Earth Systems Science Syllabus

GEOLOGY 3923H - EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE

SYLLABUS - SPRING SEMESTER, 1998

A Brief History of This Course

Notes on Reading Assignments

Notes on Internet Exercises

Notes on Writing Assignments

Notes on Grading Policy

Great Expectations

BACK TO EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE HOME PAGE

BACK TO DR. STEPHEN K. BOSS HOME PAGE

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Stephen K. Boss, Department of Geology, University of Arkansas

OFFICE HOURS: 202 Ozark Hall, Mondays or Fridays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm OR BY APPOINTMENT

Phone: 575-7134 or 575-3355

e-mail: sboss@comp.uark.edu

WEEK 1 - WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

1/12	Mon	THE SECRETS OF MY SUCCESS
		Policies & Procedures in GEOL 3923H

1/14	Wed	EL SENDERO LUMINOSO (THE SHINING PATH)
		An Introduction to Earth Systems Science
		Read: The Earth System (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Earth System Science Education (from Universities Space Research Association) Shaping the Future of Earth Science Education (Part 1) (from AGU) Shaping the Future of Earth Science Education (Part 2) (from AGU) One Earth, One Future (p.1 - 15 only) (from National Academy of Sciences)

1/16	Fri	INTO THE ABYSS
		Appreciating Deep Time
		Read: Excerpts from "Wonderful Life" (from University of Iowa) Discussion of the Geologic Time Scale (from University of Calgary - Canada) Another Geologic Time Scale (from the Univ.of Calif. Museum of Paleontology) A Geologic Time Scale (from the Geological Society of America) A Metaphor for Geologic Time (from the Univ.of Calif. Museum of Paleontology) An Alternative Geologic Time Scale (from the Univ.of Oklahoma)

1/19	Mon	60 MINUTES
		Internet Exercise: Geologic Time Scale & Earth History
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1: A Personal Metaphor of Geologic Time

WEEK 2 - IN THE BEGINNING...

1/21	Wed	WE ARE STARDUST
		Formation of the Earth
		Read: Overview of the Solar System (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville) The Origin of the Solar System (from the University of Arizona) Age and Origin of the Earth (from the University of Derby - UK) The Origin of Earth (from the University of California Museum of Paleontology) Impact Cratering on Earth (from the Geological Survey of Canada) Notes on Earth (from Bill Arnett's Nine Planets at the University of Arizona)

1/23	Fri	THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN
		Differentiation of the Earth & Evolution of Earth Systems
		Read: The Interior of the Earth (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville) Geological Differentiation (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville) Early Earth Differentiation (from Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Spheres of Influence (from the University of Michigan)
1/26	Mon	BRAVE NEW WORLD
		Internet Exercise: Tools and Jewels for Earth Systems Research
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2: The Learning Curve

WEEK 3 - THE WANDERERS

1/28 Wed IMMOVABLE OBJECTS MEET IRRESISTIBLE FORCES

Origin of Plate Tectonics

Read:

This Dynamic Earth (from the United States Geological Survey)

Plate Tectonics (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville)

Evidence for Plate Tectonics (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville)

Consequences of Plate Tectonics (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville)

1/30 Fri WALTZ OF THE CONTINENTS

Features of Plate Boundaries

Read:

Earth's Interior & Plate Tectonics (Community Info. Delivery System - S. Africa)

Divergent Plate Boundaries (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA)

Convergent Plate Boundaries (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA)

Transform Plate Boundaries (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA)

Volcanoes (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA)

Earthquakes (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA)

A Global Isochron Chart (from the Geological Survey of Canada)

2/02 Mon SLIP SLIDING AWAY

Internet Exercise: Dynamic Earth

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #3: Reconstructing Plate Motions

WEEK 4 - THE HEAT IS ON

2/04	Wed	SUNRISE, SUNSET
		The Radiation Balance of Earth
		Read: Radiation Background (from NOAA) Light and Radiation (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Radiation Budget (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Insolation (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Atmospheric Absorption (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Reflected Radiation (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Outgoing Long Wave Radiation (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Greenhouse Effect (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Surface Temperature (from Northwestern University CoVis Project)

2/06	Fri	DEBITS & CREDITS
		Influences on Earth's Radiation Budget
		Read: Radiation, Clouds, & Atmospheric Water (from NASA) Global Energy Balance (from Iowa State University) Solar and Earth Radiation (from Goddard Space Flight Center) Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (from Langley Research Center) What causes the seasons? (from National Data Buoy Center)
2/09	Mon	STARVE A COLD, FEED A FEVER
		Internet Exercise: Radiation Balance of the Earth
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #4: Understanding Annual Variation in Solar Radiation

WEEK 5 - WINDS OF WAR

2/11	Wed	A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
		Introduction to Earth's Atmosphere
		Read: Atmosphere (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Atmospheric Circulation (from Iowa State University) Forces and Winds (from the WW2010 Project University of Illionis) Earth Sciences 110C - Lecture 21 (from the Univ. of Calif. Santa Cruz)

2/13	Fri	BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
		Atmospheric Circulation
		Read: Ocean Surface Winds (from Research & Data Systems Corp.) What is Scatterometry? (from Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Ocean Surface Winds (from National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) NSCAT, QuikSCAT and SeaWinds (from Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
2/16	Mon	AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NO GOOD
		Internet Exercise: Observing Earth's Atmosphere
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #5: Analysis of Global Winds

WEEK 6 - HOT & COLD RUNNING WATER

2/18	Wed	WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE...
		Introduction to the Hydrosphere
		Read: Hydrologic Cycle (from the Water Quality Association) The Hydrologic Cycle (from the WW2010 Project University of Illionis) Water Reservoirs (from St. Louis University) Hydrologic/Water Cycle (from the University of North Dakota)

2/20	Fri	AS THE WORLD TURNS
		Ocean Circulation
		Read: A Primer on Ocean Currents (from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) The Ocean (from NASA) Ocean Structure & Circulation (from Iowa State University) Glossary -Wind Driven Circulation (from the University of Tokyo - Japan) Fact-sheet Thermohaline Circulation (from University of Bern - Switzerland) Climate Change Fact Sheet 22 (from United Nations Environment Programme) Ocean Planet:Staying on Top (from Goddard Space Flight Center) Rubber Duckies (from AGU) Increase of Landfalling Major Hurricanes (from Colorado State University)
2/23	Mon	"THERE IS A RIVER IN THE OCEAN..."
		Internet Exercise: Observing Ocean Dynamics
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #6: Mapping Ocean Currents

WEEK 7 - THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

2/25	Wed	GREEN SLIME
		An Introduction to the Biosphere
		Read: The Origin of Life on the Earth (from Princeton University) Beginnings of Life on Earth (Reprinted by permission of American Scientist, magazine of Sigma Xi, TheScientific Research Society) Life on Earth before 3,800 Million Years Ago (from Nature) Biosphere (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) Climate Change Fact Sheet #21 (from United Nations Environment Programme)

2/27	Fri	SCUM OF THE EARTH
		Microbes and Earth Systems
		Read: Microbes Deep Inside the Earth (from Scientific American) Bizarre Life Forms Beneath Earth's Surface (from National Science Foundation) Origin of Deep Subsurface Bacteria (from AGU) Extremophiles (from Scientific American) Hydrothermal Processes at Mid-Ocean Ridges (from AGU)
3/02	Mon	CREEPY CRAWLIES
		Internet Exercise: Biodiversity
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #7: Biodiversity and Global Change

WEEK 8 - WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

3/04	Wed	ASHES TO ASHES
		The Global Carbon Cycle
		Read: Carbon Cycle (from Northwestern University CoVis Project) The Carbon Cycle (from Iowa State University) Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (from Iowa State University) The Case of the Missing Carbon (from Discover Magazine)

3/06	Fri	OUT OF THE FRYING PAN...
		The Greenhouse Effect
		Read: The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #2 (from UN Environment Programme) The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #3 (from UN Environment Programme) The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #4 (from UN Environment Programme) The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #5 (from UN Environment Programme) The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #6 (from UN Environment Programme) The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #7 (from UN Environment Programme) The Greenhouse Effect Information Sheet #8 (from UN Environment Programme) Unintended Consequences (from Discover Magazine)
3/09	Mon	...INTO THE FIRE
		Internet Exercise: Carbon Dioxide & Global Warming
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #8: Tracking Evidence of Global Change

WEEK 9 - LOVE YOUR MOTHER

3/11	Wed	YOUR MAMA
		The Gaia Hypothesis
		Read: The Gaia Hypothesis (from Mountain Man Graphics - Australia)

3/13	Fri	THE GOLDILOCKS SYNDROME
		Gaia Versus Earth Systems Science
		Read: The Gaia Hypothesis (from the University of Michigan)

WEEK 10 - YIPPIE!

3/16	Mon	NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK!

3/18	Wed	NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK!

3/20	Fri	NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK!

WEEK 11 - THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

3/23	Mon	NEXT OF KIN
		Internet Exercise: Comparative Planetology
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #9: The Earth-like Planets

3/25	Wed	ARE WE ALONE?
		The Case for Life on Mars
		Read: First Workshop on Astrobiology (from the Ames Research Center) Evolution of the Martian Climate (Reprinted by permission of American Scientist, magazine of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society ) Biology and the Planetary Engineering of Mars (from The Case for Mars) The Case for Relic Life on Mars (from Scientific American)

3/27	Fri	WAR OF THE WORLDS
		The Martian Meteorite - ALH84001
		Read: The Case for Relic Life on Mars (from Scientific American) What is ALH 84001? (The Culprit) (from Johnson Space Center) Ancient Life on Mars??? (A Nifty Slide Show) (from Johnson Space Center) Search for Past Life on Mars (The Original Article) (from Johnson Space Center) Death knell for Martian life (Poof!) (from New Scientist Magazine) The Significance of the Martian Frontier (from The Case for Mars)
3/30	Mon	TO BOLDLY GO...
		Internet Exercise: The Mars Pathfinder Mission
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #10: Mars & Earth

WEEK 12 - TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

4/01	Wed	THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
		El Nino & the Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
		Read: What is an El Nino (ENSO)? (from Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory) El Nino and Climate Prediction (from Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)

4/03	Fri	WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
		Global Impacts of ENSO
		Read: North American Climate & ENSO (from COAPS) EL Niño, ENSO, & Global Impact (from Stanford University) Economic Effects of El Niño (from The Dismal Scientist)
4/06	Mon	THE BAD SEED
		Internet Exercise: The 1997-98 El Nino Event
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #11: El Nino & the Southern Oscillation

WEEK 13 - STILL WATERS RUN DEEP

4/08	Wed	FEAST OR FAMINE
		El Nino & Africa
		Read: ENSO Impacts on African Agriculture (Part 1) (from U.S. AID) ENSO Impacts on African Agriculture (Part 2) (from U.S. AID) ENSO Impacts on African Agriculture (Part 3) (from U.S. AID)

4/10	Fri	DAYS OF WINE & ROSES
		Impact of El Nino on Natural Resources
		Read: What Is Food Security and Famine and Hunger? (from IJAS) El Nino and Pacific Salmon (from the University of Washington) El Nino and Soybeans (from Planetary Cycles) ENSO & Fine French Wine (from the Vermont World)
4/13	Mon	TONIGHT, BEKE WILL GO TO BED HUNGRY
		Internet Exercise: Famine Early Warning System
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #12: The African Sahel

WEEK 14 - THE BIG CHILL

4/15	Wed	THE ICEMAN COMETH
		Earth & the Ice Ages
		Read: The Quaternary Period (from SUNY Binghampton) The Pleistocene (from the University of California Museum of Paleontology) Orbital Variations and Milankovitch Theory (from NGDC) Milankovitch Cycles in Paleoclimate (from University of Rhode Island) Ice Sheets Play Important Role in Climate Change (from AGU) Earth's Changing Obliquity (from AGU)

4/17	Fri	THE ENDLESS SUMMER
		Earth's Climate Stability
		Read: Will Our Ride into the Greenhouse Future be a Smooth One? (from GSA) Sudden Climate Changes (from Oak Ridge National Laboratories) The Eemian Cold Event (from AGU) The Great Climate Flip-flop (from Dr. William H. Calvin at the University of Washington) Climate Control Requires a Dam at the Strait of Gibraltar (from AGU) Pliocene Global Warming (from Goddard Institute for Space Sciences)
4/20	Mon	WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
		Internet Exercise: A Personal Journey Through the Earth System

WEEK 15 - ALL THE WHOs IN WHOVILLE

4/22	Wed	E PLURIBUS UNUM
		An Examination of Human Population
		Read: Global and U.S. National Population Trends (from Consequences) Population Policy: Consensus and Challenges (from Consequences) The State of World Population 1996 (from UN Population Fund) Population and Consumption are Interlocking Issues (from Env. Defense Fund) Population and Consumption (from The Whitehouse) Population & Consumption in the U.S. (from Natural Resources Defense Council)

4/24	Fri	THE FAT LADY SINGS
		Climate Change & Land Use
		Read: Potential Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply (from Consequences) Economics and Global Warming (from The Dismal Scientist) Desertification (from the Global Environmental Citizenship Project - Canada) Land Degradation & Desertification (from CIESIN) Desertification & Climate Change (from Greenpeace - Norway) Consequences of Desertification (from UN Environment Programme)

WEEK 16 - REPENT! THE END IS NEAR!

4/27	Mon	OPEN MICROPHONE
		Summary Discussions of Our Place in the Cosmos
		Read: Climate Models: How Reliable are Their Predictions (from Consequences) Change Climate? Hell, Yes! (from the University of Illionis) Change the Name of Arkansas? Hell, No! (from the University of Arkansas)

4/29	Wed	IT'S ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING
		Course Review & Evaluations

5/01	Fri	NO CLASS - DEAD DAY

Th 7 May 1998

FINAL EXAM

12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

NOTES ON GRADING POLICY FOR THIS COURSE

Your grade for this course will be determined primarily by your performance on the Internet Exercises and the summary Writing Assignments based on them. Each week there will be an Internet Exercise to be followed by a short written summary to describe the work you completed and its significance to the subject matter. In total, there will be 13 Internet Exercises and 12 Writing Assignments. Each Writing Assignment should be short - no more than 3 pages text with figures derived from data used for that week. The Writing Assignments will constitute 60% of your grade for the course.

An additional 30% of your grade will be based on your participation in class discussions (based on the assigned reading material for each topic).

Finally, there will be a final examination in essay format which will constitute 10% of your overall grade.

You may expect that your grade for this course will be determined according to the following formula:

A	90% or better
B	89% - 80%
C	79% - 70%
D	69% - 60%
F	59% or below

BACK TO EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE HOME PAGE

BACK TO DR. STEPHEN K. BOSS HOME PAGE

A Brief History of This Course
Notes on Reading Assignments
Notes on Internet Exercises
Notes on Writing Assignments
Notes on Grading Policy
Great Expectations

1/28	Wed	IMMOVABLE OBJECTS MEET IRRESISTIBLE FORCES
		Origin of Plate Tectonics
		Read: This Dynamic Earth (from the United States Geological Survey) Plate Tectonics (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville) Evidence for Plate Tectonics (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville) Consequences of Plate Tectonics (from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville)

1/30	Fri	WALTZ OF THE CONTINENTS
		Features of Plate Boundaries
		Read: Earth's Interior & Plate Tectonics (Community Info. Delivery System - S. Africa) Divergent Plate Boundaries (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA) Convergent Plate Boundaries (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA) Transform Plate Boundaries (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA) Volcanoes (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA) Earthquakes (from Brunswick High School, Brunswick, Maryland, USA) A Global Isochron Chart (from the Geological Survey of Canada)
2/02	Mon	SLIP SLIDING AWAY
		Internet Exercise: Dynamic Earth
		WRITING ASSIGNMENT #3: Reconstructing Plate Motions