GEOL 1133 (sec 001) 3 credits Environmental
Geology – Ozark Hall Room 25
Spring 2010; T Th 12:30 – 1:50
Instructor: Dr. Ralph
K. Davis
Office: Room 113 Ozark
Hall
Phone: 575-4515
Email: ralphd@uark.edu URL: http://comp.uark.edu/~ralphd
Office Hours: MW
9:30-10:20 T Th 9:30-10:20 F 8:30-9:20
Textbook: G.R.
Thompson and J. Turk, Earth Science and the Environment, 4th Edition,
Thomson-Brooke/Cole.
Purpose:
Environmental Geology is the application of geoscience principles and knowledge
to problems created by human occupancy and exploitation of the physical
environment. With an ever increasing population, the need to clearly understand
interactions between humans and their physical environment is essential. We are
faced with a variety of environmental problems that require decisions by people
in all walks of life. Major topics considered in this course include impacts to
humans and the environment from earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, floods,
weather, and climate. Environmental Geology also considers human use of natural
resources such as water, minerals and energy resources. Finally, Environmental
Geology deals with topics of waste management and waste disposal, and
introduces the concepts of community and regional land use planning and management.
Exams, Quizzes and Grades: There will be a total of 4 exams (see lecture schedule). The
first 3 are section exams. These will cover the material which was not included
on the previous exam. The 4th is a comprehensive final
exam. NO Make-Up Exams are given without prior
approved absence.
Quizzes:
Random extra credit quizzes will be given during class time throughout the
semester. Your average performance on these quizzes will be used for
extra credit of up to three (3) percentage points on your final course score.
Extra credit quiz points will only be used to raise your final course
score, these quizzes will not lower your final course score. NO
Make-UP Quizzes will be given.
Grades:
Three Section Exams (100 points
each) 300
points
Final Exam (comprehensive) 200
points
Total Possible Points 500
points
Calculation of Course Score:
((Exam 1 + Exam 2 + Exam 3 + Final Exam)/500)*100 = Percentage Score
Extra Credit Quiz: (((Total Number
of Quizzes Taken x 5 points per quiz)/(Total Number of Quizzes Given x 5 points
per quiz))*100) *0.03 = Extra Credit Points added to final course percentage
score
Grading Scale:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
65-79 = C
55-64 = D
<55 = F
Academic Honesty:
Academic honesty is essential to the work we do. Academic dishonesty (cheating)
will not be tolerated. Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with in
accordance with academic regulations (see pages 35-37,
Inclement Weather Policy
The general policy of the University is to remain open regardless of weather
conditions. You are expected to make your own determination about whether to
attempt to come to class. You should make every attempt to get to class within
the bounds of your personal safety. Class will not be held if the University is
closed or if the UA Razorback transit buses are not able to operate. I will attempt
to notify you via one of three mechanisms in the event class is cancelled due
to inclement weather: 1) email notification, 2) voice mail notification, or 3)
post a notice to the WEB site for the class.
Schedule-GEOL 1133 (sec 001): Environmental Geology: Spring
2010
Date
Class
Topic
Text Chapter
Jan 12 1 Introduction 1
*Population
Growth and Implications
*Resources
& Sustainable Development
*Earth
System Science
-Dynamic
Equilibrium and Earth Systems
Jan 14 2 Earth
Systems 1
& 6
*Earth
Cycles
*Earth's
Interior and Plate Tectonics (a review)
Jan 19 3 Earthquakes 7
& 9
*Historical
Quakes
*Types
of Waves and Associated Damage
*Case
Studies
*Risk
*Prediction
and Preparation
Jan 21 4 Volcanoes 8
&9
*Historic
Eruptions
*Assessing
the Hazard
*Minimizing
the Risk
Jan 26 5 Soils
and Soil Erosion 10
*Soil
Forming Factors
*Soil
as a Resource
*Soil
Erosion and Soil Conservation
Jan 28 6 Mass
Movement 10
*Historical
*Case
Studies
*Assessment
and Prevention
Feb 2 7 Earth-Sun Orbital
Relations 18
*Earth
Rotation and Orbit
*Perihelion,
Aphelion, Plane of the Ecliptic
*Axial
Tilt, Circle of Illumination
*Subpolar
Point vs. Declination
*Solstice
and Equinox
Feb 4 8 Exam
1
Feb 9 9 Energy,
EM Spectrum, Heat Transfer & Energy Balance 17
*What
is Energy
*EM
Radiation & EM Spectrum
*Heat
Transfer into Atmosphere
*Energy
Balance
Feb 11 10 Structure
of the Atmosphere 17
*Troposphere
*Stratosphere
*Lapse
Rate
*Tropopause
Feb 16 11 Atmospheric
Circulation & Climate 20
*Coriolis
Effect
*Hadely
Cell Circulation
*Relationship
to Climatic Zones
-Deserts
-Rain
Forests
Feb 18 12 Weather 19
*Types
of Storms
-Cyclonic
-Orographic
*Types of
Precipitation
Feb 23 13 Tornadoes
and Hurricanes 19
*Case
Studies
Feb 25 14 Stratospheric
Ozone Balance 17
*CFC's
*Ozone
Decline
*Antarctic
Ozone Hole
*Natural
Model for Ozone Production
*Pollution
Model for Ozone Production
*UVB
Radiation Increase
March 2 15 Greenhouse
Effect and Global Environmental Change 21
*Indicators
of Climate Change
*Tracing
and Predicting Climate Change
March 4 16 Exam
2
March 9 17 Greenhouse
Effect and Global Environmental Change 21
*Indicators of Climate Change
*Tracing
and Predicting Climate Change
March
11 18 Rivers and Flooding 11&12
*Hydrologic
Cycle
*Drainage
Basins
*Factors
Affecting Runoff and the Hydrograph
*Upstream
Floods
*Downstream
Floods
*Flood-Recurrence
Intervals
-100/500
year floods
*Impacts
of Urbanization
*Flood
Control
March 16 19 Water Supply and Use 12
*Total
Available Resource
*Surface
Water Development and Use
*Groundwater
Development, Use and Depletion
*Impacts
of Groundwater Depletion
March
18 20 Water Contamination 12
*Sources
of Contamination
*Surface
Water vs. Groundwater Contamination
*Case
Studies
*Protecting
Water Quality
March 22
through 26 Spring Break
March
30 21 Wetland and Riparian Resources 11
*Function
and Benefits
*Human
Impacts to these Resources
April 1 22 Waste
Management Notes
*Sources
and Types of Wastes
*Disposal
Methods
*Recycling
*Impacts
to Environment
April 6 23 Waste
Management Notes
*Sources
and Types of Wastes
*Disposal
Methods
*Recycling
*Impacts
to Environment
April 8 24 EXAM
3
April
13 25 Mineral Resources 5
*
*Environmental
Impacts Associated with Extraction
April
15 26 Mineral Resources 5
*
*Environmental
Impacts Associated with Extraction
April
20 27 Energy Resources 5
*Sources
of Energy
-Fluid
Hydrocarbons
-Coal
-Geothermal
-Nuclear
-Solar
-Wind
-Water
-Biomass
April
22 28 Energy Resources 5
*Sources
of Energy
-Fluid
Hydrocarbons
-Coal
-Geothermal
-Nuclear
-Solar
-Wind
-Water
-Biomass
April
27 29 Oceans 15&16
*Sea
Level Changes
*El
Nino and La Nina
April 29 30 Oceans 15&16
*Sea
Level Changes
*El
Nino and La Nina
May 3 31 Comprehensive Final Exam: Monday,
May 3 - 3:00 am – 5:00