12.102 | Fall 2005 | Undergraduate

Environmental Earth Science

Calendar

WEEK # TOPICS KEY DATES

1

Introduction

Population Growth, Hurricane Katrina

2

Geologic Time, Isotopic Tracers

Introduction to Rocks and Minerals

3

Rock and Mineral ID Mineral Resources and Hazards Hands on Mineral Lab

Energy Resources: Fossil Fuels, Alternative Energy

Water as a Resource

Problem set 1 due

4

Water Cycles

Physics and Chemistry of Water

Groundwater

Aquifers

Controls on Fluid Flow

Problem set 2 due

5

Pedogenesis and Soils

Waste Management

Rocks and minerals lab due

6

Geology and Resources

Mineral Resources and Extraction

Geologic Hazards and Catastrophes

Plate Tectonics

Rocks and minerals lab supplement due

7

Exam 1

Plate Tectonics and Geologic Hazards

8

Seismology and Earthquake Hazards

Volcanism

Problem set 3 due

9

Volcanic Hazards

Surface Processes, Landslides, Debris Flows

Problem set 4 due

10

Floods

Physics and Chemistry of Oceans

Hurricanes and Tides

Shoreline Erosion

11

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean-atmosphere Coupling

Climate Change

Past Records of Climate

Problem set 5 due

12

Air Pollution

Ozone Pollution and Depletion

Sulfogenic Aerosols

Greenhouse Gases

Problem set 6 (extra credit) due

13

Carbon Cycle and the Greenhouse Effect

Geology of Nuclear Reactor Siting and Waste Disposal

14

Project Summary

Final project due

Course Info

As Taught In
Fall 2005