Courses

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Spring 2024

Undergraduate Courses

Natural Disasters (SEL)
Subject associations
GEO 103

An introduction to natural (and some society-induced) hazards and the importance of public understanding of the issues related to them. Emphasis is on the geological processes that underlie the hazards, with discussion of relevant policy issues tied to reading recent newspaper/popular science articles. Principal topics: Earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunami, hurricanes, floods, meteorite impacts, global warming. Intended primarily for non-science majors.

Instructors
Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate (SEN)
Subject associations
GEO 202 / ENV 326

The ocean and the atmosphere control Earth's climate, and in turn climate and atmospheric changes influence the ocean. We explore the circulation of the ocean and atmosphere, their chemical compositions and their interactions that make up the climate system, including exchanges of heat and carbon. We then investigate how these circulations control marine ecosystems and the biological and chemical cycles of the Earth system. The final part of the course focuses on human impacts, including changes in coastal environments and acidification and warming that result from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. One weekly precept complements lectures.

Instructors
Introduction to Earth and Planetary Physics (SEN)
Subject associations
GEO 320 / AST 320 / PHY 320

What makes Earth habitable? How have we unraveled the mysteries of planetary interiors? Using a physics-centered approach, we'll explore a range of captivating subjects in earth and planetary science, including the origin of solar systems, tectonic plates, mantle convection, earthquakes, and volcanoes. You will learn methods to study the inner structures and dynamics of planets, not just Earth, but also celestial neighbors like Mars, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, and even exoplanets.

Instructors
Topics in Environmental Justice in the Geosciences (SEL)
Subject associations
GEO 360 / ENV 356

Humans have profoundly altered the chemistry of Earth's air, water, and soil. This course explores these changes with an emphasis on the analytical techniques used to measure the human impact. Topics include the accumulation of greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) in Earth's atmosphere and the contamination of drinking water at the tap and in the ground. Students will get hands on training in mass spectrometry and spectroscopy to determine the chemical composition of air, water, and soil and will participate in an outreach project aimed at providing chemical analyses of urban tap waters to residents of Trenton, NJ.

Instructors
Stefania Gili
Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, Policy (SEN)
Subject associations
GEO 366 / ENV 339 / SPI 451 / ENE 366

An exploration of the potential consequences of human-induced climate change and their implications for policy responses, focusing on risks to people, societies, and ecosystems. As two examples: we examine the risk to coastal cities from sea level rise and extreme heat, the scientific bases for these assessments, and measures being planned and implemented to enable adaptation. In addition, we explore local, national and international policy initiatives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The course assumes students have a basic background in the causes of human-induced climate change and the physical science of the climate system.

Instructors
Environmental Materials Chemistry: Researching in Field and Laboratory (SEN)
Subject associations
GEO 369 / MSE 369 / ENV 388

The course covers concepts related to the chemistry of inorganic and organic materials found in the pristine and contaminated settings in the Earth surface environments, with an introduction to the modern field sampling techniques and advanced laboratory analytical and imaging tools. Different materials characterization methods, such as optical, infrared, and synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy and microscopy, will also be introduced. Field sampling and analysis of materials from diverse soil and coastal marine environments will be the focus during the second half of the semester.

Instructors
Environmental Aqueous Geochemistry
Subject associations
GEO 418 / CHM 418

Application 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.

Introductory Seismology (SEN)
Subject associations
GEO 424 / CEE 424 / ENE 425

Fundamentals of seismology and seismic wave propagation. Introduction to acoustic and elastic wave propagation concepts, observational methods, and inferences that can be drawn from seismic data about the deep planetary structure of the Earth, as well as about the occurrence of oil and gas deposits in the crust. Offered every other year.

Instructors
Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles (SEN)
Subject associations
GEO 435 / ENV 435

This course examines the chemical composition of the oceans and the physical, chemical, and biological processes governing this composition in the past and present. Emphasis on the cycles of major elements including nutrients, carbon, and oxygen, involved in structuring marine ecosystems and regulating Earth's climate on time scales of years to millions of years. Processes and phenomena include oceanic chemical fluxes at the ocean-atmosphere and ocean-sediment interfaces, the interactions of ocean biogeochemical cycles with the physical climate system and biodiversity, and the ongoing anthropogenic perturbations.

Instructors
Quantifying Geologic Time
Subject associations
GEO 464

This course explores the theory and application of the different ways that the vastness of geologic time is quantified and applied to understanding the rates and sequences of events in Earth history. It focuses on radiogenic isotope geochemistry and geochronology but also will cover other methods such as astrochronology and the geomagnetic polarity timescale. We apply these methods to understanding processes such as the origins of Earth and the Solar System; the causes of mass extinctions and climate change; plate tectonics, magmatism, and super eruptions; animal evolution; and archeology.

Graduate Courses

Fundamentals of the Geosciences
Subject associations
GEO 505

A yearlong survey, in sequence, of fundamental papers in the geosciences. Topics in 505 (Spring) 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 (Fall) 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.

Responsible Conduct of Research in Geosciences (Half-Term)
Subject associations
GEO 503 / AOS 503

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.

Ocean Dynamics and Ecosystems
Subject associations
AOS 578 / GEO 578

Marine ecosystems are tightly controlled by ocean circulation and rapidly changing in response to climate change. This course discusses the processes that shape and structure ocean ecosystems, with a focus on ocean turbulence and fine-scale dynamics, and climate. The course balances overview lectures, discussion of the current and classic literature on the topic, and data analysis using observations and ocean/climate model outputs. Students participate in seminar type presentations and discussions, and work in group to present a final project based on observational data and/or ocean modeling.

Instructors