Geol 100. The Earth. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. How does the earth work, what is it made of, and how does it change through time? Plate tectonics, Earth materials, landforms, structures, climate, and natural resources. Emphasis on the observations and hypotheses used to interpret earth system processes. Students may also enroll in Geol 100L.
Geol 101. Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis. (Cross-listed with Env S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. An introduction to geologic processes and the consequences of human activity from local to global scales. Discussion of human population growth, resource depletion, pollution and waste disposal, global warming and ozone depletion, desertification, and geologic hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and volcanism.
Geol 201. Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists. (2-2) Cr. 3. F. Introduction to Earth materials and processes with emphasis on engineering and environmental applications.
Geol 324. Energy and the Environment. (Cross-listed with Env S, Mteor). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Origin, occurrence, and extraction of fossil fuels. Nuclear, wind, and solar energy. Energy efficiency. Environmental effects of energy production and use, including air pollution, acid precipitation, groundwater contamination, nuclear waste disposal, and global climate change. Geol 324 does not count toward credits required in the Geology major.
Geol 415. Paleoclimatology. (Dual-listed with 515). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq: Four courses in biological or physical science at the 200 level or higher. Introduction to mechanisms that drive climate, including the interplay between oceanic and atmospheric circulation and fluctuation in Earth's orbital parameters. Examination and analysis of past climate records ranging from historical documentation to ecological and geochemical proxies (e.g. tree ring analysis; O and C isotopes of skeletal carbonates and soils). Dating methods used to contrain and correlate climatic periods; utility of computer models to reconstruct past climates and predict future climate change. Emphasis placed on paleoclimatology and paleoecology of the late Quaternary (last ~1 million years). Nonmajor graduate credit.
Geol 419. Environmental Geochemistry. (Dual-listed with 519). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 402 or 411 or equivalent. Geochemistry of natural waters and water-rock interactions. Acid-base equilibria, carbonate chemistry and buffer systems, mineral dissolution and precipitation, sorption, ion exchange, and redox reactions. Introduction to thermodynamics and kinetics. Laboratory emphasizes chemical analysis of waters and computer modeling. Nonmajor graduate credit.
Geol 434. Contaminant Hydrogeology. (Dual-listed with 534). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Geol 411 or equivalent. Theory and practical considerations of fate and transport of solutes through porous geologic materials. Organic and inorganic contaminants in industrial and agricultural settings. Subsurface microbiology and biodegradation of aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Investigation of coupled processes (diffusion, advection, dispersion, sorption, and biodegradation) using computer models. Soil and groundwater monitoring and remediation strategies. Nonmajor graduate credit.
Geol 451. Applied and Environmental Geophysics. (Dual-listed with 551). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (2-2) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 100 or 201, Math 165 or equivalent experience. Seismic, gravity, magnetic, resistivity, electromagnetic, and ground-penetrating radar techniques for shallow subsurface investigations and imaging. Data interpretation methods. Lab emphasizes computer interpretation packages. Field work with seismic - and resistivity-imaging systems and radar. Nonmajor graduate credit.
Graduate and qualified undergraduate courses -
Geol 515. Paleoclimatology. (Dual-listed with 415). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq: Four courses in biological or physical science. Introduction to mechanisms that drive climate, including the interplay between oceanic and atmospheric circulation and fluctuation in Earth's orbital parameters. Examination and analysis of past climate records ranging from historical documentation to ecological and geochemical proxies (e.g. tree ring analysis; O and C isotopes of skeletal carbonates and soils). Dating methods used to constrain and correlate climatic periods; utility of computer models to reconstruct past climates and predict future climate change. Emphasis placed on paleoclimatology and paleoecology of the late Quaternary (last ~ 1 million years).
Geol 519. Environmental Geochemistry. (Dual-listed with 419). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 511 or equivalent. Geochemistry of natural waters and water-rock interactions. Acid-base equilibria, carbonate chemistry and buffer systems, mineral dissolution and precipitation, sorption, ion exchange, and redox reactions. Introduction to thermodynamics and kinetics. Laboratory emphasizes chemical analysis of waters and computer modeling
Geol 534. Contaminant Hydrogeology. (Dual-listed with 434). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Geol 511 or equivalent. Theory and practical considerations of fate and transport of solutes through porous geologic materials. Organic and inorganic contaminants in industrial and agricultural settings. Subsurface microbiology and biodegradation of aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Investigation of coupled processes (diffusion, advection, dispersion, sorption, and biodegradation) using computer models. Soil and groundwater monitoring and remediation strategies.
Geol 551. Applied and Environmental Geophysics. (Dual-listed with 451). (Cross-listed with EnSci). (2-2) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 100 or 201, Math 165 or equivalent experience. Seismic, gravity, magnetic, resistivity, electromagnetic, and ground-penetrating radar techniques for shallow subsurface investigations and imaging. Data interpretation methods. Lab emphasizes computer interpretation packages. Field work with seismic-and resistivity-imaging systems and radar.
