Upper-Division

Physics applied to geological problems, including basic mechanics, stress and strain, heat transport, and fluid flow. Discussion-2 hours.

Explores the shallow subsurface environment, including groundwater systems, buried faults, sedimentary basins and other environmentally significant features using the tools of geophysics. Data acquisition and interpretation focus on understanding processes and defining problems.

Introduction to field and laboratory techniques in geophysics and their application to geologic and environmental problems. Includes introduction to seismic reflection and refraction, gravity, magnetic, and electrical resistivity methods. Laboratory-6 hours.

How the fossil magnetism of rocks is used to decipher Earth's history: applications to tectonics, geochronology, stratigraphy, structural geology, geomagnetism, and archeology. Includes an overnight field trip to collect samples for a class research project.

A hands-on research project in the Paleomagnetic Laboratory. Students collectively drill oriented cores in the field (one–two days), prepare and measure the samples, and analyze and interpret the data. Each student writes an individual final report based on the class results.

Reconstruction of the chemistry, biology, circulation, and temperature of the ocean and of climate systems throughout geologic time. Emphasis on interpretation of the marine sedimentary record and geochemical cycling. Discussion-1 hour. Will be offered in the 2006–07 academic year.

Introduction to the fundamental concepts and methods of modern marine stratigraphy. Topics covered include lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, cyclestratigraphy, graphic correlation, and spectral analysis. Practical application of techniques is explored within the context of Cenozoic paleoceanography. One Saturday field exercise. Will be offered in the 2001-02 academic year.

Introduction to the physics and chemistry of bonding in minerals and silicate melts. Relationship of mineral and melt structures to physical properties. Application of modern analytical techniques to studying the structures, chemistry, and physical properties of Earth materials.

Covers field methods used in water resources management and groundwater contamination studies, including well pumping tests, unsaturated zone monitoring, and ground-water sampling techniques.

The formation of asteroids, comets, moons, planets, and the samples that derive from them, with a focus on meteorites, astronomical discoveries, spacecraft mission results, and modeling. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 267.

Introduction to reflection seismology, presenting an overview of data acquisition, processing, and interpretation; common depth point method; velocity determinations; filtering; migration; display. Applications to seismic stratigraphy and structure of the crust and of continental margins. Laboratory: 3 hours.

Introduction to quantitative earthquake and global Earth structure seismology. Topics include basic elasticity, wave characteristics, seismic ray theory, wave reflection, surface waves, normal modes, seismic instrumentation, application of seismic waves to reveal Earth structure and resulting models, representation of earthquake sources such as explosions and faulting, earthquake rupture scaling, modern methods of modeling seismic recordings to study source complexity, and an introduction to seismotectonics. Laboratory-3 hours. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 270.

Three weeks of summer field study in geologically complex regions in the White-Inyo Mountains of eastern California. Activities include geologic field mapping on topographic and photographic base maps, stratigraphy, petrology, and structure analysis. A fee is required for participation. Contact sponsoring agency for details. Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements; courses 109/L, 110A/L, and 110B/M. Enrollment is restricted to Earth sciences majors. Concurrent enrollment in course 188B is required. Interview only via application filed with department.

Introduction to basic principles of geographic information systems (GIS). Visualization of earthscapes with applications to problem-solving in the Earth sciences. Laboratory exercises in loading, manipulation, and interpretation of data sets. Field investigations of phenomena visualized in laboratory, including geological description, interpretation, and written report preparation. Lecture and laboratory portions of course occur during spring quarter. Field investigations and report-writing occur in the summer following spring quarter. A fee is required for participation. Contact sponsoring agency for details. Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements; courses 109/L, 110A/L, and 110B/M. Enrollment is restricted to Earth sciences majors. Concurrent enrollment in course 188A is required. Interview only via application filed with department.

Seminar concerning a major scientific debate in the earth sciences and designed to integrate the undergraduate major. Topics vary quarterly and require synthesis of geological, geophysical, and geochemical information mostly drawn from the current research literature.

Training for undergraduates in practical teaching skills. Focus on preparation, assessment, and feedback. Classroom techniques, organizational and time management strategies, practice teaching sessions. Students cannot receive credit for this course and course 203. Future participation in 196B is encouraged. Course may not be counted toward upper-division major requirements.