   Print out the state rivers map http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/pdf/garivers.pdf. You will need the free Adobe Axrobat reader (www.adobe.com).
   The drainage pattern map below is derived from one by the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). Your assignment is to label the names of the rivers listed below.
   
   1. Chattahoochee River
   2. Flint River
   3. Ocmulgee River
   4. Oconee River
   5. Altamaha River
   6. Savannah River
   7. Etowah River
   
   Check here: http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/FS-010-96/images/fig2.gif or check a state highway map.

   Some of the smaller rivers are not labelled in the online map. Locate these two rivers in the Atlanta area (you may want to use a highway map), and label them on your map below:

   1. Yellow River
   2. South River

   

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   Go to the U. S. Geological Survey Water Resources information on Georgia at this address http://h2o.usgs.gov/public/wid/html/ga.html and answer the following questions. You just need to scroll down the page to find the answers.

   Competing Demands for Water

2. How much did the demand for water increase in the metropolitan Atlanta part of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin between 1970 and 1990?

3. Which tropical storm caused flooding in July 1994?

4. Which river basins were affected by this storm?

5. What are some of the things which were damaged or destroyed by flooding?

   Potential Contamination

6. One source of potential water contamination is the Savannah River Site in SC. What types of hazardous materials are there?

   Effects of Global Climate Change

7. Global temperatures may increase because of what?

8. What is the U.S. Geological Survey studying at Panola Mountain?

9. What is dendrochronology?

   Geological and geohydrological studies in North Georgia

10. Why is the USGS mapping in north Georgia?

    National Mapping Program

11. How many 1:24,000 scale topographic maps cover Georgia?

12. For what are they useful?

    Geologic Information Centers

13. The U.S. Seismic Network will consist of 60 seismic stations nationwide. Where is the closest one, in Georgia?

14. Why monitor earthquakes?

C. Graphing rainfall in Georgia to interpret events

Go to the Water Conditions in Georgia Index Page, or type in http://wwwga.usgs.gov/ga006.html

For each month in 1995, list the current and long term average precipitation in Atlanta.
Click on each month in turn, and page down to the table.
Find Atlanta in the table. Write down the numbers for current and long term rainfall.

Month	Current rainfall	Long Term Average
January 1995
February 1995
March 1995
April 1995
May 1995
June 1995
July 1995
August 1995
September 1995
October 1995
November 1995
December 1995

Now plot the numbers you have collected for current and longterm rainfall on the "simulated graph paper" below.

Plot long term average with black dots, and current monthly rainfall with red dots.
Connect the black dots with a black line. Connect the red dots with a red line.

20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	Jan 1995	Feb 1995	Mar 1995	April 1995	May 1995	June 1995	July 1995	Aug 1995	Sept 1995	Oct 1995	Nov 1995	Dec 1995

Now, go back to the index and find the current precipitation levels in Atlanta for July 1994.
Water Conditions in Georgia Index Page, or type in http://wwwga.usgs.gov/ga006.html

July 1994 Current monthly rainfall = ___________________________

Plot the July 1994 current level on your graph as a BLUE dot on the same vertical line as your July 1995 data.

How do the precipitation levels of July 1994 compare with the graph that you have drawn?

What "event" caused the difference? (Hint: It is mentioned earlier in this assignment).

Return to Georgia Geoscience Online

This page created by Dr. Pamela J. W. Gore,
Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA
pgore@gpc.edu

Instructions clarified and typo corrected Nov. 28, 2000.
Web link updated Nov 12, 2001 and Dec 6, 2001