Teaching

GEO 107: Natural Hazards

An introduction to the concepts, techniques, and scientific methods used in the earth sciences. The natural hazards posed by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are used as a focus. These phenomena are examined in the context of the theory of plate tectonics to determine their cause, destructive potential, and the possibility of predicting and controlling their occurrence. Elementary probability methods are introduced in the treatment of approaches to prediction. Societal responses to forecasts are also considered.

DEC:     E
SBC:     SNW

3 credits

GEO 105: Energy Resources in Transition

The increasing impacts of the climate change crisis present us with the urgent challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, requiring an energy transition on a scale humanity has never attempted. This course examines current energy sources to assess their impacts on the global environment and evaluate their fitness for long term sustainability. Existing and potential energy sources, from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources, including nuclear, geothermal, solar, wind, hydro, and tidal, will be examined from the geologic processes that create them, technological advances in production and utilization, to their limitations and societal impacts. The evolving status of sustainable energy sources will be evaluated, projecting forward to anticipate energy needs and future availability of resources on decade to century time scales.

DEC:     E
SBC:     SNW

3 credits

GEO 552: Physics of the Earth II

Study of the Earth's structure and properties based on evidence from seismology and high-pressure geophysics. Topics include fundamental principles of elastic wave theory, body and surface wave propagation in layered media, earthquake source mechanisms, free oscillations of the Earth, and rheological properties of the Earth's interior. May be taken independently of GEO 551.

Fall, alternate years, 3 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

GEO 556: Solid-State Geophysics

Application of lattice dynamics and equations of state of solids to studies in high-pressure, high-temperature geophysics. Reviews experimental data from physical acoustics, static and shock wave compression, and theoretical results from finite strain and atomistic models.

Prerequisites: GEO 551 and 552, or permission of instructor

Spring, 3 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

GEO 607: Topics in Geophysics

Seminar course on various topics of geophysics.  

Fall and Spring, 1-3 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.