Earthquakes Volcanoes and Civilization
GEOL 107.01 Spring 2005
MTWR 11:00–11:50 Black 152
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Morgan Salisbury
Office: Lind Hall 300H Web: www.geology.cwu.edu/facstaff/morgan/
Phone: 963-2192 E-mail:
Office hours: Wed and Thursday 1-2 or by appointment
Text: Earthquakes by Bruce Bolt and Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change by Fischer et al.
Course description:
Recent events in Indonesia have dramatically demonstrated the impact of geologic forces on our lives. As human populations continue to rise and extend to new areas, geologically related natural disasters will continue, often with devastating consequences. In this class we will learn the science of earthquakes and volcanoes as well as how humans can best respond to these phenomena. As this in an introductory course in the department of Geological Sciences, we will also learn the basic principles that help us understand our dynamic planet.
Expectations and suggestions for success:
Attend all lectures (I cannot stress this enough): Attendance is mandatory
Take good notes: write down what is on the board (including diagrams) or in PowerPoint presentations. The exams are based on information covered in the notes. Read the book: Review concepts and examples covered in class.
Turn in homework on time: late assignments are penalized or not accepted at all.
Inquire: Ask me questions during lecture, via e-mail, or during my office hours.
Grades
Homework (10%): There will be three assignments throughout the quarter.
Field Trip (9%): There is one mandatory field trip for this course offered two different days. If you cannot attend either, there is a graded, written paper alternative.
Pop-quizzes (5%): Pop-quizzes will be given about once a week with out warning. These cannot be made up. One pop-quiz will be dropped from your grade.
Quizzes (16%): There will be two regularly scheduled quizzes, each occurring a few weeks before the first two exams. These quizzes closely resemble the exams.
Paper (7%): A 4-5 page report on an earthquake or volcanic eruption of your choice will be due before the final week of class. More details will be given later in the quarter.
Exams (36%): There will be two regularly scheduled exams. Exams cannot be made up. If there is a conflict talk to me before the test is given.
Final exam (17%): The final will be comprehensive.
Grades will be determined using a standard scale
Cheating and plagiarism: Any academic dishonesty will result in failure of the assignment and/or failure of the class, and/or expulsion from the university as per my discretion.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1 Mar 29,30,31
Topics: History of our planet, Earth’s structure
Reading: Earthquakes – Chapter 7
Week 2 April 4,5,6,7
Topics: Plate tectonics, earthquake generation
Reading: Earthquakes – Chapter 7, 4
Week 3 April 11,12,13,14 (QUIZ #1–Thursday, Jan 20)
Topics: Folds and faults
Reading: Chapter 3
Week 4 April 18,19,20,21
Topics: Seismic waves, earthquake size, water and earthquakes, hazards
Reading: Earthquakes – pp 19-27, Chapter 8
Week 5 April 25,26,27,28
Topics: Earthquake hazards, deadly examples, Pacific NW earthquakes
Reading: Earthquakes – Chapter 11
Exam #1 – Thursday, April 28
Week 6 May 2,3,4,5
Topics: Volcano intro, igneous rocks, viscosity, magma origin
Reading: Volcanoes – chapter 2
Week 7 May 9,10,11,12 (QUIZ #2–Thur, May 12)
Topics: Magma evolution, volcanic landforms
Reading: Volcanoes – chapter 3, 4
Field trip: Saturday, May 14 or Sunday, May 15
Week 8 May 16,17,18,19
Topics: effusive eruptions, explosive eruptions
Reading: Volcanoes – chapter 5, 6
Week 9 May 23,24,25,26
Topics: Eruption type, deadly eruptions, volcanoes and climate
Reading: Volcanoes – chapter 9
Exam #2 – Thursday May 26
Week 10 May 30,31 June 1,2 Papers due: May 31
Topics: Predicting eruptions, volcanic monitoring
Reading: Volcanoes – chapter 7, 15
FINAL EXAM – During regularly scheduled final period