| source Northwestern (X) |
level |
department EARTH Earth and Planetary Sciences (X) |
Chicago  the only place with access by water from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River - is a classic example of how societies are shaped by their geological setting. We will explore how this setting arose from the earthÂs changing climate, how it affected the cityÂs weather, location, history, and economy, and the challenges and opportunities the lake and river offer for the future. The course is designed for students with interests in science, society, and their interaction.
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Most of our planetÂs surface is blanketed by ocean. The dynamic nature of the oceanic environment and how it influences the Earth as a whole will be explored in this course. The interconnectivity of ocean characteristics (chemistry, physics, geology, biology) will be stressed as we attempt to understand our past and predict the future in response to natural and human forcings.
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Introduction to geophysics for students with strong mathematics and physics backgrounds. Basic ideas in seismic wave propagation, plate tectonics, geomagnetism, geothermics, and gravity. Study of the earthÂs surface and the deep interior.
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Normal modes of the earth.
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EARTH 101 examines Earth materials (rocks and minerals) and the processes that create, modify, and destroy them. Lectures and labs highlight techniques for reconstructing and interpreting geologic history while emphasizing the importance of geology to human society. The course culminates with a required weekend field trip to Baraboo, WI (contact department office for dates).
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The objective of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental components of the Earth systemÂthe atmosphere, hydrosphere and solid EarthÂand more importantly, examine how these components interact in response to internal and external influences to control climate. Within this Earth systems context, we will explore how climate is changing today, how it has changed (sometimes catastrophically) in the geologic past, and how it may change in the future.
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Plate tectonics is the primary process that controls our planetÂs evolution, shapes its surface, and allows it to support human life. These processes also cause natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions that endanger human society. This course explains how plate tectonics works and how plate motions control the history of the continents and ocean basins, build mountains, cause earthquakes and volcanoes, provide natural resources, and affect our climate.
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Evolution of the Earth system and its record through geological time. Interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, sediments, and life on Earth.
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Earthquakes: location, characteristics, origin, mechanism, and relation to plate motions; seismic hazard.
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Review of description and classification of sedimentary rocks; principles of stratigraphy and sedimentology; methods of local, regional and global correlation; interpretation of ancient depositional systems (facies analysis); cyclostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy in the context of tectonic, eustatic, and climatic controls on deposition; tectonics and basin analysis.
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Review of major events in the history of life: origin and early evolution of life, speciation and mass extinction, evolution of communities and ecosystems through geologic time. Overview of major fossil groups. Application of paleobiologic methods to geologic problem solving and paleoenvironmental reconstruction (e.g., biostratigraphy, functional morphology, community paleoecology).
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An examination of the principal sources of natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes...) in the framework of modern geological theories.
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Earth is the best studied planet of the solar system, and yet has many unrevealed secrets. Remote Sensing and manned and robotic missions to the Moon and terrestrial planets (Mars, Venus, Mercury) are teaching us about the solar system and its formation. This course will explore similarities and differences between Earth and mostly the terrestrial planets and focus on planet Earth, with its unique plate tectonics, quakes, deep interior, oceans and atmosphere, mountain building, and life. The course attempts to build a picture of formation and evolution of the Earth and the solar system.
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Size, mass, & density of the earth; seismic waves; earth structure from seismology; minerals and rocks; composition of mantle and core; heat and temperature in the earth; radiometric age dating; origin of the elements, formation of the solar system; meteorite;, formation of the planets; continents and oceans, paleomagnetism, continental drift; earthquake focal mechanisms, plate boundaries and kinematics, mechanics of plate tectonics.
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Basic principles of aqueous geochemistry applied to natural waters (rivers, groundwaters, oceans, and lakes): Acids and bases, pH and alkalinity, carbonate equilibria, mineral solubility and weathering, sorption processes and surface reactions, reaction kinetics, redox chemistry, and isotope exchange.
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The primary objective of this course will be to investigate the sources and fates of organic matter in the natural environment. The implications of the cycling of organic matter for the earth system will be explored. How organic geochemistry can be applied to the study of modern and ancient environments will also be discussed.
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This course deals with (1) the principles of operation and variability of Earth's physical climate system at different spatial and temporal scales, (2) climates interactions with the biogeochemical cycles of the land, ocean, and biosphere. The course also provides a critical appraisal and discussion of some major paleoclimatic and ocean/atmosphere issues, as studied by observastions and modeling, including history of atmospheric chemistry and seawater, physical and biotic feedbacks to global warming, and the Pleistocene glaciations.
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The fundamental basis of Plate Tectonics, presented as a unifying paradigm, and how we have come to establish the theory. Nature and identification of the lithospheric plates. Mid-ocean ridge processes. The Transform Fault system. Magnetic anomalies and the age of the oceanic crust. The aging of the oceanic plates. Subduction zones and processes. Hotspots. Kinematic principles and models of plate motions. The state of stress inside plates. Dynamic models of plate motions. Convection in the Earths interior. Mantle tomography. Mantle dynamics. Imperfections in plate tectonics. Collisions; mountain orogenies. Ophiolites.
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Elastic theory, seismic waves, seismometers, ray paths, travel times; internal structure of the Earth; earthquakes: location, characteristics, origin, mechanism and relation to plate motions; field seismology, including the installation and operation of a seismometer in central Illinois and subsequent analysis of recorded data.
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