ESSC 110                   THE DYNAMIC EARTH SYSTEM             W ‘03

 

 

Lecture  T, TH  9:30 - 10:45                                                                                     207 Strong Hall

Instructor:  Dr. LoDuca                                                                         Office Phone: 7-8589

Office:  215 Strong                                                                email:  geo_loduca@online.emich.edu     

Office Hours: M, W 11-12; W 4-5, T, Th 11-12 (or by appointment)

 

 

Required:         Marshak, 2001, Earth: Portrait of a Planet

                        LoDuca, 2000, EARTH: A User’s Manual (available only at McKenny Union)

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

An introduction to the Earth System and its components -- Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere -- as well as a detailed treatment of how the fundamental principles of chemistry and physics are applied in the context of the scientific method to understand the Earth System. Includes overviews of the composition of the Earth System, the fundamental chemical and physical processes within each component of the Earth System, and the primary biogeochemical cycles that intricately and thoroughly interconnect all components of the Earth System. Also includes consideration of the human species in the context of the Earth System, with particular emphasis on how knowledge of the Earth System can be applied by the average person to improve the quality of everyday life and promote sustainable development. Lecture: three hours per week; Laboratory: one two-hour period per week.

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

 

1.   Explain and interpret the concept of the Earth System

 

2.   Apply the scientific method as a tool for problem solving, in general, and understand how the scientific method is applied, in the context of the fundamental principles of chemistry and physics, to know, and to solve problems pertaining to, the Earth System

 

3.   Critically evaluate the scientific merit of anything that is presented as science (is it really science?), especially in the area of Earth System Science

 

4.   Apply Earth System Science to everyday decisions to improve the quality of

            life and promote sustainable development

 

 

Date                Chapter                                               Topic

1-7                   Prelude (p. 3-10)                      Intro. to the Earth System and Earth System Science

1-9                   5, Appendix A (A1-A8)           Minerals

1-14                 5, Interlude A (129-134)          Minerals and Rocks

1-16                 6,                                             Igneous Rocks and Processes

1-21                 9                                              Igneous Rocks and Processes

1-23                 7 (except 7.2 and 7.3)              Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

Date                Chapter                                               Topic

1-28                 8                                              Metamorphic Rocks

1-30                 Interlude B (227-233)              The Rock Cycle

2-4                   12; Int. D (352-4; 361-3)         Geologic Time

2-6                   EXAM I

2-11                 7.2, 20.2, 20.3                         Weathering in the Earth System

2-13                 7.3                                           Soil: A Nexus of the Earth System

2-18                 11                                            Mass Wasting

2-20                 Interlude E (472-479)               The Hydrologic Cycle

2-25                 17                                            Streams and Fluvial Processes

2-27                 22                                            Glaciers and Glaciation

3-4                   WINTER BREAK

3-6                   WINTER BREAK

3-11                 19                                            Groundwater

3-13                 18                                            Oceans and Coastal Processes

3-18                 20                                            Wind

3-20                 EXAM II

3-25                 10                                            Earthquakes

3-27                 Interlude C (308-317); 2          The Earth’s Interior

4-1                   4                                              Continental Drift

4-3                   4                                              Plate Tectonics

4-8                   11                                            Mountain Building

4-10                 Interlude E (472-478); 11         Evolution of Landscapes

4-15                 20                                            The Carbon Cycle

4-17                 20; 23                                      Climate, the Earth System, and Climate Change

4-24                 EXAM III (9:00 p.m.)

 

 

Grading:  3 Lecture Exams 25% each; Lab Grade 25%

 

Final letter grade based on straight (uncurved) scale as follows:  93-100=A; 90-92=A-; 87-89=B+; 83-86=B; 80-82=B-; 77-79=C=; 73-76=C; 70-72=C-; 67-69=D+; 63-66=D; 60-62=D-

 

NOTE: Most labs have a PreLab component that must be completed before the lab session (PreLabs are located at the back of the lab manual). All information needed to complete the Prelab is provided in the introductory text for the lab in the lab manual. For the first lab session, you must purchase the lab manual and complete the first two PreLabs (Science, Geology, and You and Minerals). These PreLabs will be collected at the beginning of the first lab session.

 

THE DYNAMIC EARTH SYSTEM LAB

 

ESSC 110L                                                                      W 2003

 

Instructor: Dr. LoDuca                                                              

Office: 215 Strong

Office Phone: 487-8589                                                              

email: geo_loduca@online.emich.edu   

Office Hours:       M-Th: 11:00-12:00

                                W: 4:00-5:00 & by appointment

                               

Lab Manual:  EARTH: A User’s Manual; LoDuca, 2000.

 

NOTE: You must register for one of the following lab sections:

 

Monday 2:00 - 3:50 (sec 003, sec. id. 67330)    Room 114 Tuesday      2:00 - 3:50 (sec 004, sec. id. 171801)  Room 114

Thursday 2:00 - 3:50 (sec 005, sec. id. 171802)  Room 114

 

LAB SCHEDULE

 

Week of Reading                         Topic

 

1-6           No Lab

1-13         1-2; 4-7                   Science Geology and You*;

1-20         No Lab

1-27         14-19                       Igneous Rocks*

2-3           21-24                       Sedimentary Rocks*;

2-10         26-27; 30-31           Met. Rocks*;

                                                Rocks in the Natural World*

2-17         33, 52                      Soil*, Surficial Geologic Maps

2-24         42-50                       Topographic Maps*

3-3           Winter Break

 

3-10         55, 77-78                 Surficial Geol. Maps II*;

                                                Glaciated Landscapes

3-17         37-38                       Groundwater*

3-24         58-66                       Bedrock Geologic Maps*

3-31         86                            The Loessel Landfill Project

4-7           81-82                       Rivers:

                                                the Evolution of Landscapes

4-14         -----                         Where To Live

4-21         -----                         Lab Exam

 

BRING LECTURE NOTES AND TEXTBOOK TO LAB

 

*These labs include a PreLab activity (found at the back of your lab coursepack). For these labs, you must turn in the completed PreLab at the beginning of the lab session (the Prelab is your “ticket” into the lab room for these lab sessions). If you do not turn in your completed PreLab at the beginning of the lab session, you cannot participate in that lab activity (i.e., you receive a “0” for that lab). NO EXCEPTIONS. To answer the questions in the PreLab, you must first read the assigned reading in the lab coursepack (see above).

 

Lab grade is 25% of total course grade; Lab grade determined based on cumulative total of scores achieved on lab exercises and Lab Exam.