12.102 Environmental Earth Science: Course Details
Meetings:
Tuesdays & Thursdays–11:00-12:30, Rm. 54-325Instructors:
Professor Sam Bowring
sbowring@mit.edu
54-1124; x3-3775
Professor John Southard
southard@mit.edu
54-1026; x3-3397
TA:
Mark Schmitz
mschmitz@mit.edu
54-1114; x3-7993
Important Dates:
Oct. 7 (Th) First Evaluation Day
Oct. 8 (F) Last day to ADD courses
Nov. 4 (Th) Second Evaluation Day
Nov. 11 (Th) Veteran’s Day holiday
Nov. 17 (W) Last day to DROP courses
Nov. 25 (Th) No class - Thanksgiving holiday
Dec. 9 (Th) Final Evaluation Day; Last day of classes
Grading:
3 problem sets 25%
1 written report 25%
1 oral presentation 25%
1 poster presentation 25%
Main Text:
(available at the COOP, on reserve at Lindgren Library)Montgomery, C.W. 1997. Environmental Geology, (5th ed.) Boston, Ma: McGraw Hill.
Supplemental Texts:
(available on reserve in Lindgren Library)Pipken, B.W. & Trent, D.D. 1997. Geology and the Environment (2nd ed.) Belmont, CA: West/Wadsworth.
Turk, J. & Thompson, G.R. 1995. Environmental Geoscience. Ft Worth, Tx: Harcourt Brace & Company.
12.102 Environmental Earth Science: Course Grading
The class will be divided into three groups (A,B,C), with one-third of the class members presenting one of three projects on each of the three "evaluation days" over the course of the semester. The order of assignments is as follows:
Evaluation Date & Theme
10/7 (Resources) 11/4 (Hazards) 12/9 (Pollution)Written Report A B C*
Oral Presentation B C A
Poster Presentation C A B
* Note that Group C written report is due on (12/2) one week before the final evaluation day in order to comply with end of semester assignment regulations.
Each evaluation day has a broadly defined theme, however the individual topics for the projects are decided upon by the student in consultation with the course instructors. Topic outlines for each project will be handed in 2 1/2 weeks prior to the evaluation day. Details of each assignment follow:
Written Report (25%)
The written report will consist of a 10-15 page (double-spaced) original exposition of a topic pertinent to the broad theme of interest in environmental earth science, with appropriate illustrations, and a complete bibliography. Reports will be handed in on or before the evaluation day. In order to stress the iterative nature of scientific writing, the report will then be reviewed by the course instructors, and handed back for revisions, which will be due within one week.
Oral Presentation (25%)
The oral presentation will consist of a 10 minute lecture accompanied by visual media including overhead transparencies or slides on a topic pertinent to the broad theme of interest in environmental earth science. Oral presentations will be peer reviewed. A set of graphics which will be used in the oral presentation will be handed in one week prior to the evaluation day for instructor approval and suggestions.
Poster Presentation (25%)
The poster presentation will consist of a 3 x 4 ft visual display on a topic pertinent to the broad theme of interest in environmental earth science. Emphasis should be placed on graphical illustration of concepts with minor accompanying text. Poster presentations will be peer reviewed. A set of graphics which will be used for the poster presentation will be handed in one week prior to the evaluation day for instructor approval and suggestions.
________________________
Problem Sets (25%)
Three (3) problem sets over the course of the semester will concentrate on the quantitative aspects of environmental science and evaluate your problem solving skills. Each problem set is equally weighted.
12.102 Environmental Earth Science: Course Syllabus
Week of:
Subject Matter:Sept. 7 (Th) Fundamentals of geology; Geologic time and geochronology; Rates of geologic processes
Sept. 14 (T,Th) Population growth; Geologic & Resources; Mineral resources and extraction; Mineral Hazards– Asbestos
Sept. 21 (T,Th) Energy Resources; Fossil fuels; Geology and geochemistry of surface waters; Pedogenesis & Soils
Sept. 28 (T,Th) Physics and chemistry of water; Water and energy cycles; Physics and chemistry of the oceans; Tides; Shoreline erosion
Oct. 5 (T,Th) Groundwater; Controls on fluid flow; Aquifers
FIRST EVALUATION (Resources)
Oct. 12 (T, Th) Geologic hazards and catastrophes; Plate tectonics
Oct. 19 (T,Th) Volcanic activity
Oct. 26 (T,Th) Earthquakes
Nov. 2 (T,Th) Debris flows; Landslides and surficial processes
SECOND EVALUATION (Hazards)
Nov. 9 (T) Atmospheric circulation; Ocean-atmosphere coupling; Climate
Nov. 16 (T,Th) Climate change; Past Records of Climate; Air Pollution; Ozone Pollution and Depletion
Nov. 23 (T) Sulfogenic Aerosols; Greenhouse Gases
Nov. 30 (T,Th) Carbon Cycle and the Greenhouse effect
Dec. 7 (T,Th) Geology of nuclear reactor siting and waste disposal
FINAL EVALUATION (Pollution)