Department of Earth and
Environment
GLY 6061-U01 Geoscience Systems
Fall 2015, Tu/Th 11-12:15, AHC4 202
Course Description: Geoscience systems function in the deep
Earth, shallow Earth, Earth’s surface and Earth’s atmosphere. They form one great
dynamic system in which each is a part of other systems. We will compare and
analyze each of these systems as well as read and discuss recent research,
discoveries and debates.
Course Objectives: to examine major concepts in geologic and
atmospheric sciences, and read important scientific articles on those subjects
Learning Outcomes: an in-depth understanding of the interaction
of Earth’s dynamic systems and how they have changed through geologic time, as
well as the latest research topics in these areas
Instructors and contact information (in order of appearance):
|
Professor |
Email |
Phone |
Office Hours |
|
Dr.
Grenville Draper |
draper@fiu.edu |
305-348-3087 |
AHC5 386 MTWR 9.00-10.00 |
|
Dr.
Laurel Collins |
collinsl@fiu.edu |
305-348-1732 |
AHC5 377, M 9-10:30, Th
12:15-1:45
|
|
Dr.
Michael Sukop |
sukopm@fiu.edu |
305-348-3117 |
AHC5
369, M 1:30-2:30, Th 1:30-2:30 |
|
Dr. Ping Zhu |
zhup@fiu.edu |
305-348-7096 |
AHC5
234 Tu/Th 12:30-2:00PM |
Course structure: Students read and discuss 1-2 scientific articles
that are assigned for every class. Before the class discussion, the instructor
provides background for understanding the article, and textbook readings give a
fundamental basis of concepts and terminology for that discipline. The
scientific articles cover classic research debates and principles, as well as
the latest breakthroughs and discoveries. During the last week of class,
students become lecturers on their own areas of research.
Grading: Grades on the
scale A-F will be based on:
·
periodic
pop quizzes and/or assignments (30% of grade),
·
class
participation (20%),
·
participation
in two field trips (20%), and
·
a
presentation (30%).
Grades
use the scale: A = 93-100%, A- = 90-92%,
B+ = 87-89%, B = 83-86%, B- = 80-82%, C+ = 77-79%, C = 73-76%, C- = 70-72%, D+
= 67-69%, D = 63-66%, D- = 60-62%, F = 0-59%. Class participation is evaluated
by how much you contribute to the conversation. Students who contribute during
each class will earn full credit. The student presentation is given in the
style of an instructor on a subject that is part of their area of research and
is related to the course.
Policies:
-
Two
field trips will be held on weekends in November. Any absence may only be
excused with a doctor’s note verifying an illness or condition that prevents
physical activity.
-
You
are expected to arrive to class before the class begins, and to stay for the
entire class.
-
The
use of cell phones in class is prohibited. Cell phone rings must be silenced.
-
You
are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty. Any student found
in violation of these standards will earn an automatic F and be reported to the
Deans Office, no exceptions made. In accordance with FIU's policy on academic
honesty, as set forth in Section 2.44 of the Academic Affairs Policies and
Procedures Manual (http://academic.fiu.edu/polman/sec2web.htm#two-forty-four), it is expected that students
will neither submit the academic work of another as their own, nor provide work
they have done for another student to be submitted as that other student's
work.
Class Schedule
Aug. 25 Introduction
to course and instructors
Part 1: Dr. Draper –
The Earth’s Interior
Aug. 27 A
crystal planet: minerals and rocks
Sept. 1 Deformation of rocks; earthquakes
3 Interior of the earth,
geomagnetism/palemagnetism, origin of the Earth
8 Continental drift, plate
tectonics, plate boundaries
10 Divergent
and transform boundaries
15 Convergent
plate boundaries
Part 2: Dr. Collins
– Evolution of the Earth
Sept. 17 Stratigraphic
record: interaction of tectonics, climate and biosphere
22 Early Earth:
lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
24 Sedimentary
basins and accumulation of organic-rich deposits
29 Sea-level
change: causes and detection
Oct. 1 Mass extinctions
6 The (last)
Ice Age: Earth's orbital cycles, glaciation, human evolution, animal
extinctions
Part 3: Dr. Sukop – Hydrology and Hydrogeology
Oct. 8 Atmospheric radiation and energy budget
(Dr. Zhu)
13
Global Hydrologic Cycle
15
Aquifers and
aquifer properties with a focus on Biscayne Aquifer
20 Groundwater
modeling: analytical steady-state solutions
22
Groundwater
modeling: numerical steady-state solutions
27 Groundwater modeling: numerical transient solutions
29 Saltwater intrusion and sea level rise
Part 4: Dr. Zhu – Atmosphere and Meteorology
Nov. 3 CLASS CANCELED: GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA MEETING
5 Hydrostatic
balance and balanced winds
10 Atmospheric general
circulation and oceanic currents
12
Atmospheric
instabilities and mid-latitude weather systems
17
Tropical
dynamics and tropical cyclones
19 Climate
and climate impacts on extreme weather events
Part 5: Wrapup with All Instructors
Nov. 24
26
Thanksgiving – University Closed
Part 6: Student Presentations
Dec.
1 Student talks, part 1
3 Student talks, part 2
Weekend Field Trips
Two weekend field trips
in November:
Miami’s limestone outcrops, local geology and karst topography:
-
Nov.
7 – Different processes, conditions, and sea level changes exposed at Brickell
Metro station, Montgomery Center, Alice Wainwright Park:
Drs. Draper and Sukop
-
Nov.
21 –