Anthrosphere

From Wikipedia, "The anthrosphere / anthroposphere (sometimes also referred as technosphere) is that part of the environment that is made or modified by humans for use in human activities and human habitats. "

If you viewed the 3-part PBS series on Your Inner Fish, then you have already been introduced to the tetrapod that captures the transition of life moving from water on to land.  This fossil specimen, classified as the Tiktaalik roseae, is temporarily housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.  To learn more about the Tiktaalik roseae, visit our online collection of resources relating to the book and mini-series. 

Tiktaalik roseae, from Your Inner Fish

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was utilized for an investigation at Cumberland Cemetery in Lima, PA, to identify the grave sites of unmarked burials in this historic cemetery.  For a summary of the study results, please see Eileen Fresta's undergraduate honors thesis on A Study of the Cumberland Cemetery in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania.  This video by GSSI gives a good overview of GPR and its applications.

Ground Penetrating Radar at Cumberland Cemetery

The PA Bureau of Forestry built a green roof on top of the Tiadaghton Forest Resource Management Center in Pine Creek Valley.  The green roof is one component of the building's LEED Gold certification.

Green Roof in Pine Creek Valley

The Centre Furnace site includes the Centre Furnace Mansion, furnace stack (pictured here), and surrounding eight acres. This National Register site represents the 18th century beginnings of the charcoal iron industry in this area and a small portion of the late 18th-century ironmaking village once located here.

Centre Furnace Stack

This photo was taken during a program offered by the Tiadaghton State Forest staff, titled "Marcellus Shale and Natural Gas Development on Pennsylvania State Forest Lands."  The program was part of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Eastern Section Conference.  These wellheads, nicknamed Christmas trees, are on a pad in the Tiadaghton State Forest.  Visit the PA DCNR website to learn morem about Natural Gas Development and State Forests.

 

 

Marcellus Shale Wellheads in Tiadaghton State Forest

This photo was taken during a visit to Centralia, PA, on September 24, 2010.  The view is from one of the former streets of this former town, looking northeast towards the mountains.

To view information about Pennsylvania's wind farms, please visit: http://www.pennfuture.org/clean-energy

A Line of Wind Turbines

From the Ridley Creek State Park website:  "Ridley Creek State Park encompasses over 2,606 acres of Delaware County woodlands and meadows. The gently rolling terrain of the park, bisected by Ridley Creek, is only 16 miles from center city Philadelphia. Within the park boundaries was a small 18th century village, which grew up around the site of a mill. Now known as Sycamore Mills, the area had been previously named Bishop’s Mill and Providence Mill. The miller’s house, the office and library, and several small mill workers’ dwellings are currently used as private residences. The park area has been designated as the Ridley Creek State Park Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Park property was purchased in the 1960s with Project 70 funds, and developed with Land and Water Conservation Fund moneys. Park facilities were dedicated to public use in August of 1972."

Waterfall at Sycamore Mills Dam, Ridley Creek State Park

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