Tulane University EENS 111-01 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY Spring 2007
E-mail: ndawers@tulane.edu
Office: 301 Dinwiddie Hall, 862-3200; Office hours: T Th, 1:30-2:30 pm & by appointment
Lectures: TR 9:30 - 10:45 pm, 124 Dinwiddie Hall
Textbook: Earth: Portrait of a Planet, 2nd ed., by Stephen Marshak, W.W. Norton, 2005
Websites: Earth: Portrait of a Planet
Goals of this course:
· to understand the physical and chemical processes that occur on and within the Earth;
· to understand how these processes have operated through time and given rise to present state of the Earth;
· to explore how these processes affect mankind (and, in some cases, vice versa).
Course Grading & Policies:
· Quizzes (~4-6 total, w/ lowest score dropped) 15%, Exam #1 25%, Exam #2 25%, Final Exam 35%.
· Make-up exams only with excuse validated by your Dean’s Office.
· No make-up quizzes.
· No extra credit projects or papers.
· Honor Code violations will be reported.
Tentative Outline
|
Date |
Topic |
Reading |
|
(T) Jan 16 |
Origin of the Solar System |
Ch. 1 |
|
(R) Jan 18 |
Whole Earth Structure |
Ch. 2 |
|
(T) Jan 23 |
History of Tectonic Hypotheses |
Ch. 3 |
|
(R) Jan 25 |
Testing the Plate Tectonic Hypothesis |
Ch. 4 |
|
(T) Jan 30 |
Plate Tectonic Theory |
Ch. 4 |
|
(R) Feb 1 |
Earth Materials: Minerals |
Ch. 5 |
|
(T) Feb 6 |
Igneous Rocks: Rocks from Melts |
Ch. 6 |
|
(R) Feb 8 |
Volcanoes: Processes & Products |
Ch. 9 |
|
(T) Feb 13 |
Weathering, Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks |
Ch. 7 |
|
(R) Feb 15 |
Sedimentary Rocks as Recorders of Process |
Ch. 7 |
|
(T) Feb 20 |
Mardi Gras |
|
|
(R) Feb 22 |
Metamorphism: Pressure, Temperature & Stress |
Ch. 8 |
|
(T) Feb 27 |
EXAM I |
Ch. 1-9 |
|
(R) Mar 1 |
Earthquakes & Earthquake Phenomenology |
Ch. 10 |
|
(T) Mar 6 |
Earthquakes & Earthquake Phenomenology |
Ch. 10 |
|
(R) Mar 8 |
Earthquakes & Whole Earth Structure |
Interlude C |
|
(T) Mar 13 |
Crustal Deformation, Tectonics, Mountain Building |
Ch. 11 |
|
(R) Mar 15 |
Geologic Time |
Ch. 12 |
|
(T) Mar 20 |
Spring Break |
|
|
(R) Mar 22 |
Spring Break |
|
|
(T) Mar 27 |
Some Pivotal Events in Earth's History |
Ch. 13 |
|
(R) Mar 29 |
Fossil Fuels, Mineral Resources & Economic Ores |
Ch. 14 & 15 |
|
(T) Apr 3 |
EXAM II |
Ch. 10-15, Inter. C&D |
|
(R) Apr 5 |
Mass Wasting |
Ch. 16 |
|
(T) Apr 10 |
River Systems (w/ Mississippi R. examples) |
Ch. 17 |
|
(R) Apr 12 |
Floods & Hurricane Katrina |
Ch. 17; S Nelson’s site |
|
(T) Apr 17 |
Marine & Coastal Processes |
Ch. 18 |
|
(R) Apr 19 |
Groundwater: Flow, Usage & Current Problems |
Ch. 19 |
|
(T) Apr 24 |
Deserts |
Ch. 21 |
|
(R) Apr 26 |
Glaciers and Glaciations |
Ch. 22 |
|
(T) May 1 |
Climate Change: Past, Present & Future |
Ch. 23 |
|
(W) May 9 |
FINAL EXAM 8:00 - Noon |
Cumulative |