Geol 095 How the Earth Works Spring ‘15
This course is an introduction to “how the Earth works.” The Earth is a closed system,
characterized by cycling of materials and energy within it. The geologic portion of the cycle,
the “geosphere,” interacts with the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. This course is
not a survey of the discipline of geology. Rather, it focuses on the critical components of the
“geosphere” part of the Earth system and how the influence the atmosphere, hydrosphere
and the Earth’s climate. Only by understanding the complex system that is the Earth can we
become informed passengers on spaceship Earth.
Course Goals
At the end of this class you will be able to:
1. Predict how changes in one component of the Earth system will impact the other
components
Examples: How will the uplift of mountains impact atmospheric CO2 levels?
How will changes in atmospheric CO2 levels impact ocean chemistry?
How does an increase in volcanic activity affect climate?
How does the melting of glaciers impact shoreline stability?
2. Demonstrate problem solving skills using a variety of data sets
Examples: Determine how a decrease in albedo will impact global climate
Determine, from the time of arrival of earthquake waves,
where an earthquake occurred.
Determine how changes in climate impact ocean chemistry.
Instructor Info
Prof. Charlotte Mehrtens
Delehanty 207
Email: charlotte.mehrtens@uvm.edu
Office Hours: by appointment (Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons are best)
Please email if you would like to take advantage of office hours so you won’t show up and be
kept waiting. Email to request appointment availability at other times as well.
Email and Blackboard:
Communication between the instructor and students will be via uvm email. All assignments
for this class for the upcoming week will be posted on Blackboard by the previous Sunday
evening.
Textbook
There is a new textbook that’s been written for this class. It will be available in paperback
and electronic versions, either right before the start of class or soon thereafter. There is a
traditional geology textbook available in the bookstore for you, if you so desire, however it
is absolutely NOT required that you purchase this. Please contact Professor Mehrtens if you
have any questions about the text.
Assessment Information
There will be two hourly exams, including the final exam. The first exam will be on Feb 26th.
Final exam date will be announced asap. Each exam is worth 35% (70% total). If you have
ACCESS accommodation you will take exams in a proctored quiet room in Delehanty Hall.
You will be allowed to use a scientific calculator for exams (no cell phones or programmable
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calculators). The instructor reserves the right to inspect all calculators before exams.
Weekly quizzes are worth 15% and homework is worth 10% of the final grade. The
remaining points (5%) are for attendance (2 “free” misses before points are “docked”).
UVM Student Code
This course adheres to the academic honesty policy set out in The Code of Student Rights
and Responsibilities (www.uvm.edu/policies/student/studentcode.pdf).
Code of civil conduct in our classroom
It’s critical that we all respect the needs of our classmates. Expectations for this class
include:
 Turn cell phones off
 Every class will require your participation, for example, explaining diagrams in the
text, doing basic calculations, reading, interpreting and constructing graphs, etc. By
enrolling in this class you agree to participate in these activities.
If you need help:
 Use email to make an appointment with Professor Mehrtens. Before class is not a
good time to ask questions, since I am focused on importing lecture material from
the web into the lecture hall and other technology issues. If you want to schedule
appointments please email me (charlotte.mehrtens@uvm.edu) to schedule an
appointment.
 Form a study group. Lots of studies show that co-operative learning improves
performance. In a small class it should be easy to get to know your classmates.
 Make an appointment at the Learning Co-op for some study skills and time
management training. Schedule yourself for daily study time so you keep up with
the reading and the assignments.
 Remember that there is no correlation between hours spent studying and exam
outcome if you are studying the wrong material or studying the wrong way.
Experience has shown that if you are not doing well on quizzes (above 70%) you
will not do well on hourly exams. Change your study habits BEFORE the first hourly
exam.
THE FOLLOWING CLASS SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND WILL BE REVISED
THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER TO KEEP IT CURRENT. PLEASE REFER TO IT
REGULARLY. ANY CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON
BLACKBOARD (IN “ANNOUNCEMENTS”).
CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 (1/20 and 1/22) Introduction to the process of doing science
WEEKS 2,3 & 4 (1/27 thru 2/12) The important earth-forming materials
WEEK 5 (2/17, 2/19 &2/24))
Telling time
WEEK 6 ( 2/26) EXAM
WEEK 7 spring break
WEEK 8 (3/10 thru 3/19) The interior of the earth
WEEKS 9 &10 (3/24 thru 4/2)
Plate tectonics & the origin of mountains
WEEKS 11 & 12 (4/7 thru 4/9)
The hydrosphere
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WEEK 13 (4/14 thru 4/19) The atmosphere and the Earth’s heat budget
WEEKS 14 & 15 (4/21 thru 4/28) Global climate
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