Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Social Media
College of Sciences Social Media
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Introduction to environmental field science. Case study approach. Exposure to basic field equipment and techniques, analysis of data.
Introduction to the origin and evolution of Planet Earth, creation of the universe and the elements, early history of Earth, radioisotope geochemistry and the timing of events in the universe, the galaxy, and on Earth. Formation of the atmosphere and oceans. Climate.
Identify and quantify nature's physical and chemical contributions to human-made urban environments, and measure the impacts of urban area feedback on these natural systems.
An introduction to analysis of forecasting data and model output.
An introduction to earth materials and processes.
Integrated course in mathematical, physical, and computing techniques for application in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
An introductory treatment of the application of the basic physical laws to the understanding of weather phenomena. Cross listed with Phys 2750.
The rising global demand for fossil fuels, coupled with increasing concern about global warming, have made the search for affordable alternative energies a matter of local, national, and international importance. The path towards alternative energy infrastructures for the 21st century requires careful consideration of economic, environmental, technological, and political factors. This interdisciplinary course will blend current events, guest speakers, lively discussion, and a wide array of literature to separate fact from fiction in the heated debate concerning our nation's energy and climate future. Topics will include: i) an overview of America's current energy structure, including the science and technology underlying each energy source, ii) a review of key energy policies and precedent from the last several decades to present, including the Kyoto Protocol and the new California carbon mitigation bill, and iii) a look into the future of America's energy structure, with an emphasis on emerging technologies and policy development. Students will write briefs on topics covered in the first half of the course and, for the second half of the course, work in teams to conduct independent research into an energy-related question of their choosing.
Research Topics: PaleoclimateAn introduction to the thermodynamics of the Earth and atmosphere.
An introduction to visualizing and understanding earth history, structure, and dynamics through geophysical methods including seismology, gravity, magnetism, heat flow, geochronology, and geodesy.
Research Topics: GeophysicsA quantitative treatment of geochemical processes in the Earth and natural waters, with emphasis on chemical reactions among atmospheric gases, minerals, and aqueous solutions.
Structural geology and continuum mechanics for scientists and civil engineers. Stress and strain in rocks; faults, joints and folds; basic field mapping; laboratory exercises.
This course is designed to engage earth science and engineering students interested in applying field and theoretical methods to understand the structural make-up of the earth's crust. Students will develop the essential tools to reconstruct the dynamic state and history of earth's deformational systems. The information is useful for a wide range of natural and anthropogenic topics, including: plate tectonics; earthquake occurrence; landscape evolution; groundwater and petroleum reservoirs; and mineral resources. For students with previous coursework in mechanics, this is an opportunity to apply that knowledge to much larger bodies than the tallest buildings, longest bridges or widest dams. A greater appreciation of the forces and time involved in developing faults, folds, basins, and mountains should be a goal of all students interested in this course.We will examine the application of stress and strain on rocks, the development of faults and folds, orogenic belts and plate tectonics, the construction and interpretation of geologic maps, and basic field techniques in structural geology (yes, there will be field trips!).
Research Topics: GeophysicsThis course is an introduction to the ocean sciences, with particular focus on the role of the ocean in the geological, biological, chemical, physical, climatic, and human aspects of the Earth system. The class covers also interdisciplinary aspects of oceanography like El Niño, Global Warming, The Carbon Cycle, Iron and Biogeochemical Cycles, Life in the Deep Ocean, Hydrothermal Vents, Oceanography from Space, Deep Ocean Explorations.
Research Topics: Paleoclimate Oceanography & ClimateThis course is a quantitative discussion of the physical properties of earth materials and dynamic processes in the solid Earth. We will closely follow Geodynamics by Turcotte & Schubert, in covering topics in stress and strain, elasticity and texure, heat transfer, gravity, fluid mechanics, rock rheology, and crustal faulting as mechanisms and consequences of plate tectonics.
Research Topics: GeophysicsThis course designed to investigate the complex interactions and feedback mechanisms between plate tectonics and climate that act to sculpt Earth's surface. Students will develop the skills necessary to understand and interpret the landscape, predict how a landscape might respond to human and natural forcing, improve their ability to concisely summarize and present scientific research, learn geomorphic data collection (field and lab-based) and analysis techniques, and understand the principles and tools of geomorphology. The information presented in this course is useful for a wide range of natural and anthropogenic topics, including: plate tectonics, structural geology, earthquake occurrence, hydrology, groundwater resources, paleoclimate, natural hazards (landslides, floods, etc.), and human impact on the environment. We will examine fluvial processes and sediment transport, hillslope processes and mass movement, soil development, physical and chemical weathering, glacier mechanics and erosion, and rates and timing of landscape change.
Research Topics: GeochemistryThis course contains a broad overview of basic seismological theory, and applications of seismic waves to study the Earth structure and sources that generate seismic waves.
Research Topics: GeophysicsVolcanic eruptions are the surface expression of the transfer of mass and volatiles from the deep interior of the planet. Violent eruptions rapidly transform the landscape and impact the atmosphere on short timescales, and the integrated history of magmatism has played a central role in the production of the crust and the degassing history of the planet. The fluid dynamics of volcanoes span a vast array of phenomena from viscous magma flows to turbulent, multiphase eruptions. This course will trace the path of magmas from their ultimate source in the mantle, storage and evolution in the crust, through eruption at the surface where they interact with the landscape and atmosphere.
Research Topics: GeophysicsThis course explores the history of the Earth's climate, covering methods for reconstructing past climate and the mechanisms behind these climate changes.
Research Topics: Paleoclimate Oceanography & ClimateThis course will explore the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere using a combination spacecraft observations and fundamental plasma physics. Students will gain an understanding of the physics governing the interaction of the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere building from single particle plasma motion to specific observation supported examples. We will also discuss the evolution of space instrumentation and its role in shaping our understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere.
Research Topics: Planetary ScienceSemester-long focus on single environmental project in the local area. Chemical and physical techniques for parameterizing environmental problems, data analysis, report writing, and interpretation of results in societal context.
Introduction to the remote sensing of the atmosphere and the Earth. Laboratory examples of data and image analysis for remote sensing applications.
A description of physical and mathematical procedures used in weather forecasting. Students will practice forecasting.
Description pending.
An introduction to the phenomenology and dynamics of large-scale atmospheric variations having time scales of a week and longer. Using papers from the recent scientific literature and real-time analyses, we will overview the basic characteristics, underlying physics, and current status of a number of large-scale atmospheric phenomena. Topics will include weather regimes, storm track variability, stratospheric polar vortex variability, El Nino-Southern Oscillation, teleconnections, monsoon circulations, the Arctic and Quasi-Biennial Oscillations, and stratosphere-troposphere coupling. The class format will include reading assignments and student presentations.
Research Topics: PaleoclimateData analysis methods used in environmental research are taught through examples. Students learn to implement these methods to areas of their own interest.
Fundamentals of porosity and permeability in soils, sediments and crystalline rocks; basic physics of fluid flow through interconnected pore spaces and cracks; introductory analysis of fluid flow as an agent of heat and chemical transport in geological systems.
An investigation of global change focusing on the chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes that cycle the elements through the Earth system.
An introduction to computer modelling in Earth system science.
The focus of this course is to gain hands-on experience inn modeling using the geochemical software packages commonly found in the environmental consulting industry. In addition to becoming familiar with these software packages, students will gain a better understanding of the governing geochemical principles pertaining to the movement and transformation of contaminants as well as other species in the subsurface through a series of applied case studies. The regulatory environment in which environmental consulting is done and implications for society are discussed as well.
A hands-on laboratory course in which students will learn basic concepts and techniques used by atmospheric chemists including analysis, data quality and experimental design.
Research Topics: Atmospheric Chemistry, Aerosols & CloudsFaculty-supervised and approved independent internship, employment, or research project related to Earth and atmospheric sciences.
An introduction to the atmospheric physical and dynamic processes that control the weather and climate.
Description pending.
This course provides a general chemical description of the Earth atmospheric system with a major focus on the two lowest layers of the atmosphere, i.e., the troposphere and the stratosphere.
Dynamics of flow and solute transport in groundwater, including theory, implementation, and case studies. Cross listed with CEE 4795.
The air quality laboratory will consist of hands-on laboratory experiments in which students will learn basic concepts and techniques used by atmospheric chemists. There are three goals in this class: 1) Develop laboratory and data analysis skills, 2) gain an appreciation for data reliability/quality, 3) begin to develop skills in experimental design.
Problems of weather and climate were historically treated separately in the field of atmospheric sciences, despite the fact that the real system is a continuum. In recent decades, the need to understand linkages between short-term weather fluctuations and long-term climate variations has increased drastically since the characteristics (e.g., frequency and intensity) of severe and hazardous weather (e.g., tornadoes and hurricanes) are projected to change as the global warming continues. The goal of this seminar course is to introduce to participants past observations, existing theories, and ongoing modeling efforts related to this topic through extensive paper review and class discussion. The emphasis will be on interactions between synoptic-scale weather variability (periods of about 1 week) and climate variations of a season or longer.
Research Topics: Dynamics of Weather & ClimateThis course presents a basic study in seismology, which includes elastic wave propagation, and application of seismic waves for the study of Earth's interior and earthquake source. It introduces basic techniques necessary to interpret seismic data, and help students to build physical intuition and quantitative skills.
Research Topics: GeophysicsThis course will explore the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere using a combination spacecraft observations and fundamental plasma physics. Students will gain an understanding of the physics governing the interaction of the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere building from single particle plasma motion to specific observation supported examples. We will also discuss the evolution of space instrumentation and its role in shaping our understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere.
Research Topics: Planetary Science Geophysics