Spring 2003, T Th 9:35-10:55, Lizarralde
Approximate Lecture Syllabus (subject to change)
INTRODUCTION TO THE EARTH SYSTEM
1/7, 1/9: Holistic overview of the Earth system, describing the links between the various earth systems: from mantle convection to the hydrologic cycle.
THE SOLID EARTH SYSTEM: Minerals and Rocks (Chapters 1 and 2)
1/14: Minerals and Crystals
1/16, 1/21: Igneous rocks (with a plate-tectonic motivation)
1/23: Sedimentary and Metamorphic rocks
THE SOLID EARTH SYSTEM: Interaction with the hydrosphere (Chapters 3 and 4)
1/28: Weathering and soil formation
1/30: Mass wasting and slope stability, the Hydrologic Cycle
2/4: Surface water: stream flow, sediment transport and deposition
2/6: Groundwater
THE SOLID EARTH SYSTEM: Interaction with the cryosphere-glaciers (Chapter 5)
2/11: The scale and importance of glacial processes
2/13: Exam 1
2/18: The physics of glacial flow, glacial anatomy, glacial erosion, transport and deposition
2/20: Pleistocene glaciation and Milankovitch theory
THE SOLID EARTH SYSTEM: Earth scale Processes (Chapters 6, 7, 8)
2/25: Plate tectonic theory, thermal boundary layers and mantle convection
2/27: Plate boundaries; Volcanoes and igneous activity
3/11: Global cross sections and hotspots
3/13: Physics of earthquakes, seismicity and seismic waves
3/18: Seismic hazard and earthquake prediction
3/20: Formation of continental crust: Mountain building, Wilson cycle, accretion
3/25: Structural geology
THE SOLID EARTH SYSTEM: Geologic Time and History of the Earth (Chapter 10)
3/27: Timescale: relative and absolute dating
4/1: Stratigraphic principles, Fossil succession
4/3: Exam 2
THE HYDROSPHERE: Processes in the Oceans (Chapters 12, 13)
4/8: Origin and properties of water
4/11: Ocean circulation, Tides
4/15: Shorelines and shoreline processes
THE ATMOSPHERE: Atmospheric Processes (Chapters 14-17)
4/17: Atmospheric structure; Solar radiation, the upper atmosphere, thermal budget
4/22: Water in the atmosphere, dynamics of rain
4/24: Atmospheric circulation; Weather systems and climate
Final Exam: Wed. 4/30/03 8:00 - 10:50