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Scroll through the outline or click on a week in the calendar to find that week's topics, reading and assignments. To get back to the top of the page, use the Back button on your browser.
Note: This outline is provided as a guide to the lecture topics.
There may be departures and we may not get to all these topics.
M: Environmental Geology by Montgomery
E&G: Taking Sides by Easton and Goldfarb
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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1 |
Introduction to Environmental Geology. Origin and composition of the solar system | |
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Geological Principles, Concepts and Earth
Materials
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M: Chpt 1 | |
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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2 |
Video: Earth Revealed, Plate Dynamics. More plate tectonics | M: Chpt 3 |
| Hawaii. Plate tectonic setting in Europe. Introduce minerals and rocks | ||
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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3 |
Minerals and rocks. European geology and plate tectonics |
M: Chpt 2 |
| Relative geologic time. Absolute geologic time | M: Appendix A | |
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Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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4 |
Geologic
Hazards Begin earthquakes: theory, faults and waves and locating epicenters |
M: Chpt 4 |
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Earthquake hazards. Earthquake predictions. Earthquakes in Europe. Tsunamis Later this week we will talk about tsunamis and how they relate to both earthquakes and volcanoes. Check out a great tsunami site with animations by clicking on the tsunami painting. Also check out the tsunami site by the University of Washington.
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Video: The Day the Earth Shook | |
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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5 |
Exam 1, 50 min: Covers weeks 1-4
Volcanoes: where and how they're formed |
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Video: In the Path of a Killer Volcano. Volcanic hazards. Volcanoes of Europe Be sure to also check out the US Geological Suvey pages on Cascade Volcanoes, Alaska Volcanoes, and Hawaii Volcanoes. These all have some great pictures and information. Volcano World is a site that is advertised as being both educational and humorous. Check out this site maintained by scientists at the University of North Dakota. As Earth magazine said they must have spare time on their hands waiting for all the North Dakotan volcanoes to erupt. There is also the CNN volcano site. |
M: Chpt 5 | |
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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6 |
Surface-water systems. Drainage-basins, sediment transport. | M: Chpt 6 |
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Flooding.
Photo Credit: CNN Interactive U.S. News |
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Carnival Break! |
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Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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7 |
Geological Resource Use and Exploitation
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M: pp. 229-232 M: Chpt 1, pp. 12-21 (again) E&G: Issue 16, pp. 313-333 |
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Weathering: chemical and physical processes. Soils: what they are, how they are formed and why they are important See this figure shown in class regarding physical vs. chemical weathering. |
M: Chpt 11, pp. 263-272 | |
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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8 |
Soil problems and soil erosion | M: Chpt 11, pp. 263-272 |
| Groundwater: what it is and how it flows | M: Chpt 10 | |
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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9 |
Exam 2, 50 min: covers weeks 5-8
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Water pollution Global air circulation and climates
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M: Chpt 16 M: Chpt 9, pp. 205-206 |
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Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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10 |
Deserts and desertification Fossil fuels. Formation and distribution of oil and coal |
M: Chpt 9, pp. 210-213 M: Chpt 13 |
| Air pollution and global warming | M: Chpt 17 M: Chpt 9, pp. 213-227 |
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Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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11 |
Kyoto Protocol and the 2002 Earth Summit. Europe vs. the US. Non-nuclear alternatives to fossil fuels | E&G: Issue 12, pp.
232-255 M: Chpt 14, pp. 348-366 |
| Debate 1: Global
warming and Kyoto. Nuclear energy |
M: Chpt 14, pp. 337-348 | |
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Study Tour! |
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Easter Break! |
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Week |
Topic |
Reading |
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12 |
More on nuclear energy and disposal of nuclear waste | M: Chpt 15 Video: The Bells of Chernobyl: Ten Years After (52 min) |
| Debate 2: Nuclear
waste disposal: should it stop nuclear power? Environmental justice and racism. Course wrap up |
E&G: Issue 15, pp. 294-311 | |
Final Exam:
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Photo Credit: Cascade
Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey
