EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES

270.102 (N)

FRESHMAN SEMINAR: CONVERSATION WITH THE EARTH Marsh  Limit 55 per section  Freshmen only
Sec. 01: 2 credits (normal participation)
Sec. 02: 3 credits (requires term paper)
A discussion of current topics on Earth's origin, evolution, and habitability.  Topics will include extinction of life from meteorite impact, global warming, ozone depletion, volcanism, ice ages, and catastrophic floods, among others.

Sec. 01
02

ThF 11
ThF 11

270.103 (N)

OUR CHANGING PLANET (3)
Olson/Szlavecz   Limit 110  
A broad survey of the Earth as a planet, with emphasis on the processes that control global changes. Topics include: the structure, formation,  and evolution of the Earth, the atmosphere, oceans, continents, and biosphere. Special attention is given to present-day issues, such as global climate change, natural hazards, air pollution, resource depletion, human population growth, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity. Open to all undergraduates; no pre-requisites.

Sec. 01

MTW 11

270.104 (N)

HISTORY OF THE EARTH AND ITS BIOTA (3) Hinnov   Limit 110  
The history of the earth and life as understood through the geologic record.  The evolution and extinction of major life forms will be examined from the perspective of interactions among the solid earth, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere.

Sec. 01

MTW 1

270.220 (N)

THE DYNAMIC EARTH: AN INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY (3) Ferry/Veblen    Limit 30 
Prereqs:  030.101 or 171.101-102 or equivalent   Coreq (for EPS Majors):  270.221; optional for others. Basic concepts in geology, including plate tectonics; Earth’s internal structure; geologic time; minerals; formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; development of faults, folds and earthquakes; geomagnetism.

Sec. 01

MTW 11

270.221 (N)

THE DYNAMIC EARTH LABORATORY (2) (1) Olsen    Limit 12  Coreq: 270.220
This course is a hands-on learning experience for introductory geological concepts and techniques using geological tools, such as mineral/rock samples, microscopes, and maps. Field trips are its essential part.

Sec. 01

T 1:30-4

270.311 (N)

GEOBIOLOGY (3) Jahren    Limit 30
Study of the interface between the biological and geological earth.

Sec. 01

ThF 10:30-12

270.332 (N)

SOIL ECOLOGY (3) Szlavecz    Limit 10
Prerequisites:  Population and Community Ecology, Geobiology or Instructor's permission     This course introduces basic aspects of cycles and flows in the soil ecosystem, and provides students with an overview of the higher groups of soil organisms, focusing on their identification characters and ecological roles.  The course in intended for upper level undergraduates or graduate students who are interested in soils and soil ecology.  The course provides basic laboratory and field surveying skills in the discipline.  Laboratory and field surveying methods are also covered.

Sec. 01

F 1-3

270.369 (N)

GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH & ENVIRONMENT (3) Sverjensky   Limit 30
Prereqs:  270.103, 270.114, 270.220, or 270.222  The chemical principles needed to understand and predict how the elements migrate through the Earth and the sub-surface environment.  Applications to metallic resources and nuclear waste migration.

Sec. 01

TTh 3-4:30

270.375 (E,N)

GROUNDWATER (3) Garven   Limit 20     Cross listed with Geography and Environmental Engineering Course canceled 5/22/07

Sec. 01

MTW 10

270.425 (N)

EARTH AND PLANETARY FLUIDS (3) Waugh/ Olson   Limit 20 
Prereq: Basic Physics, Calculus, and familiarity with ordinary differential equationsAn introductory course on the properties, flow, and transport characteristics of fluids throughout the Earth and planets. Topics covered include: constitutive relationships, fluid rheology, hydrostatics, dimensional analysis, low Reynolds number flow, porous media, waves, stratified and rotating fluids, plus heat, mass, and tracer transport. Illustrative examples and problems are drawn from the atmosphere, ocean, crust, mantle, and core of the Earth and other Planets.  Open to graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Sec. 01

MTW 2

270.495 (N)
(W)

SENIOR THESIS Staff
Preparation of a substantial thesis based upon independent student research, supervised by at least one faculty member in Earth and Planetary Sciences.  Open to Sr. departmental majors only.  Required for department honors.

Sec. 01

TBA

270.501

INDEPENDENT STUDY

270.503

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

270.507

INTERNSHIP

270.602

SEMINAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH GEOSCIENCES Jahren/ Sverjensky    Limit 20   Perm. Req’d.
An introduction to topics of current interest in the environmental and health geosciences. Course canceled 9/07/07

Sec. 01

TBA

270.603

GEOCHEMISTRY SEMINAR Sverjensky   Limit 20 Course added 9/18/07

Sec. 01

TBA

270.604

SEMINAR IN GEOPHYSICAL PETROLOGY Marsh   Limit 15 Discussion of present research topics in geophysics and igneous petrology.

Sec. 01

TBA

270.605

JOURNAL CLUB Conrad Limit 50     Review and discussion of new geologic literature and current research.  All geology students participate and deliver at least one paper a year.

Sec. 01

Th 12

270.607

SOIL ECOLOGY Szlavecz    Limit 10 Prerequisites:  Population and Community Ecology, Geobiology or Instructor's permission   (See 270.332 for description) 

Sec. 01

F 1-3

270.608

SEMINAR IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES Waugh Limit 20     Discussion of current research topics in atmospheric science.

Sec. 01

TBA

270.611

GEOBIOLOGY Jahren
Limit 30   Study of the interface between the biological and geological earth.

Sec. 01

ThF 10:30-12

 

270.612

THE NATURE OF SCIENCE AND THE CONDUCT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Wright   Limit 20    

Sec. 01

TBA

 

270.616

PLATE TECTONICS & MANTLE CONVECTION Conrad Limit 20     An examination of the interaction between Earth's tectonic plates and mantle convection. Topics include plate-driving forces, plate deformation, the role of continents, requirements for plate tectonics, and plate-tectonic history.

Sec. 01

TBA

 

270.652

PHYSICS OF MAGMA Marsh Limit 10     The principles of viscous fluid flow, heat conduction and convection are treated in reference to all aspects of the mechanics of magma.  Emphasis is placed on understanding petrologic processes as observed in rocks and rock sequences.

Sec. 01

TBA

270.661

PLANETARY FLUID DYNAMICS Strobel   Limit 20   Prereqs:  270.646 or equivalent highly desirable This is a self-contained one-semester course in the applications of basic fluid dynamics concepts to the study of planetary atmospheres.  Topics include equations of motion on a rotating planet, the Boussinesq approximation, conservation properties, hydrodynamic instability, convection, turbulence and planetary boundary layers, quasi-geostrophic theory, baroclinic instability, general circulation, and linear wave propagation.

Sec. 01

TBA

270.662

SEMINAR IN PLANETARY SCIENCE Strobel   Limit 15     Major problems of current interest in planetary science are critically discussed in depth. 

Sec. 01

TBA

500.602

SEMINAR: ENVIRONMENT AND APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS Meneveau   Cross-listed with Geography and Environmental Engineering, Interdepartmental, and Mechanical Engineering

Sec. 01

F 10:30-12:30

270.807

RESEARCH