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

TTh 10:30-11:45

TTh 10:30-11:45

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

MWF 11-11:50

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

MWF 1-1:50

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

MWF 11-11:50

270.221 (N)

THE DYNAMIC EARTH LABORATORY (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

270.320 (N)

THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR HEALTH (3) Kensler  Limit 300 110
This course surveys the basic environmental health sciences (toxicology, risk assessment), current public health issues (hazardous waste, radon, water-borne diseases) and emerging global health threats (global warming, ozone depletion, sustainability).   Cross-listed with Public Health Studies and Geography and Environmental Engineering

Sec. 01

TTh 4:30-5:45

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 3-4:15

270.378 (N)

PRESENT AND FUTURE CLIMATE (3) Arking   Limit 20     Prereq: Calculus I & II (110.108-109 and General Physics (171.101-102)  Intended for majors who are interested in the science that underlies the current debate on global warming, the focus is on recent observations, and one can glean from model simulations.

Sec. 01

TTh 10:30-11:45

270.410 (N)

REMOTE SENSING OF THE ENVIRONMENT (3) Del Castillo  Limit 20   This course is an introduction to the use of remote sensing technology to study Earth’s physical and biochemical processes. Topics covered include remote sensing of the atmosphere, land and oceans, as well as remote sensing as a tool for policy makers.

Sec. 01

TTh 3-4:15

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

MWF 2-2:50

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
An independent course of study may be pursued under the direction of an adviser on those topics not specifically listed in the form of regular courses.

270.503

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

270.507

INTERNSHIP

270.603

GEOCHEMISTRY SEMINAR Sverjensky  Limit 20  A variety of topics of current interest involving mineral fluid interactions will be reviewed.

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 Staff   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

M 12-12:50 3:30-4:20

270.623

PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES StrobelLimit 30   Perm. Req’d     Fundamental concepts and basic principles of chemistry and physics applied to the study of planetary atmospheres. Vertical structure of planetary atmospheres. Atmospheric radiation, thermodynamics and transport. Principles of photochemistry. Planetary spectroscopy and remote sensing. Upper atmospheres and ionospheres. Evolution and stability of planetary atmospheres.

Sec. 01

TBA

 

270.626

OCEAN GENERAL CIRCULATION Haine   Limit 20   The aim of this course is to achieve conceptual understanding of the large scale low frequency ocean general circulation. The role of the ocean circulation in earth’s climate is emphasized throughout.

Sec. 01

TBA

 

270.627

SEMINAR IN SOIL ECOLOGY Szlavecz   Limit 20   Prereq: Soil Ecology (270.332) or Perm. Req’d Discussion of current research topics in soil ecology and biogeochemistry.

Sec. 01

TBA

 

270.632 630

SEMINAR IN ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY   Li   Limit 20 Discussion of current research topics in atmospheric chemistry. Course canceled 7/09/08

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

270.662

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

Sec. 01

T 3-3:50

270.673

TIME SERIES AND DATA ANALYSIS Osborn   Limit 15   Spectral analysis, digital filtering, convolutions , and other techniques for processing data will be covered.Course canceled 9/03/08

Sec. 01

W 2-4

500.602

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

Sec. 01

F 10:30-12:30

270.807

RESEARCH