Calendar

WEEK # TOPICS KEY DATES

1

Introduction

Population Growth, Hurricane Katrina

2

Geologic Time, Isotopic Tracers

Introduction to Rocks and Minerals

3

Rock and Mineral ID Mineral Resources and Hazards Hands on Mineral Lab

Energy Resources: Fossil Fuels, Alternative Energy

Water as a Resource

Problem set 1 due

4

Water Cycles

Physics and Chemistry of Water

Groundwater

Aquifers

Controls on Fluid Flow

Problem set 2 due

5

Pedogenesis and Soils

Waste Management

Rocks and minerals lab due

6

Geology and Resources

Mineral Resources and Extraction

Geologic Hazards and Catastrophes

Plate Tectonics

Rocks and minerals lab supplement due

7

Exam 1

Plate Tectonics and Geologic Hazards

8

Seismology and Earthquake Hazards

Volcanism

Problem set 3 due

9

Volcanic Hazards

Surface Processes, Landslides, Debris Flows

Problem set 4 due

10

Floods

Physics and Chemistry of Oceans

Hurricanes and Tides

Shoreline Erosion

11

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean-atmosphere Coupling

Climate Change

Past Records of Climate

Problem set 5 due

12

Air Pollution

Ozone Pollution and Depletion

Sulfogenic Aerosols

Greenhouse Gases

Problem set 6 (extra credit) due

13

Carbon Cycle and the Greenhouse Effect

Geology of Nuclear Reactor Siting and Waste Disposal

14

Project Summary

Final project due