150 Geoscience Topics
These courses introduce
the Earth sciences through in-depth exploration
of a particular scientific question or geoscience
related issue. In-class laboratory exercises and
mandatory field trips provide exposure to
scientific methodology and experimentation.
These courses allow students with a general
interest in science or science students early in
their careers to experience scientific inquiry. Not
open to juniors or seniors. (Offered annually)
170 The Solid Earth
This course explores the
form and function of the solid Earth, using plate
tectonics as its central paradigm. From this
framework, students explore rocks and minerals,
volcanoes, earthquakes, the rise and fall of
mountains, the origin and fate of sediments, the
structure of our landscape, and geologic time.
Students discuss geological resources such as
minerals, petroleum and energy. The course
emphasizes how humans interact with Earth
processes and, in some cases, alter them.
Approximately half of the laboratory work is in
the field and one mandatory weekend field trip is
typically required. No prerequisites; however,
this course is a prerequisite for many geoscience
courses. (Arens, Kendrick or McKinney, offered
each semester)
210 Environmental Hydrology
“All the rivers
run into the ocean; yet the sea is not full; unto
the place from whence the rivers come, thither
they return again” (Ecclesiastes). Hydrology is
the study of water at or near the surface of the
Earth. Modern society’s demand for water from
surface and groundwater sources to feed
industrial, agricultural, municipal, recreational and other uses typically outstrips the supply,
which has become increasingly more scarce due
to the environmental degradation of existing
water resources by the disposal of wastes. Thus
no other discipline in the geological sciences has
experienced such an explosion of interest and
growth in recent years. This course investigates
the physical properties of water, the hydrologic
cycle, surface and groundwater processes, water
quality issues, and other environmental concerns
focusing on the quantitative aspects of hydrology.
Project-based laboratories are mostly done
in the field and analyzing/modeling data in the
lab. Prerequisites: CHEM 120, GEO 190 or GEO
170 and ENV 170, or permission of instructor.
(Halfman, Spring, offered alternate years)
230 Problems in the Earth's History
This course
develops the methods by which the Earth’s history
is deciphered. It looks at sedimentary rocks and
their structures, fossils and the fossil record,
organic evolution, various ways of delineating
geologic time, and the geologic history of the
North American continent. Laboratory work is
centered on analysis of maps, structures, facies,
and stratigraphy. The culminating activity is an
individual research project. Mandatory weekend
field trips are required. Prerequisite: GEO 170 or
permission of the instructor. (Arens, Fall, offered
annually)
240 Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of the
structure, chemistry, and origin of minerals.
Since minerals are the basic components of all
rocks and sediments and are commonly in
chemical equilibrium with natural waters, an
understanding of minerals is crucial to many
fields in geoscience. This course introduces
students to the chemical and physical properties
of minerals, their occurrence in rocks, and their
economic uses. It also familiarizes students with
some of the most important minerals and the
techniques used in their identification and
characterization. Techniques covered include
crystallographic, X-ray, spectroscopic, and
optical microscopy. Laboratory. Prerequisites:
GEO 170 and CHEM 110 (or concurrent
enrollment). (McKinney, offered annually)
250 Physical Oceanography
This course
addresses the ways in which bodies of water, such
as the ocean, the Great Lakes, and Seneca Lake
respond to inputs of energy, in particular heat
from the sun and energy from the wind. Students examine the distribution of heat, temperature,
salinity and water movements and how they
interact with the atmosphere, both on a global
scale and on the localized scale represented by
Seneca Lake. Prerequisite: ENV 170 and
Calculus or instructor consent.
260 Meteorology
This course examines the
fundamental processes responsible for the
characteristics and development of weather
systems. Students explore properties of the
atmosphere (radiation, physics, and thermal
structure), the use of radar and satellite systems,
large-scale pressure systems, as well as an array of
severe weather systems including hurricanes,
thunderstorms, tornadoes and lake-effect snow
storms. Prerequisite: ENV 170 and Calculus or
instructor consent. (Laird, offered annually)
270 Paleoclimatology
Paleoclimatology is the
study of climate prior to the period of instrumentation.
Understanding how and why climate
changes is important for interpreting the geologic
record and evaluating contemporary climate
change. After an overview of Earth’s modern
ocean-atmosphere system and energy balance is
presented, dating methods and techniques for
reconstructing past climates are discussed. Field
and lab projects may include working with
existing paleoclimate datasets in addition to
collecting and interpreting archives of climate
change such as tree rings, bog and lake cores, and
speleothems from the local area. Note: There are
required weekend field trips. Prerequisites GEO
170 and ENV 170; or permission of instructor.
(Curtin, offered annually)
280 Aqueous and Environmental Geochemistry
Aqueous fluids are the agents of geologic change.
They initiate and control many geologic
processes because they are ubiquitous, mobile
and chemically reactive. Chemical interaction
between fluids and rock, soil, or aerosols have a
direct bearing on topics such as acid deposition,
drinking water quality, acid mine drainage, and
the chemical evolution of the hydrologic cycle.
Students examine the chemical and geological
processes that govern the concentration levels of
dissolved substances in aqueous systems. Projects
completed during lecture and lab will emphasize
the collection and analysis of surface or near
surface waters and the interpretation and
presentation of data. Note: There will be
required weekend field trips. Prerequisites: GEO
170 and ENV 170, CHEM 120 or by permission
of the instructor. (Curtin, Spring, offered alternate
years)
290 Paleontology
This course examines the fossil
record from the perspective of the questions that
can be asked of it. How do fossils contribute to understanding patterns of evolution? What largescale
patterns of biological diversity are seen only
from the vantage point of fossils? How does form
give clues to function? What can be learned
about Earth’s past climates and environments
from fossils? How do fossils tell time in the
geologic record? The class answers these
questions through a detailed study of the fossils
themselves. (Arens, offered alternate years)
310 Geoscience System Modeling
From the
basic conceptual to more complex numerical
frameworks, models allow one to examine
specific aspects of a complex real system and
predict outcomes. This course is an introduction
to systems modeling with applications to the
Earth and environmental sciences. Basic systems
concepts and systems thinking will be introduced
in the contexts of hydrological, climatic, and
other environmentally relevant systems. Students
identify key processes and relationships in
geoscience systems, represent these elements
quantitatively in models, and assess the validity
of model predictions. Project-based laboratories
provide an opportunity for students to develop
and test their own models. Prerequisite: ENV
170 and Calculus or permission of the instructor.
(Laird, offered alternate years)
320 Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks
Sediments and sedimentary rocks are the most
common of the geologic materials on the Earth’s
surface. Found in them are many of the raw
materials used in our industrial society, the
record of life in the past and the record of
ancient environmental change. Laboratories
involve the description, classification, correlation,
and interpretation of sediments and
sedimentary rocks. Weekend field trips required.
Prerequisite: GEO 170, GEO 230, or permission
of the instructor. (Curtin, offered alternate years)
330 Limnology
Limnology is the study of lakes
from a chemical, biological, physical, and
geological perspective. Topics include the thermal
structure of lakes, lake optics, dissolved gases,
biological nutrients, trace elements, plankton
populations, food-chain dynamics, estuaries, and
the origin and nature of lake basins. Freshwater and
marine systems are contrasted, with Seneca Lake
serving as an example of the former. The roles of
planktonic life, input from rivers, and thermal
stratification on the chemistry of Seneca Lake are
explored. Special emphasis is placed on biological
nutrient dynamics and environmental concerns.
Weekly laboratories and a few weekend day-trips are conducted on Seneca Lake aboard The William
Scandling, and selected Finger Lakes aboard the JB
Snow. Prerequisites: CHEM 120, GEO 170 and
ENV 170, or permission of instructor (Halfman,
Fall, offered annually)
340 Petrology
Petrology deals with the description,
classification, and origin of rocks. Although
the subject encompasses all classes of rocks, this
course focuses principally on igneous and
metamorphic rocks. Topics include the mineralogical
and chemical makeup of the common rock
types, crystal growth, and equilibrium in magmatic
and metamorphic environments, the application
of experimental studies to the interpretation of
igneous and metamorphic rocks, and the origin of
magmas. Laboratory work emphasizes the
systematic description of rocks in hand specimen
and thin section, and the interpretation of origin
from mineralogy and texture. Laboratory and one
extended field trip. Prerequisite: GEO 240.
CHEM 120 is also recommended. (McKinney,
offered alternate years)
370 Structural Geology
Structural geology is the
study of the deformed rocks that mark areas of
present or past crustal movement, chiefly the
Earth’s mountain belts. Its basic tasks are the
recognition, representation, and genetic
interpretation of a variety of rock structures.
These structures range from microscopically
deformed mineral grains to entire mountain
belts. Major goals of the course include the
visualization of rock geometries and structures
from maps and cross sections, and the interpretation
of these structures in terms of rock
deformation processes. Field observations and
mapping of deformed rocks constitute an
important part of the course. Laboratory with
two extended field trips. Prerequisite: GEO 190
or GEO 170. (McKinney, offered alternate years)
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