GE141 Earth and Environment, Spring, 2009

Course Description

The geosciences encompass the study of the Earth, its formation, its history, the processes that continue to shape it today, and our interaction with it. In my opinion, an introductory level geoscience course should help you learn: 1) How Earth processes operate, how they shape the environment we live in, and how they can affect people and; 2) where Earth resources come from, the impacts of using these resources, and how we can reduce these impacts. In addition to these two primary goals this course also seeks to improve your critical-thinking and data-analysis skills.

Instructor

Walter A. Sullivan (Bill)
Office: Mudd 206
Office hours: Open-door policy; current schedule [XLS]
Office phone: 859-5803
E-mail: wasulliv@colby.edu

Syllabus [PDF]

Home buyer's project [PDF]

Anouncements

04.29.2009--Home buyer's presentations begin Monday, May 4, Groups 1-5.

04.10.2009--Exam-II is Wednesday the 15th--Last years exam [PDF] is available, but this years exam will be different

03.09.2009--Second home-buyer's project due Monday the 16th, see volcanoes lecture

02.24.2009--Exam-I is Wednesday the 4th!--Last years exam [PDF] is available, but this years exam will be very different

02.24.2009--First home-buyer's project due Monday the 2nd, see minerals lecture

02.06.2009--Be sure to buy a lab book before the first lab!

Geology resources on the web

Steve Reynold's website: Contains tons of cool 3-D animations

GeoMapApp: Super-cool mapping freeware

Google Earth: A very powerful geology tool

USGS earthquakes site: Lots of info about recent earthquakes and seismic hazards

USGS volcanos site: Lots of info about volcanic hazards

FEMA Map Service Center: Source for flood insurance maps

Lectures: updated weekly

  1. Scientific Method [PPT]
  2. The early Earth [PPT]

  3. Plate tectonics [PPT]

  4. Minerals [PPT]
  5. Igneous rocks [PPT]

  6. Volcanos and volcanism [PPT]

  7. Weathering and soils [PPT]

  8. Sedimentary processes and sedimentary rocks [PPT]

  9. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks [PPT]

  10. Geologic time [PPT]

  11. Folds, faults, and mountain belts [PPT]

  12. Earthquakes [PPT]
  13. Rivers and floods [PPT]

  14. Glaciers and ice ages [PPT]

Flash animations from lecture [Folder]