GEOLOGY 105: UNNATURAL DISASTERS

SPRING 2007

 

 

Instructor        Dr. Ben Laabs (lecture); Nobel 124B; x7442; Email, blaabs@gustavus.edu;

                        Office Hours: 10:30 – 11:30 am MWF, or by appointment

 

Teaching         Ellie Bash (Head T.A.)

Assistants       Office Hours: 7:00 – 9:00 pm TR, or by appointment

                         

Lecture           9:00 – 9:50 a.m., MWF, Nobel Hall 201

 

Lab                  All lab sessions are in Nobel 125

                        Sect. 111-003    T, 8:00 – 9:50 a.m.        TAs: Anna Lindquist, Nick Rogness

                        Sect. 111-004    R, 8:00 – 9:50 a.m.        TAs: Jessica Hill, Bob Dunlap

                                                                                     

Required         1. Text: Hyndman and Hyndman: Natural Hazards and Disasters

Materials       

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The goal of this course is to develop an understanding of the physical processes and science behind several types of natural disasters.  To do this, we will need to explore the fundamental aspects of the Earth system, focusing mainly on Earth’s exterior.  While exploring each type of natural disaster, the course will focus on a discussion of how much of a disaster is a natural phenomenon and how much is a tragedy imposed by the designs of populations (i.e., the “unnatural” part of a disaster).  Throughout the course, we will practice applying the scientific method to understanding (and in some cases predicting) unnatural disasters.  The course is also intended to help you develop your writing and quantitative skills (hence, it fulfills the NASP lab requirement).

The general topic of this course can be viewed in several ways; although we will focus on the science behind natural phenomena partly responsible for disasters, the ultimate purpose for developing a complete understanding of such phenomena is to be able to predict it, prepare for it and avoid its dangers.  In other words, we care about disasters because they affect people.  Occasionally, the magnitude of a disaster is overwhelming and exciting to the point where our enthusiasm for understanding it overshadows the devastation (especially loss of life) it has caused.  Because certain topics of this course address very recent disasters (e.g., the Indonesian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina), this classroom always serves a forum for discussion in this course.  We have all experienced disasters in our lives, possibly even a disaster related to a natural phenomenon, and we’ve likely dealt with these experiences in different ways.  You are encouraged to share your perspective, scientific or not, on any topic we explore. 

COURSE POLICIES

 

Attendance and Participation: Attendance at all lectures and laboratory sessions is essential to your success in this course.  Participation will facilitate learning through asking questions in the lecture, labs, or during office hours (also by email or telephone).  More importantly, I encourage you to discuss course material with your teaching assistants and fellow students; you will find this especially useful during lab sessions and while studying for exams.  Although you are not graded on attendance, pop quizzes will be given in lecture and cannot be made up (see below). 

 

Reading: You are responsible for keeping up with reading the textbook.  Reading assignments should be done before the corresponding lecture in the syllabus; the first day of lecture is the only exception. 

 

Lectures: Lectures begin promptly at 9:00 am and will end when I am finished for the day or at 9:50 am.  Please be respectful of me and your fellow students by paying attention during lectures.  Lectures will be presented on Powerpoint and will follow broad outlines that will be available before class; however, Powerpoint presentations will not be posted until after it is given in lecture.  I use Powerpoint only as a teaching tool, not for providing lecture notes!  Lectures will follow the book, but will include a great deal of information not available in the book.  Thus, you need to take notes in lecture to obtain all the information you need.  Lectures will also involve impromptu discussions of current unnatural disasters, as they occur.

 

Labs: Attendance at all lab sessions is required.  If you need to attend a different lab session, you are permitted to do so only if you notify me first.  Most lab sessions will begin with a brief lecture, followed by a work session guided by the instructor and teaching assistants.  Lab exercises will be distributed at the beginning of each (there is no lab manual).  They are to be completed individually (with rare exception), but I encourage you to discuss assignments with other students.  Finally, labs are due at the beginning of the following lab session (this facilitates timely grading).  Late material will be graded accordingly.  Note that lab exercises and exams together account for 35% of your grade!  Finally, be advised that if you do not pass the lab (exercises and exams), you will not pass this course. 

 

Exams: The 3 lecture exams will be based on material covered in lectures AND assigned in the text.  I typically hold an evening question and answer session a few days prior to the exam.  Exams consist of a mixture of multiple choice, matching, diagrams, fill-in-the-blank, and short essay questions, and will follow the cooperative exam format.  All lecture exams are designed to take 50 minutes and will be held during lecture time.  The final exam will be comprehensive and will be held during finals week (Tuesday May 22nd at 8 am in Wallenberg Auditorium).  NOTE THE DATES AND TIMES OF EXAMS; make-up exams will be given only with a valid excuse AND prior notification. 

 

Quizzes: Pop quizzes will be given in lecture throughout the semester (~10 total); these can only be taken in lecture.  All will be graded, but the lowest grade will be dropped. 

  

Outside Reading and Current Event Paper: Unfortunately, there will be a disaster related to a natural phenomenon at some point during this course.  One ultimate goal of this course is to gain the knowledge to evaluate the processes leading up to and during a natural disaster.  To practice this, you will prepare a 2-3 page, double-spaced paper describing a natural disaster that occurs during the semester or during the second half of year 2006.  You are to use at least three sources for information, such as news reports (print or online), governmental agency responses, and literature on the scientific basis of the event.  You are not to use non-media, non-scientific websites as these are not usually reviewed for accuracy.  You are welcome to draw in past events for comparison.  Your report will be a summary and analysis of these different sources of information.  Note that this paper is worth 10% of your grade and is due by MAY 9, 2007.  Grading will be based on writing quality (have someone review your paper before you turn it in!), understanding of the science behind the event, and presentation.  Your paper must include at least three legitimate references, which must be clearly cited at the end of the paper. 

 

Participation:  Learning by participation is integral to the class; thus, you will be graded on how frequently you participate and take an active role in the discussions and lab.  This will also help me to learn your names!  Even though you will not be graded on attendance, missing class will take away from your participation points.

 

Chapter “Questions for Review” and “Important Words and Concepts”:  To help prepare you for the week’s lessons, I want each of you to turn in a ‘dictionary-style definition list for the terms and answer the questions in the back of the chapter at the beginning of the first lecture on that chapter.  These will be checked-off for completion, not for correctness.  It will be up to you to make sure you know the proper definitions and answers as they will form the foundation for the course and provide fodder for the exams.  Also, make sure you understand the “Key Points” given for each chapter.

 

Field Trip: An optional field trip to examine geology in the Twin Cities and Taylors Falls areas will be run on Saturday, April 21st.  The trip is a great way to learn more about the geology and geologic history of Minnesota, collect fossils, and view some very scenic locations!  The trip departs at 8 am and return at approximately 6 pm. 

 

Extra Credit: Attend lectures and lab sessions, keep up with reading assignments, ask questions, and hand in your work on time.  If you do all of this, you will succeed in this course and won’t have time or need for extra credit.  A few extra credit points will be given to those who participate in the Twin Cities/Taylors Falls field trip. 

 

Grading: The approximate breakdown of your final grade is below.  I will grade on a curve.

 

                        Lecture exams (3)                                                                     45%

                        Final exam                                                                                20%

                        Lab assignments                                                                        10%

                        Current event paper                                                                   10%

                        Quizzes, important words/concepts and review paper                   10%

                        Participation in current-event discussions                                      5%

                       

Academic Honesty: The honor code will be upheld on all exercises, quizzes and exams, so hold it up!  Even though many lecture and lab exercises (and even a few exam questions) will be completed in groups, everyone is required to submit original answers to questions (i.e., no copying or pasting, ever). 

 

Office Hours: When I am not in a class, I am typically in my office (Nobel 124B) between 8 and 6 pm on weekdays.  If I am not in a meeting or on the telephone, feel free to walk in and ask a question.  However, please do not come to my office during the hour before this class or between 11:30 - 12:30 pm on MWF; this is when I am preparing for lectures.  Appointments are always welcome and feel free to email me!

 

LECTURE AND LAB SCHEDULE

 

This is tentative, so check the following URL for updates. 

 

http://homepages.gac.edu/~blaabs/unnatural_disasters/syllabus.htm

 

 

 

Week of

 

 

 

Topic

Hyndman and Hyndman

reading

 

 

Lab Exercise

Feb.

5

First lecture on Friday (2/9), Introduction (outline)

Chapter 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

Plate Tectonics (outline)

Chapter 2 (Q/C due on 2/14)

Mapping Plate Boundaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

Plates wrap-up, Earthquakes (outline)

Chapter 3 (Q/C due on 2/21)

Virtual Earthquake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

Earthquake Prediction (outline)

Chapter 4 (Q/C due on 2/26)

Earthquake Maps

 

 

 

 

 

Mar.

5

Earthquake Prediction (outline) Tsunami (outline)

Lecture Exam 1 (3/7)

Chapter 5 (Q/C due on 3/9)

Tsunami Prediction Maps

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

Volcanoes (outline)

Chapter 6 (Q/C due on 3/14)

Volcanic Rocks

 

 

 

 

 

 

19 

Volcanic Eruptions (outline)

Chapter 7 (QC due on 3/21)

Predicting Volcanic Eruptions

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

Landslides (outline)

Chapter 8 (QC due on 3/26)

FIELD TRIP: Landslides of the Minnesota River Valley

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING BREAK (March 31 – April 9)

 

 

 

 

 

Apr.

11

Landslides summary, exam review

Lecture Exam 2 (4/13)

 

No Lab (begin film-critique!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Climate Hazards (outline)

Chapter 10 (QC due on 4/18)

Carbon dioxide lab

 

 

 

 

Twin Cities/Taylors Falls field trip (Saturday, April 21st, 8 am – 6pm)

 

23

Climate, Streams (outline)

Chapter 11 (QC due on 4/25)

El Niño/La Niña cycles

 

 

 

 

 

 

30

Floods (same ppt and outline as 4/23)

Chapters 12 (QC due on 5/2)

Flooding of the Minnesota River

 

 

 

 

 

May

7

Hurricanes (outline; no lecture on Monday 5/7, Ben at GSA)

Chapter 14 (QC due on 5/9)

GIS of Tropical Storms (take-home lab)

Current Event Paper Due (5/9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

Lecture Exam 3 (5/14)

Review for Final Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday May 22, 8 – 10 am in Nobel 201