Courses |
EARS 1 - Introduction to Earth Sciences (Spring 2009, Fall 2009)
EARS 1 - NEW NAME - How the Earth Was Made (co-teaching with Ed Meyer in Fall 2010)
Course description: This course introduces the principles of physical geology by describing the earth’s components and analyzing the processes that control its evolution. Mountain ranges and deep sea trenches, volcanism and earthquakes, surficial and deep-seated geologic processes provide the evidence we will use to interpret the earth’s makeup and history. Earth resources, geologic hazards, and environmental protection will be discussed in connection with a variety of general geologic topics.
Sample syllabus - EARS 1 Fall 2009
EARS 15 - Earth's Climate - Past, Present and Future (Winter 2010, Winter 2011)
Course description: Understanding what drives climate change is one of the major scientific questions of the 21st century. Evidence for past (paleo) climate change provides essential information about Earth's climate system and the potential for future change. In this course, we will investigate paleoclimate changes and the chemistry and physics of the modern climate system. We will explore the mechanisms which influence climate on various time scales and the projections for future change. Laboratory projects will focus on collecting and analyzing data from local sites to develop paleoclimate records.
Sample syllaubs - EARS 15 Winter 2010
See the YouTube video from the 2010 class lake core project
Photo of the EARS 15 class in Winter 2010 coring Occom Pond (photo credit: J. Mehling)
EARS 75/175 - Quaternary Paleoclimatology (Spring 2011)
Course description: Evidence for past (paleo) climate change provides essential information about Earth’s climate system and the potential for future change. This course focuses on understanding paleoclimate changes during the Quaternary Period such as glacial-interglacial variability, rapid climate changes, and the recent “stable” climatic conditions of the Holocene epoch. We will rely on published scientific data to examine these various topics and critically evaluate hypotheses for mechanisms of climate change.
EARS 203 - Advanced Earth Surface Processes (with Bob Hawley Spring 2010)
The course will explore the processes that shape Earth’s surface and the resulting landforms. Tectonics, weathering and erosion, fluvial, aeolian, and glacial processes influence landscape development at various temporal and spatial scales. These processes will be examined as well as their interaction with the atmosphere, biosphere and climate. The course will highlight ancient and active processes in New England and associated issues for human habitat and environmental conditions. The course will be a combination of faculty lectures and student-led discussions of selected readings from the literature. An oral presentation and a final paper will be used to assess students. The paper will be in the format of a 10-page formal National Science Foundation proposal and will be used to assess the students’ ability to formulate testable hypotheses and to collect and integrate published scientific data. At least one mandatory field trip will examine New England geomorphology and environments. Not open to undergraduates.
Photo of the EARS 203 class in Spring 2010 in Tuckerman Ravine, White Mountains, NH (photo credit: J. Gartner).
Big Horn Basin, WY, segment (Sept. 14-20, 2009; Sept. 19-29, 2010)
Course description: Field studies of rock associations, geologic structures, active and fossil volcanism, and mineral resources in the western United States. The interrelationship between upper crustal processes and earth materials in the development of landforms and landscapes, and rock and mineral provinces. The integrated use of geologic instruments, topographic maps, aerial photography, and satellite imagery to enable resource assessment. Because of the nature of this course, class meetings, assignments, readings, and reports are scheduled irregularly.
PDF presentation - Bighorn Basin segment 2009