I taught this class fall semester, 2003, and experimented quite a bit with
alternative texts and some new field labs.
My syllabus from this semester is posted
below for anyone interested.
The class is usually taught by
Dr. Eastler
; his version of the class is described in part
here
.
Texts: Dr. Art’s Guide to Planet Earth by Arthur Sussman
Control of Nature by John McPhee
The Ice Chronicles by Paul Mayewski
*Several conventional introductory geology textbooks will be available on
reserve in the library.
Other materials: small notebook (for lab), colored pencils, simple calculator
Instructor:
Julia Daly
Ricker 38, x 7403
dalyj@maine.edu
Office hours: M,F 2-4, or stop by
About this class:
Geology is the study of the earth and changes in the earth system through
time. Humans are intimately connected to the earth system through our
use of resources and our interaction with the landscape. ‘Environmental
geology’ is a broad term; in this course, we will focus on four topics: 1)
water resources and surficial water movement, 2) geologic hazards, 3) climate
change, and 4) energy resources. We will approach these topics
through local investigations of geologic processes and environmental
problems. From an environmental perspective, it is important to understand
what changes may occur in the future as a result of current human and geologic
processes. We can apply our understanding of past events, interpreted
from the geologic record, to help predict the future behavior of the earth
system. The links between the past, present, and future are crucial
to understanding the earth system. Current hot topics – climate change,
energy resources – require an understanding of geologic processes to inform
our public policy.
Course objectives:
• To learn the major paradigms/principles that guide geologic
thinking AND the evidence for these ideas.
• To develop the process of scientific inquiry: posing
questions, investigating natural phenomena, synthesizing the results, reaching
some conclusions, and defining new questions to be studied. We will
investigate the local geology of the Farmington area to meet this objective.
• To apply your knowledge and use available resources (maps,
internet, scientific articles) to address an environmental/geologic problem.
Examples of geologic problems:
1. Usually, Androscoggin Lake drains into the Androscoggin
River. During the spring, meltwater raises the level of the river and
reverses the flow, delivering water into Androscoggin Lake. This flow
may be responsible for delivering Hg and dioxin into the lake. What’s
the solution?
2. Should the numerous sand and gravel bars in the Sandy
River be available for ‘mining’?
3. Should the petroleum found in the rocks beneath the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be developed as a resource?
Attendance & make-up policy
Attendance in class and labs is required. There will be no scheduled
exam or lab make-ups. In an emergency (if you are sick, etc.), contact
me as soon possible to discuss alternatives.
Equal educational opportunity is offered to students with special needs due
to disability. Please notify me if a reasonable accommodation is needed
to meet course requirements.
Poster project
The poster project is an opportunity for you to research a geologic topic
or problem and present your findings. The general theme of this project
is “Geology and Environmental Issues”. You will choose a topic that
applies geological knowledge to an environmental problem or issue.
This is a group project (usually two students and no more than three) that
will be result in a brief oral presentation accompanied by a poster display.
The layout and content of the poster will be discussed in lab.
10/23: poster topic due
11/6: outline due
11/24: poster mock-up due
12/11: poster presentation
Please remember this is YOUR OWN WORK. Plagiarism, electronic or otherwise,
will result in a grade of zero. If you are uncertain about using research
material or how to cite an article, please come see me.
Grading policy:
Exam I, II 15% each
Final 20%
Labs 30%
Poster project 10%
Assignments 10%
Week Date
Topic
Lab
Reading
1
9/1 NO CLASS
Info
Chap.: pg.
9/3 Intro to earth system
AS1: all
9/5 Global water resources
2
9/8 Watersheds I
Pizmo Beach
AS2: all
9/10 Watersheds II
9/12 Groundwater
3 9/15
Water as a resource: Middle East Sandy River
JM1: 3-48
9/17 Erosion/deposition
9/19 Hydrographs
4 9/22
Weathering, soils
Sewage treatment
JM1: 48-92
9/24 Sediments
9/26 Fluvial dynamics - Mississippi
5 9/29
Plates I
Norridgewock JM3:183-248
10/1 Plates II
10/3 Mass wasting
6 10/6
Earthquakes
Daggett's Rock
JM3:248-272
10/8 Rock cycle
10/10 EXAM I
7 10/13
NO CLASS
Minerals
JM2:95-140
10/15 Minerals
10/17 Igneous rocks
8 10/20
Volcanism
Jay pluton
JM2:140-179
10/22 Metamorphism
10/24 Tectonic assemblages
9 10/27
Climate system I
Recycling/landfill
AS3:all
10/29 Glaciers
PM:1
10/31 Glacial landforms
10 11/3
Stratigraphy: principles Plate tectonics
PM: 2, 4
11/5 Shorelines
11/7 Sea-level change
11 11/10
Climate system II
Climate records
PM: 6
11/12 Climate change I
AS5:all
11/14 Climate change II
12 11/17
Clean air, water policy
Measuring CO2 PM:
7
11/19 Climate change policy
11/21 EXAM II
13 11/24
Folds and faults
NO LAB
AS6:all
11/26 NO CLASS
External TBA
11/28 NO CLASS
14 12/1
Deformation & mountain building Energy resources
External TBA
12/3 The Middle East
12/5 Carbon cycle
15 12/8
Energy resources I
Poster
presentation External TBA
12/10 Energy resources II
12/12 BIG WRAP-UP
