An introduction to the formation and development of glaciers from the high mountains to Poles. A review of past glaciations through geologic time to the present, ending with a discussion of the causes of glaciation. This course focuses on the present climate system of Earth, glacial cycles of the past, and potential problems such as ozone depletion and greenhouse warming. This course focuses on some minerals used as gemstones and discusses their characteristics, lore, history, intrigue, and geological settings. Activities include stream and groundwater flow and chemistry measurements, hydrogeologic mapping, and environmental site assessment.
Most class meetings are outdoors.
GEOS 3310 is a corequisite or prerequisite. Hands-on activities that include biological classification, form and analyses of bones, calculations of dinosaur mass, calculations of speed from fossil trackways, assembling a horse or a cow, and building your own sauropod dinosaur from chicken bones. A self-paced course examining the interactions of people and our physical environment. Natural hazards, including landslides, flooding, tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes, erosion and sea-level change. Air, soil, fresh and ocean water pollution problems and solutions including greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, acid rain, aquifer depletion, toxic wastes and contamination.