UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
GY 111: Physical Geology
Lecture 1: Introduction to Physical Geology
Instructor: Dr. Douglas W. Haywick
Today’s Agenda
1. Introductions and class policy
2. What do geologists do
3. Why you should consider geology
Introductions
Doug Haywick
Department of Earth
Sciences
LSCB 049
460-7569
dhaywick@southalabama.edu
Supporting Materials
1. Syllabi
2. Web site
Syllabus (111)
Syllabus: Content
Syllabus: Assessment
Attendance versus Grades
GY 111 Grades vs Attendance (Total student numbers n = 219)
180
F
160
D
140
C
# of absences
B
120
A
100
80
60
40
20
0
0-4
5
6
# of students (2000-2005)
7
8+
Attendance versus Grades
GY 111 Grades vs Attendance (overall percentages)
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
Percentage
8+
60.0
7
50.0
6
40.0
5
0-4
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
A
B
C
Letter Grade
D
F
Assessment
•3 lecture exams (Sept 22, Oct 27, Dec 10-final)
•Quizzes (Thursdays, based upon previous lectures)
•4 take home assignments
•Rock/Mineral Photo Assignment
•Attendance
(Nov 19)
Syllabus: Other Stuff
Syllabus: Other Stuff
Text book
•Not required, but might be helpful:
Grotzinger et al., (2007) Understanding Earth
http:/www.whfreeman.com/presssiever/
•Web lecture pages:
http://www.southalabama.edu/geology/haywick
More rules
•The syllabus is a contract, but it’s subject to change. If it is
a big change, you will be notified
•Turn off your cell phones before you enter the lecture/lab
room. They can NOT be left on tables during exams
•You can NOT use computers while I am lecturing in GY
111; but they can be used during my GY 111L lab periods
for accessing the class website
•If you have a problem, contact me via phone (460-6381)
or E-mail (dhaywick@southalabama.edu)
Overall Grade Distribution
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
WD
Percentage of
students
23%
25%
27%
8%
5%
12%
GY 111 subject material
•Structure and chemistry of minerals
•Plate tectonic theory (fundamental theory linking most aspects
of geology together)
•Igneous rocks (volcanoes)
•Sedimentary rocks (beaches, reefs, rivers, etc.)
•Metamorphic rocks (rock deformation)
•Geological time (the Earth is 4.6 billion years old!)
•Folds and faults (earthquakes)
•Mountain building (structural geology)
So what exactly do geologists do?
So what exactly do geologists do?
Astronomy picture of the day (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod)
The Guts of
the Earth
Source: http://www.solarviews.com/cap/earth/earthfg2.htm
Oil exploration (Petroleum Geology)
http://www.dunlopconveyorbelting.com/your-industry/mining-conveyor-belts/
Mining (Economic Geology)
https://worldcoir.wordpress.com/tag/coir-geotextile/
Mine reclamation (Environmental Geology)
• http://volcanic-eruption.com/breathtakingvolcanic-eruption-in-japan-sakurajimaawakes-3/
http://volcanic-eruption.com/breathtaking-volcanic-eruption-in-japan-sakurajima-awakes-3/
Volcano research (Volcanology)
Groundwater (Hydrogeology)
Urban/coastal planning
(Geopolicy)
Urban/coastal planning
(Geopolicy)
Meandering Rivers
Delta
Mobile
Estuaries
Barrier Islands
Beaches
15 km
NASA Landsat image
Coastal depositional (sedimentary Geology)
So what exactly do geologists do?
So what exactly do geologists do?
 Mining and mineral
exploration
 Fossil fuel exploration
 Engineering geology
 Environmental geology
 Hydrology
 Volcanology
 Seismology
 Remote sensing/GIS
 Teaching
So what exactly do geologists do?
 Mining and mineral
exploration
 Fossil fuel exploration
 Engineering geology
 Environmental geology
 Hydrology
 Volcanology
 Seismology
 Remote sensing/GIS
 Teaching
 Landfill design
 Military Planning
 Urban Planning
 Hazards mitigation
 Planetary geology
 Hydrology
 Planetary geology
 Predicting future events
 Police & legal work
 State/Federal government
Is a career in the geosciences for you?
Is a career in the geosciences for you?
1998 Physical Sciences Employment within the United States
Biologists
118,000
Chemists
97,000
Geologists
46,000
Physicists
20,000
1998 Average Physical Sciences Salaries within the United States (BS degrees)
Chemists
$29,300
Geologists
$27,900
Biologists
$22,900
Physicists
N/A*
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
Is a Career in the geosciences for you?
Number of BS Degrees Granted between 1970 and 1974
Biology
659,495
Chemistry
244,348
Physics
94,862
Geology
88,906
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
The ever important jobs to graduates ratio*
* The lower the better
The ever important jobs to graduates ratio*
Biology: 1: 5.6
Physics 1: 4.7
Chemistry 1: 2.5
Geology 1: 1.9
* The lower the better
Holbrook drop dead replacement rate
Time to replace all jobs in the event that all physical scientists
suddenly died
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
Holbrook drop dead replacement rate
Time to replace all jobs in the event that all physical scientists
suddenly died
Geology
17.2 years
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
Holbrook drop dead replacement rate
Time to replace all jobs in the event that all physical scientists
suddenly died
Geology
17.2 years
Chemistry
10.3 years
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
Holbrook drop dead replacement rate
Time to replace all jobs in the event that all physical scientists
suddenly died
Geology
17.2 years
Chemistry
10.3 years
Physics
5 years
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
Holbrook drop dead replacement rate
Time to replace all jobs in the event that all physical scientists
suddenly died
Geology
17.2 years
Chemistry
10.3 years
Physics
5 years
Biology
5 semesters
Reference: Holbrook, John, 1998, Career Potential in the sciences, PALAIOS, Volume 13, No. 2
Today’s Homework
1. Download and read web notes 1
2. Quiz 1 (5 minutes at start of class)
Next Time
1.
Intro to Plate Tectonics (web notes 2)
(Chalk board)
GY 111: Physical Geology
Lecture 1: Introduction to Physical Geology
Instructor: Dr. Doug Haywick
dhaywick@southalabama.edu
This is a free open access lecture, but not for commercial purposes.
For personal use only.