September 4, 2008
www.brocku.ca/Extreme_Earth
Extreme Earth
ERSC 1P92
Fall 2008
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Instructor: Rick Cheel
Department of Earth Sciences
Office:Mackenzie Chown D418
Phone:
905-688-5550 Ext. 3512
E-mail:
rcheel@brocku.ca
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All course material will be located at:
www.brocku.ca/extreme_earth
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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 Earth
aims 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
Assignment 1
10%
Due Tuesday, Oct. 28
Assignment 2
10%
Due Thursday, Nov. 13
Assignment 3
10%
Due Tuesday, Nov. 26
Midterm test
30%
Last names beginning A to K: In class Thur., October 9
Last names beginning L to Z: In class Fri., October 10
Final Exam
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40%
Scheduled by the Registrar
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 schedule
September 4
Introduction and course synopsis
September 5 & 9
Scientific Ideas, Geology 001, a brief History of
Geology and Catastrophism in the 20th
September 11 to 25
The 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
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October 3
Plate Tectonics.
October 7 and 14 to 24
Earthquakes
Outline and schedule
October 21
Assignment 1: Locating an earthquake epicentre
October 9
Mid term test for last names beginning A to K
October 10
Mid term test for last names beginning L to Z
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Outline and schedule
Note: By October 24 you will have been
communicated more than 15% of your total grade
for the course.
October 28 to November 4
Atmosphere and climate (past and present); sea level
change.
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.
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Outline and schedule
November 6
Assignment 2. Plate Boundaries on Trafalmador
November 7 to 14
Volcanoes Part I: Composition, deposits, types of
volcanoes and their distribution.
November 18 to 21
Volcanoes Part II: Prediction of eruptions; impact of
eruptions; super volcanoes; volcanoes in space.
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Outline and schedule
November 25
Wrap up, review and course information.
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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!
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