ESCI 450 Environmental Geology - Fall 2006

Goals of the Course: To provide an understanding of the geologic processes operating on, or near the surface of the earth, and to examine their effect on the human environment. We will also examine how human activities have modified the earth, and the consequences of these modifications. General geologic background material will be presented. Then, case studies presented in your text and by your instructor will be examined in detail. Although the course is lecture-based, classroom discussion is encouraged and input from the students is welcome.  Instructor: My name is Dr. Mark A. Evans and my email address is evansmaa@ccsu.edu My office is 237 Copernicus Hall. The phone number is 860-832-2936. If my door is open, please feel free to stop in to see me. Alternatively, you may arrange to meet with me in my office at a mutually convenient time. I will plan on being in my office during posted office hours. This semester (Fall 2006) they are: Monday 2:00 – 4:00, and Tuesday & Thursday 12:30 – 2:00.                                                            Text: Environmental Geology Eighth Edition, by Edward A. Keller, 2000. This is a very good introductory text for Environmental Geology. However, some topics will be covered in class to a greater depth than in the text.   There will also be a series of outside reading assignments from The Control of Nature by John McPhee, The Noonday Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York. You should pick up a copy of this book (check used books at www.addall.com), or be prepared to read it in the Library where I will place a copy on reserve.  There will also be reading assignments from The Corps and the Shore by Orrin H. Pilkey and Katharine L. Dixon, Island Press (check used books at www.addall.com). You should pick up a copy of this book, or be prepared to read it in the Library where I will place a copy on reserve.     Exercises: Exercise 1: Earthquakes Software: Download Seismic Eruption at at Dr. Alan L. Jones Homepage    Class Meeting time: Monday and Wednesday 5:15 – 6:30 PM  Course Notes: Course Notes are no longer available here. The course notes are in Powerpoint format and are basically the same slides you will see in class. However, there may be some last minute changes on the daily notes. This is done as a COURTESY for YOU. Even though the material is available online, you still NEED to come to class for several reasons:             1) There are some concepts that I will present in class that are not in the book and will require some additional explanation.             2) You need to be able to see and hear the material in context             3) You need to be in class for important announcements             4) You need to be in class to ask questions and to hear others’ questions             5) You (or your parents) paid a LOT of money for you to be at CCSU. Don’t waste it!             6) There is a strong correlation between class attendance and grades, the more you attend class the higher you grade will be.  Grading: The final course grade is based on three exams and a term paper. Exam 1                   20 percent of the final course grade Exam 2                   20 percent of the final course grade Exam 3                   20 percent of the final course grade Exercises                10 percent of the final course grade Term Project           30 percent of the final course grade Final Project Guidelines available Here Total                       100 percent                                                            The final course grade will be based on A=90+, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69. if any grade adjustment takes place, it will be at the end of the quarter, not on any individual exam! The exams will draw from both lecture and reading assignments. They will consist of discussion style questions. Any makeup exams will be given only by the arrangement of the instructor. The content and style of the make-up exams is at my discretion and will be based on whether the exam was missed because of a valid reason. Valid reasons for missing an exam are 1) death in the immediate family and 2) illness (doctors excuse required). I will also consider required travel for work as a valid reason.  Academic Misconduct: It is the policy of Central Connecticut State University to not tolerate any acts of Academic Misconduct. Make sure you read the University policy on this topic on pages 30-34 of the Student Handbook.   Tentative Lecture Schedule Date                 Lecture Topic Sept.     6          Introduction, Chapter 1: Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts,              11         Chapter 4: Natural Hazards: An overview             13         Chapter 2 Earth Materials and Processes                  18         Chapter 7 Earthquakes and Related Phenomena             20         Chapter 7 Earthquakes and Related Phenomena (Cont.)                         *FINAL PROJECT TOPIC DUE TODAY*              25         Earthquakes and Related Phenomena Case Studies (cont.)             27         Chapter 8: Volcanic Activity    Oct.      2          Chapter 8: Volcanic Activity (Cont.)              4          Volcanic Activity Case Studies                 9          EXAM 1 Chapters 1, 2, 4, 7, 8) .           11         Chapter 5: Rivers and Flooding              16         Chapter 5 Rivers and Flooding (Cont. )             18         Rivers and flooding Case Studies                         *FINAL PROJECT OUTLINE DUE TODAY*              23         No Class – GSA (Work on assigned exercise)             25         No Class – GSA (Work on assigned exercise)              30         Chapter 9: Coastal Processes Nov.     1          Chapter 9: Coastal Processes (Cont.)              6          Coastal Processes Case Studies 8          Chapter 6: Landslides and Related Phenomena               13         Chapter 6: Landslides and Related Phenomena (Cont.)             15         EXAM 2 (Chapters 5, 6, 9)  20         Chapter 10: Water: Process, Supply and Use 22         No Class – Thanksgiving  27         Chapter 10: Water: Process, Supply and Use (Cont.) 29        Chapter 11: Water Pollution and Treatment & Chapter 12 (part) Waste Management             *FIRST DRAFT OF FINAL PROJECT DUE TODAY*  Dec.     4          Water: Process, Supply and Use and Pollution Case Studies 6          Chapter 13: Geologic Factors of Environmental Health              11         Climate Change                      13         Climate Change                        *FINAL PROJECT DUE TODAY*              18         EXAM 3  (Chapters 10, 11, 13, Climate Change