This course is a survey of minerals, rocks, historical geology, landforms, weather patterns and climates, freshwater systems and oceanography, the solar system and galaxies. It consists of two hours lecture per week and equivalent laboratory time. Some laboratories will be full day field trips on Saturdays. It then applies these principles to understand environmental issues brought about by the 20th century exponential growth in human population and human resource consumption. Discussion of topics of current interest in the earth sciences.
Laboratory involves the study of minerals, rocks, maps, and weather instruments.
Mineral and energy resources, their formation and distribution, their supply and demand projections for the future. Water resources and water quality. Environmental impact of resources, nuclear and other waste disposal, geological aspects of earthquake and volcanic hazards. The course emphasizes relationships between developing countries. Study of the geological processes producing and controlling the lands within the U.S. National Park System.