Courses

DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES

Printable courses details for SPRING 2013

Undergraduate

CEE 305/GEO 375/ENE 305Environmental Fluid Mechanics(STN)The course starts by introducing the conservation principles and related concepts used to describe fluids and their behavior. Mass conservation is addressed first, with a focus on its application to pollutant transport problems in environmental media. Momentum conservation, including the effects of buoyancy and earth's rotation, is then presented. Fundamentals of heat transfer are then combined with the first law of thermodynamics to understand the coupling between heat and momentum transport. We then proceed to apply these laws to study air and water flows in various environmental systems, with a focus on the atmospheric boundary layer.Elie R. Bou-Zeid

CEE 471/GEO 471/URB 471Introduction to Water Pollution Technology(STN)An introduction to the science of water quality management and pollution control in natural systems; fundamentals of biological and chemical transformations in natural waters; indentification of sources of pollution; water and wastewater treatment methods; fundamentals of water quality modeling.Peter R. Jaffé

GEO 102A/ENV 102AClimate: Past, Present, and Future(STN)An introduction to the processes and conditions that control Earth's climate; an overview of past climate evolution from the time of Earth's origin to the period of human history; and an investigation of ongoing climate changes and those predicted for the future, including the capacity of human activities to alter climate and the impacts of climate change on environment and society. Intended primarily for students not concentrating in science or engineering. 102A: three lectures per weekMichael L. BenderDaniel M. Sigman

GEO 102B/ENV 102BClimate: Past, Present, and Future(STL)An introduction to the processes and conditions that control Earth's climate; an overview of past climate evolution from the time of Earth's origin to the period of human history; and an investigation of ongoing climate changes and those predicted for the future, including the capacity of human activities to alter climate and the impacts of climate change on environment and society. Intended primarily for students not concentrating in science or engineering.Michael L. BenderDaniel M. Sigman

GEO 197/ENE 197Environmental Decision Making(QR)Use of scientific data and arguments in formulating environmental policies, international development, poverty reduction, economic growth, conflict, and risk assessment. Class format consists of case studies for which students analyze the scientific arguments, evaluate the data upon which they are based, and determine the scientific credibility, political feasibility, and economic consequences of the various decisions.Gregory E. van der Vink

GEO 203/ENE 203Fundamentals of Solid Earth Science(QR)A quantitative introduction to Solid Earth System Science, focusing on the underlying physical processes and their geological and geophysical expression. Topics include basic physical conservation laws, examples of constitutive relationships, waves, transport phenomena, geopotential fields, geologic time, basic thermodynamics and mineralogy. Single variable calculus is a prerequisite. The course quickly uses multivariate calculus, simple matrix algebra, and elementary tensor calculus. The course serves as a prerequisite for several upper-level GEO and CEE courses.Jessica C. IrvingJohn A. Higgins

GEO 255A/AST 255A/EEB 255A/CHM 255ALife in the Universe(STN)This course introduces students to a new field, Astrobiology, where scientists trained in biology, chemistry, astronomy and geology combine their skills to discover life's origins and to seek extraterrestrial life. Topics include: the origin of life on Earth; the prospects of life beneath the surfaces of Mars and Europa, a moon of Jupiter; and extra-solar planets nearby that offer targets for NASA space telescopes searching for life.Tullis C. OnstottEdwin L. TurnerLaura F. Landweber

GEO 361/ENV 361/CEE 360Physics of Earth, the Habitable Planet(STN)The habitability of our planet depends critically on the motion of the oceans and atmosphere, which determines our weather and climate. Associated phenomena include hurricanes, tornadoes, the Jet Streams, the Gulf Stream, El Nino, La Nina, and the recurrent Ice Ages of the past million years. The course includes the use of an idealized computer model (which runs on a laptop) to study how these phenomena depend on the Earth's rotation and sphericity, and to explore the predictability of weather, and of long-term changes in climate, including future global warming.Samuel G. Philander

GEO 363/CHM 331/ENV 331Environmental Geochemistry: Chemistry of the Natural Systems(STN)Covers topics including origin of elements; formation of the Earth; evolution of the atmosphere and oceans; atomic theory and chemical bonding; crystal chemistry and ionic substitution in crystals; reaction equilibria and kinetics in aqueous and biological systems; chemistry of high-temperature melts and crystallization process; and chemistry of the atmosphere, soil, marine and riverine environments. The biogeochemistry of contaminants and their influence on the environment will also be discussed.Satish C. Myneni

GEO 365Evolution and Catastrophes(STN)This course introduces students to the evolution of life and mass extinction's based on a broad survey of major events in Earth history as revealed by the fossil record. Concepts and techniques of paleontology are applied to all aspects, including colonization of the oceans, invasion of land, mass extinction's and evolutionary radiations. The roles of major catastrophes in the history of life are evaluated, including meteorite impacts, volcanism, climate change, and oceanic anoxia.Gerta Keller

GEO 371/PHY 371Global Geophysics(STN)An introduction to the fundamental principles of global geophysics. Four parts, taught over three weeks each in an order allowing the material to build up to form a final coherent picture of (how we know) the structure and evolution of the solid Earth: 1. Gravity and 2. Magnetism: the description and study of the Earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. 3. Seismology: body waves, surface waves and free oscillations. 4. Geodynamics: heat flow, cooling of the Earth, and mantle convection. The emphasis is on physical principles including the mathematical derivation and solution of the governing equations.Frederik J. Simons

GEO 418/CHM 418Environmental Aqueous GeochemistryApplication of quantitative chemical principles to the study of natural waters. Includes equilibrium computations, carbonate system, gas exchange, precipitation/dissolution of minerals, coordination of trace metals, redox reactions in water and sediments.François Morel

GEO 425/MAE 425Introduction to Physical OceanographyThe study of the oceans as a major influence on the atmosphere and the world environment. The contrasts between the properties of the upper and deep oceans; the effects of stratification; the effect of rotation; the wind-driven gyres; the thermohaline circulation.Gabriel A. Vecchi

GEO 430Climate and the Terrestrial BiosphereEarth's climate is inextricably intertwined with the terrestrial biosphere. In this course, we will explore the key mechanisms that link climate (e.g., cloudiness, rainfall, and temperature) with the terrestrial biosphere (e.g., ecosystem composition, structure, and functioning), and how these mechanisms are altered by humans. We will review basic aspects of climate, surface energy balances, and terrestrial plant ecology, and then investigate feedbacks and forcings arising from biophysical properties of the land surface, biogeographical properties of ecosystems, deforestation, fires, increases in atmospheric CO2, and other factors.David M. Medvigy

GEO 464Radiogenic IsotopesTheory and methodology of radiogenic isotope geochemistry, as applied to topics in the geosciences, including the formation and differentiation of the Earth and solar system, thermal and temporal evolution of orogenic belts, and the rates and timing of important geochemical, biotic, and climatic events in earth history.Blair Schoene

GEO 499/ENV 499Environmental Change, Poverty, and ConflictWe will evaluate the environmental, political, social, and economic impacts of climate change on development, poverty-reduction, civil violence, and conflict. Students work in teams integrating climate prediction models with environmental, social, and economic parameters to identify fragile populations that are becoming increasingly at risk due to climate change. Class results submitted for publication and presented to appropriate policy-makers and/or business leaders.Gregory E. van der Vink

Undergraduates are able to take graduate courses (500+) with permission from course professor.

Graduate Studies

AOS 527/GEO 527Atmospheric Radiative TransferStructure and composition of terrestrial atmospheres. Fundamental aspects of electromagnetic radiation. Absorption and emission by atmospheric gases. Optical extinction of particles. Roles of atmospheric species in Earth's radiative energy balance. Perturbation of climate due to natural and antropogenic causes. Satellite observations of climate system.Venkatachalam Ramaswamy

GEO 503/AOS 503Responsible Conduct of Research in Geosciences (Half-Term)Course educates Geosciences and AOS students in the responsible conduct of research using case studies appropriate to these disciplines. This discussion-based course focuses on issues related to the use of scientific data, publication practices and responsible authorship, peer review, research misconduct, conflicts of interest, the role of mentors & mentees, issues encountered in collaborative research and the role of scientists in society. Successful completion is based on attendance, reading, and active participation in class discussions. Course satisfies University requirement for RCR training.Sonya A. LeggTullis C. Onstott

GEO 505Fundamentals of the Geosciences IA year-long survey, in sequence, of fundamental papers in the geosciences. Topics in 505 (Fall) include the origin and interior of the Earth, plate tectonics, geodynamics, the history of life on Earth, the composition of the Earth, its oceans and atmospheres, past climate. Topics in 506 (Spring) include present and future climate, biogeochemical processes in the ocean, geochemical cycles, orogenies, thermochronology, rock fracture and seismicity. A core course for all beginning graduate students in the geosciences.Jeroen Tromp

GEO 523/CEE 572GeomicrobiologyThis semester the course is a journal/seminar format that explores the parameter space of life and how life adapts to extreme environments. It is comprised of a weekly lecture followed by a weekly participant presentation on recently published papers describing 1) multicellular organisms or microbial communities that are from extreme environments (i.e. temperature, pressure, salinity, pH, anoxia, nutrient availability, energetics, etc.); 2) microorganisms that exhibit novel metabolic and anabolic pathways; or 3) microorganisms contain exotic genes or display unique gene processing strategies.Tullis C. Onstott

GEO 538PaleoclimatologyGEO 538 will focus on the Pleistocene. Topics include the origin of northern hemisphere glaciation, 40,000 and 100,000 year climate cycles, glacial terminations, and rapid climate change events. We will look at climate forcing, including orbital variations and greenhouse gas concentration changes. We will focus on proxy observations of major climate changes, together with models that attempt to explain those changes.Michael L. BenderAdam C. Maloof

GEO 539Topics in Paleoecology, Paleoclimatology, and Paleoceanography: Volcanism and Climate ChangeThis course concentrates on the rapid short-term climate change of 4 and 8 degrees C in the oceans and land, respectively, near the end of the Cretaceous and evaluates whether greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, SO2) from Deccan volcanism in India could be the cause. Emerging new data on the quantity, rate and tempo of volcanic eruptions will be integrated in new climate models and compared with past models.Gerta Keller

Office of the Registrar-Department of Geosciences

The Graduate School-Department of Geosciences

Associated Programs

Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS)

Princeton University BIOS Graduate Program in Ocean Studies (BIOS)

Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI)

Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM)

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (NOAA/GFDL)

Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering (PicScie)

Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP)