Lectures are in Scovel 205 on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays from 9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
21 August – Introduction: Earth Systems and Origins
Reading: Chapt 1. in Ruddiman (Plagues, Plows and Petroleum) and Unit one HP, This is a link to the movie on the global air traffic.Assignments: (preparation questions)
After an introduction to the purpose and scope of Environmental Geology and a discussion of the scientific method, we will explore the lithosphere and the materials that make up the earth. A basic understanding of the earth’s structure and how it came to be is a crucial starting point. The Big Bang must be explored to begin the story with the ultimate origins of our spheres of study. The Earth’s unique place in the solar system, the composition of its atmosphere and the right surface temperature for the evolution of life and liquid water are all part of the discussion. The “just right” nature of our place in the universe is often referred to as the Goldilock’s Effect. We end the week looking at the evolution of the hydrosphere and atmosphere through time. The role of the biosphere in Earth History is a key ingredient in the evolution of the earth spheres. Read about the age of the Earth. Watch the video on these ideas.
26 August – Tectonics, Minerals, Rocks and the Rock Cycle, We looked at some minerals that are important to the class.What is the definition of a mineral.
Reading: Unit one HP, The Geologic Carbon Cycle – Read here about the fundamentals of radiocarbon dating (preparation questions)
Quiz Friday on the Geologic Timescale and the Structure of the Earth
2 September – Read Unit 1 – Absolute and relative dating (the Earth’s NRG Balance).
Assignments:(preparation questions)
Take a look at this excellent explanation of the Hypsometric Curve.Six years ago we used to burn coal on campus to generate heat now we burn Natural Gas and have reduced our carbon emissions by about half. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has some new information on oil and gas, and coal in Ohio. You can read about the “Clinton Play“what most of the oil wells you might see in Ohio are drilled in. Much of our electricity is still coal generated although natural gas is steadily taking its place – here is how a coal-fired electricity plant works.
Reading: Unit 10 HP (Parts 1-4), Read the Wikipedia entries on the origin of oil and gas (petroleum) and the origin of coal.
Assignments:(preparation questions)
9 September – Fossil fuels (note we are a bit behind but that is ok).
Six years ago we used to burn coal on campus to generate heat now we burn Natural Gas and have reduced our carbon emissions by about half. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has some new information on oil and gas, and coal in Ohio. You can read about the “Clinton Play“what most of the oil wells you might see in Ohio are drilled in. Much of our electricity is still coal generated although natural gas is steadily taking its place – here is how a coal-fired electricity plant works.
Reading: Unit 10 HP (Parts 1-4), Read the Wikipedia entries on the origin of oil and gas (petroleum) and the origin of coal.
Assignments:Due Weds. first essay (preparation questions)
16 September – Read Unit 2 – Section 8 in Habitable Earth, We will have the first exam on Friday (20 September). We should go over the modern carbon cycle now that we have some context.
Here is an example of what your exam will look like in terms of format and style. Here are some review slides that might help.
Assignments:(preparation questions)
23 September – We will go over the exam on Wednesday (recall Wiles is out of town on Monday – No Class) and then pick up with Soils and Agriculture – No-Till Agriculture and the Nitrogen Cycle.
Agriculture and Soils: Reading: Unit 8 in the Habitable Planet has a nice discussion about the carbon and nitrogen cycles in ecosystems. Norm Borlaug – read his address. Reading:The ESA article by Vitousek.Assignments:(preparation questions)
30 September – The Nitrogen Cycle Reading: Reading: The ESA article by Vitousek. Take a look at the Agricultural milestones. Read the chapter in Habitable Planet on Agriculture as well.
(preparation questions)
Mid-term break: 4 October after classes – 13 October (Have a good one)
14 October – No- Till Ag. is on the list for discussion this week and a big part of our field trip at the OARDC Triplett-Van Doran Plot. The classic no-till reference is The Plowman’s Folly – it can be downloaded at the website. So the bus loads on Sunday morning (20 October at 8:45 and leaves promptly at 9 am – I will be handing out a field guide in class.)
(preparation questions)
21 October – The Hydrologic Cycle, Streams and Flooding: Read Habitable Planet chapters – Water Resources, and Evolution and structure of the ATM reading.
Assignments: We will do an in-class flooding exercise this week.(Prep. question)
28 October – Streams and Flooding. Watch this video on the 1993 Mississippi Floods.Groundwater/surface water is also a concurrent topic. Second exam on Friday 1 November. (Click here exam2_Fall2014 for a previous example exam).
Read Habitable Planet chapters – Water Resources, and Evolution and structure of the ATM reading.
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Assignments:(preparation questions)
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4 November – Colorado River Compact and Groundwater
Reading: Stick with the web and prep. questions this week.Read: Habitable Planet Chapter 8. Be sure to watch this as well.
Assignments:(preparation questions)
11 November – We need to move on with the Ocean-Atmosphere system and Climate.
Reading:Chapters 2 and 11 in Habitable Planet.
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Assignments:(preparation questions)
18 November – ENSO and Climate Change – We will start with ATM – circulation and then ocean circulation and then ENSO.
Reading: Watch this selection from Earth: The Operator’s Manual.
Assignments:(preparation questions)
25 November – Proxy Record and Contemporary Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and the Future – review of the modern carbon cycle. We will finish with a review.Reading: Selection from Earth:Read Unit 12.
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2 December – Fixing Climate
Assignments:(preparation questions).
Watch this Ted Talk it talks about the future of Nuclear. Additionally here is an explanation of some of the promising work on CCS.
Here are review slides for the final: Review_slides_final