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September 4, 2008
www.brocku.ca/Extreme_Earth
Extreme Earth
ERSC 1P92
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Fall 2008
Instructor: Rick Cheel Department of Earth Sciences
Office: Mackenzie Chown D418
Phone: 905-688-5550 Ext. 3512
E-mail: [email protected] to Extreme Earth Home Page
All course material will be located at:
www.brocku.ca/extreme_earth
Return to Extreme Earth Home Page www.brocku.ca/Extreme_Earth
First, some important considerations…..
ERSC 1P92
Extreme Earth
Extreme low frequency events and the geological record of their causes and effects, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, climatic change and impacts with extraterrestrial bodies.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Note: secondary school sciences are not a prerequisite.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in ERSC 1F01, 1F90 and 1F95.
Brock University, 2008-2009 Calendar
First, some important considerations…..
By October 24 you will have been communicated more than 15% of your total grade for the course.
Friday, October 31 is the last date for withdrawal without academic penalty and last day to change from credit to audit status for duration 2 courses without academic penalty.
Extreme Earthaims to provide:
• a basic understanding of how the Earth system operates on an ongoing basis.
• examples of changing paradigms and the challenges to new ideas.
• examples of extreme events of various scales of magnitude and frequency.
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Grade Distribution
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Assignment 1 10% Due Tuesday, Oct. 28
Assignment 2 10% Due Thursday, Nov. 13
Midterm test 30%
Final Exam 40% Scheduled by the Registrar
Assignment 3 10% Due Tuesday, Nov. 26
Last names beginning A to K: In class Thur., October 9
Last names beginning L to Z: In class Fri., October 10
Assignments (10% each):
1. Locating earthquake epicenters.
2. Reconstructing tectonic plates on the fictitious planet of Tralfamadore (Kurt Vonnegut fans should enjoy this).
3. Example mulitple choice questions.
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Outline and scheduleSeptember 4
Introduction and course synopsis
September 5 & 9Scientific Ideas, Geology 001, a brief History of
Geology and Catastrophism in the 20th
September 11 to 25The Origin of the Solar System and its bodies;
Near Earth Objects, collisions and risk to humans; impact craters; Nemesis hypothesis
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Outline and schedule
Sept. 26, 30 & Oct. 2
Continental Drift: the history of an idea;
Geomagnetism
October 3Plate Tectonics.
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October 7 and 14 to 24Earthquakes
Outline and schedule
October 9Mid term test for last names beginning A to K
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October 21Assignment 1: Locating an earthquake epicentre
October 10Mid term test for last names beginning L to Z
Outline and schedule
October 28 to November 4Atmosphere and climate (past and present); sea
level change.
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Note: By October 24 you will have been communicated more than 15% of your total grade for the course.
Note: Friday, October 31 is the last date for withdrawal without academic penalty and last day to change from credit to audit status for duration 2 courses without academic penalty.
Outline and schedule
November 6Assignment 2. Plate Boundaries on Trafalmador
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November 18 to 21Volcanoes Part II: Prediction of eruptions; impact of eruptions; super volcanoes; volcanoes in space.
November 7 to 14Volcanoes Part I: Composition, deposits, types of
volcanoes and their distribution.
Outline and schedule
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November 25Wrap up, review and course information.
The usual disclaimer….The schedule and topics may change without notice.
Check the web-based schedule for changes and updates
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In the event of a
significant asteroid impact:
class will be cancelled!Return to Extreme Earth Home Page
