GEOL1122: Earth's History of Global Change
Spring 2004 Syllabus
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Instructor: |
Dr. R. P. Freeman-Lynde |
Office: |
Room 145 GG |
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Phone: |
542-2391 (UGA), |
E-mail: |
RFREEMAN@UGA.EDU |
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Office Hours:
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M-F:8:30-10 a.m.
and 1:30-3:30 P.M. daily;
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Web page: |
HTTP://WWW.ARCHES.UGA.EDU/~RFREEMAN |
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Text: Earth System History , by Steven M. Stanley.
Course Objectives.
Society is currently concerned with the impact of human activities on the environment and the scientific community is involved in the assessment of this impact. Two aspects of the scientific effort are the documentation of the changes that have already been made to the environment and the prediction of future changes. Historical geology has much to contribute to both of these aspects. Documentation of change requires an understanding, or knowledge, of baseline conditions that existed prior to change, or of variations in conditions that may not remain static. The record of baseline conditions can be accessed by historical geology. For example, atmospheric CO2 content is increasing due to the burning of fossil fuels by humans. The past variation of atmospheric CO2 content can be obtained from ice core samples, from samples of amber, and from the carbon isotope composition of various materials. Knowledge of past conditions can also be used in predictions of future changes. Again, the climatic effect of increasing atmospheric CO2 content is of great concern at present. Attempts are being made to make such predictions using computer models. The validity of these computer models can be tested by using these models to reproduce past climates based on the geologic record. The objective of this course is to acquaint you with the principles used in historical geology, to give you an appreciation of the immense amount of time involved in the evolution of the Earth, to illustrate the changes that the Earth has undergone over the last 4.6 billion years, and to examine the implications that past naturally-induced changes have for the future changes wrought by people.
Course Grade:
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% total grade |
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Best 2 of 3 Mid-Term Exams (2/4, 3/3 & 4/5) |
62% |
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Partly Comprehensive Final Exam (5/7) |
38% |
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Total |
100% |
Attendance. The following is from the University of Georgia Bulletin:
"Students are expected to attend class regularly. A student who incurs an excessive number of absences may be withdrawn (WF) from a class at the discretion of the professor."
Attendance is essential. I will allow 3 unexcused absences (not including Drop-Add) through the middle of the semester (March 5). You will be dropped from class after I record a 4th unexcused absence through March 5. You will not be dropped from the class for excess unexcused absences after March 5. However, I will deduct 5 points from your course average if you end the semester with 7 unexcused absences, and 5 additional points for each additional unexcused absence up to 14. You will receive an ’ÄúF’Äù for the course if you end the semester with 15 or more unexcused absences. Absences as a result of medical conditions, family emergencies, jury duty, or military duty will be excused when documented by an excuse from an appropriate official. Makeup Exams will be given only for students with excused absences. There will be NO makeup quizzes.
Course Strategies.
1) GEOL1122 covers some basic physical geology, and the geologic history of the Earth and of
life on earth. A great deal of information is presented during the semester. It is therefore highly
recommended that you read the assigned material in advance of the lectures.
2) It has been shown that recopying notes after class, preferably the same day, greatly reinforces
the learning process (& cuts down on study time before exams).
Assignments.
1) Learn the geologic time scale (handout and frontis piece) for Test #1. Know the names of the
eons, eras, periods & epochs, and the times for the beginning & end of the eons & eras.
2) Learn the 6 Kingdoms, the Phyla of Kingdoms Plantae & Animalia, and the common names of
the organisms in Kingdoms Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, & Protista and in the Plantae &
Animalia Phyla (Chapter 3). (For Test #2)
Course Outline
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Lecture Topic |
Text Reading |
Dates |
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Introduction; Geologic Time; Geological Development of the Geological Time Scale; |
Chapter 1 (3-5; 9-14; 22-26); Chapter 6 (154-156;163-169) |
January 9-14 |
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Minerals and Rocks; |
Chapter 1 (5-8); Chapter 2 |
January 16-23 |
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Break |
- |
January 19 |
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Environments of Life; |
Chapter 4 |
January 26 |
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Sedimentary Environments; |
Chapter 5 |
January 28-30 |
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Stratigraphic Terminology; |
Chapter 6 (156-162; 169-177) |
February 2 |
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MID-TERM EXAM #1 |
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February 4 |
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Evolution, Charles Darwin & Natural Selection |
Chapters 3 & 7 |
February 6-13 |
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Plate Tectonics & Mountain Building |
Chapters 1 (14-20), 8 & 9 |
February 15-18 |
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Geochemical Cycling |
Chapter 10 |
February 20-23 |
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Cryptozoic Tectonic History |
Chapter 11 (285-305); Chapter 12 (315-321; 325; 329-338) |
Feb. 25 ’Äì March 1 |
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MID-TERM EXAM #2 |
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March 3 |
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Cryptozoic Life History |
Chapter 11 (306-311); Chapter 12 (321-329) |
March 5-19 |
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Fall Break |
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March 8-12 |
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Paleozoic Tectonic History |
Chapter 13 (355-359; 361-366); Chapter 14 (386-395); Chapter 15 (414-418; 420-431) |
March 22-24 |
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Paleozoic Life History |
Chapter 13
(341-355; 357; 360); |
March 26 ’Äì April 2 |
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MID-TERM EXAM #3 |
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April 5 |
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Cenozoic-Mesozoic Tectonic History |
Chapter 16 (452-454); Chapter 17 (476-482; 486-491); Chapter 18 (510-516); Chapter 19 (536-549) |
April 7-12 |
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Cenozoic-Mesozoic Climatic History |
Chapter 16 (452-455; 456-462); Chapter 17 (479-482); Chapter 18 (505-510); Chapter 19 (526-536); Chapter 20 (except 566-569) |
April 14 |
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Mesozoic Life History |
Chapter 16 (435-451; 455-456); Chapter 17 (465-476; 482-486) |
April 16-21 |
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Cenozoic Life History |
Chapter 18 (495-510); Chapter 19 (519-526; 546-556); Chapter 20 (566-569) |
April 23-29 |
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FINAL EXAM |
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May 7 |
Note: Thursday, April 29, will operate using a Monday schedule.
The Final Exam will be Friday, May 7, from 8-11 AM in room 200A.