Fall Field Course: Geodynamics: Earthquakes and Volcanoes in the Intermountain West

Fall 2021 GEOS482 (Geodynamics; 2 credits):

This is a class for Department of Geosciences majors in their final years at BSU who need field methods curriculum to graduate. Students registering for GEOS482 Geodynamics in fall 2021 must contact the instructor (Jeffrey Johnson; jeffreybjohnson@boisestate.edu) for a permission number to register. Prior to your registration we will need to read the disclaimer below and discuss special requirements for this course given the current COVID climate. This class size will be limited with preference given to students who need GEOS482 to graduate. The first meeting of GEOS482 will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time during the second week of the semester. Weekly meetings will precede the field trip to be held from October 7th through 11th, 2021. All meetings are mandatory.

COVID Statement:

This class field trip can only be offered if the COVID situation permits us to do so safely in October. COVID safety protocols are particularly important because we plan to travel together in vans; travel in personal vehicles will not be allowed. Given uncertainty due to the pandemic the class has been limited to 8 students in 2021 and you must obtain permission from the instructor to register. We will follow all university COVID policies and guidelines highlighted at here . COVID vaccinations are highly recommended, but can not be required as per university policy. Note that you must agree to the following field course guidelines including

• mask wearing while driving/riding in vans

• COVID negative check (free at BSU) within 72 hours of the October 7th departure. Go to https://www.boisestate.edu/coronavirus-response/covid-testing-center/ for information about BSU testing procedures and visit https://boisestatecovidtestingappointment.as.me/schedule.php to set up an appointment. Please set up your appointment by Wednsday September 29th.

• talk to your instructor if you are concerned about COVID to the point where you might opt not to participate; it may be possible to have vaccinated students drive in a van together, however note that per BSU policy vaccination status disclosure is purely voluntary

Note that due to concerns over COVID I have decided to rent three minivans (rather than 15 pax van). We will have four certified drivers and 12 participants total so only four individuals per vehicle.

Course overview:

Although Idaho is located some distance from active plate margins, it is situated in the dynamic and geologically-exciting intermountain west. A dramatic manifestation of our local, active Earth was the March 31st 2020 6.5 Stanley ID earthquake and continuing aftershock sequence. This geodynamics course in Fall 2021 will focus on geologically-recent Earth processes occurring in the Northern Basin and Range Province, Snake River Plane, and extend to Yellowstone. During a four-day, four-night field trip October 7-11 we will visit Holocene earthquake fault scarps and recent volcanism in the Snake River Plain. Field opportunities will be provided for retrieving geophysical data and mapping landforms using drones and structure-from-motion technology. Students will learn how to access and interpret regional seismic, geodetic, and geomorphic data using online resources prior to and after the field trip. A written and oral capstone presentation focused on one of these disciplines will be due two weeks after the field trip. Specific Program Learning Outcomes for this course are summarized at the bottom of this page.

Schedule:

Four weekly 1-hour zoom-based meetings will be held in September/October leading up to the field trip. Given scheduling complications these mandatory meetings will likely be held virtually (via zoom) at 7 PM on a mutually-agreeable evening. The four-day / four-night field trip is scheduled for 7 October to 11 October. Field trip itinerary and field trip expectations is found at this link. A final follow-up in-person meeting will be held where students present their class projects.

1st week (September 7) - course overview and introduction; expectations and field trip logistics

2nd week (September 14) - intermountain west seismology and resources; field trip logistics continued

3rd week (September 21) - intermountain geodesy and resources; field trip logistics finalized

4th week (September 28) - mapping and materials overview;

final meeting (last week in October TBD) - student-led review of field trip pages

Cost and logistics:

There is a $350 class fee that will cover transportation, campground fees, and group camping gear.

Grading Policy:

Active participation in the field trip is needed for a minimum C grade.

Additional grade bonuses of 1/3 letter grade are provided for students who attend and participate in all zoom sessions, i.e., C+.

Additional grade bonuses are provided for students who complete an online field trip guide (refer to field trip template). Quality of the guide will boost the grade by 1/3, 2/3, or 1 full letter grade depending upon quality. Field trip guides will have firm deadlines for completion.

Additional grade bonuses are provided for mapping project (described below) completed in teams or individually. Bonus of 1/3 or 2/3 of a grade is given depending upon quality of work.

Example: Student who participates in field trip and all zoom sessions starts with a C+. If their field trip guide is good quality (2/3 of letter grade), their grade increases to a B. If they submit a mapping project that is of fair quality (1/3 of letter grade), their overall grade improves to a B+.

Example: A student who wants an A must attend all meetings and submit an excellent map (of the Borah Peak scarp) and an excellent field trip guide.