GEOLOGY 23
NATURAL DISASTERS
Spring 2017
4 Units (Lecture plus lab)
Ticket No. 62545; Tu - Th 8:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Room B204
Prof. George E. Brogan
Office: B-274; email: gbrogan@ivc.edu
Phone: (949) 451-5687
Office Hours:
M, Tu, W, Th, 6:45-8 am
Text: Natural Disasters, 9th Edition, Patrick L. Abbott, 2014.
Lab: Tarbuck, Lutgens, and Pinzke, Applications and Investigations in Earth Science, 8th ed., 2015; hard copy only is acceptable (digital copies are
not acceptable). Each student should bring the lab manual to every class meeting except exams. Used lab manuals are NOT recommended; students
who purchase a used lab manual should be certain that all pages are in the lab manual, and that the Lab Report page for each lab exercise is within the
lab manual and not written on, as these will be turned in at the end of each lab exercise.
Overview: This course is an overview of the causes and affects of natural disasters that include: earthquakes, volcanoes, mass
movements (landslides), climate changes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, mass extinctions observed in the fossil record, impacts
with objects from space, biological hazards, and some of Earth’s cycles pertinent to disasters.
Prerequisites: None; however, math may be used in some laboratory exercises. As such, at least high school algebra is
recommended (linear equations with one unknown is sufficient for most lab work).
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): The Department of Geology is an active participant in the SLO process. All SLOs are derived
from the learning objectives originating on the course outline of record. These may relate to any of the class topics, such as knowing
the common minerals and rocks that make up the crust of the Earth, and being able to identify the types of lithospheric plate
boundaries and their characteristics. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Identify the sources of energy that power natural disasters on Earth.
Read and interpret maps, particularly topographic maps.
Understand the causes of natural disasters, and how to mitigate them.
Identify the main rock-forming minerals and rocks that comprise the Earth’s crust and are associated with hazards.
Describe the influence of humans on the earth, and better appreciate the consequences of that influence.
Understand basic concepts of the scientific method and scientific research.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory at all class meetings. If an emergency should arise, please contact the instructor in advance
of missing any class. Unexcused absences are not allowed. Any student who misses more than one class can be dropped at the
discretion of the instructor without further notice; the responsibility of officially dropping the class is that of the student and not the
instructor. A student is considered absent if not present within 5 minutes of the start of class. The instructor may take roll at any time
during the class, so be prepared to remain for each class until the class time ends. Habitual tardiness, with or without absences, will
result in being dropped from the class or in reduction of the student’s grade, at the sole discretion of the instructor. A student who
misses 3 to 5 classes for any reason will have the final grade reduced by one full grade point (this means a grade of "A" becomes a
"B"); a student who misses 6 to 8 classes for any reason will have the final grade dropped 2 full grade points (this means an “A”
becomes a “C”); a student who misses 9 or more classes for any reason will receive a final grade of “F”. It is recommended that any
student drop the class if 3 or more class meetings are missed for any reason. A student leaving early or leaving and returning to class
during the session is considered absent. If an excused absence is going to occur, contact the instructor prior to the absence by email.
An excused absence includes illness with a note from a doctor, in addition to prior notification by email to the instructor. Students
should initial the roll call sheet that will be made available at each class other than on exam days, although the instructor may count
the student absent for not being present for the entire class even though the students signs in on the roll call sheet for that particular
day. Students should initial only their own name and not initial for any other student, under penalty of losing credit for the day.
Required Reading, Lectures/Discussions, and Tests: The student is responsible for all reading listed on the schedule; the reading
assignments should be completed prior to the date listed in the schedule. Lectures/discussions may not cover all of the reading
assigned, and may cover material not in any of the reading assigned, at the discretion of the instructor. Test questions may include
material not covered in class but covered in the reading assignments; test questions will also be based upon discussions in class, so
take notes and ask questions if you do not understand a topic being discussed.
Lab Preparation: Prior to each lab session, review the lab exercise and read the text chapter for each class before coming to class, in
order to have minimal background for addressing each lab. It is generally a good idea to bring several sharp pencils, because all lab
work is required in pencil, not ink. The lab room contains most or all of the equipment you may need during the lab session. You
may use this equipment, so generally you do not need to bring anything, except for the lab manual and possibly a calculator to
complete the labs. If you have questions about what you should bring, ask your instructor.
Lab Assignments: Lab assignments are due before the end of the lab (some labs require more than one lab period). Lab work is
intended to be completed during class time. All lab assignments are to be done in pencil (no ink or ballpoint). For completing the
blanks where words are required, provide brief answers; for longer answers, use complete sentences. Be sure all writing is done in a
legible manner. Show all of your work; if insufficient space is available, attach a separate sheet with your work clearly identified
there. You may work with others on lab assignments, but you must turn in your own work. For labs, you will turn in the Lab Report
exercise as directed by your instructor; your instructor will also check your work in the body of the lab exercise either when you turn
in the Lab Report, or later in the semester. All work assigned must be completed in order to receive full credit for any lab exercise.
Lab assignments that are late 1 class will be given a maximum score of 50% credit and labs turned in on the second and later classes
will be given a maximum of 10% credit.
Exams: Three midterm exams will be given, and the lowest grade will be dropped. The midterm exams will be of equal weight. The
final exam will be comprehensive, and carry a little more weight than any single midterm exam. Exam questions may be multiple
choice, fill-in, matching, and/or essay; most questions will be multiple choice. Exam questions will be taken from assigned reading in
the lecture text and from lecture and lab activities in the classroom. If an exam is missed for any reason, it cannot be made up. On
exam days, no electronic devices are allowed; any electronic devices must be put away, completely out of sight. In an exam, no caps
may be worn that hide the eyes of any student. Once an exam begins, any student may not leave the room until the exam is complete.
Any student leaving the room will not be allowed to re-enter the exam. If you feel you must use the restroom, do so prior to the
beginning of the exam.
Quizzes: Pop quizzes can be given at any time on any class activities, including reading, lab, and lecture/discussion. During class
discussions, you may be called upon to provide one or more answers to a question or questions your instructor asks. These
discussions will be graded as quizzes, which can be as often as every class. Keep up with your reading, as quizzes can cover reading
assignments that should have been completed on or before a given date. Some quizzes will be planned and announced in advance, for
example to cover lab work or lecture discussions. Quizzes cannot be made up if missed.
Grading: Grades are based on the percentage score you receive by combining scores from examinations, quizzes, lecture reports, lab
assignments, and adding extra credit to the total of those grades. The basis of grading is as follows:
Exam I
Exam II
Exam III
Drop lowest exam
Final Comprehensive Exam
Lab Assignments, Quizzes
25%
25%
25%
-25%
25%
25%
Total:
100%
Grading Scale:
A = 85 or more
B = 84-75
C = 74-65
D = 64-55
F = 54 or less
Grades are compiled only at the end of the semester, after the final exam has been given. Students may compile their own grades on
the basis of the grading factors shown here. Final grades will be available on MySite and not otherwise posted.
Electronic Devices: Electronic devices are not allowed in the classroom during class sessions. Cell phones and other electronic
devices must be turned off if brought into the classroom.
Honesty/Dishonesty Policy: Cheating is an act or attempted act of deception by which a student seeks to misrepresent that he/she has
undertaken an activity, such as an exam, quiz, or other assignment, when the student has actually used the work of someone else.
Cheating is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Anyone associated with such an incident will immediately relinquish such material
and receive a “0” on the assignment. At the discretion of the instructor the student may be referred to the Dean and the infraction may
be cause for dismissal or some other horrendous punishment that the instructor may impose.
SCHEDULE
Typical Schedule: Class meetings are scheduled as in the IVC Class Schedule, following the academic calendar. Each class will
consist of about ½ lecture and ½ lab (rather than having one class of lecture, followed by one class of lab. The instructor reserves the
right to change the class schedule. If a scheduled class is not held for any reason, the sequence of classes scheduled here (beneath the
“#” sign, indicating sequence number) will be followed, unless otherwise noted by your instructor.
In the schedule that follows, the chapters for reading are indicated in the column on the far right. The upper line refers to the lecture,
the lower line refers to the lab manual; the “L” following a chapter number refers to the Laboratory Manual. Note that the lab chapters
are not in sequence, as the lab manual was not written for this course.
SCHEDULE
#
1
2
DATE
Jan 17
Jan 19
3
Jan 24
4
Jan 26
5
Jan 31
6
Feb 2
7
Feb 7
8
Feb 9
9
Feb 14
10
11
Feb 16
Feb 21
12
Feb 23
13
Feb 28
14
Mar 2
15
Mar 7
16
Mar 9
17
Mar 14
18
Mar 16
Mar 21
Mar 23
Mar 28
19
TOPIC
Introduction to Course
Natural Disasters and the Human Population
Lab: Aerial Photographs . . . and Topographic Maps
Natural Disasters and the Human Population
Lab: Aerial Photographs . . . and Topographic Maps
Internal Energy and Plate Tectonics
Lab: Plate Tectonics
Internal Energy and Plate Tectonics
Lab: Plate Tectonics
Earthquake Geology and Seismology
Lab: Geologic Maps, Block Diagrams, and Rock Structures
Earthquake Geology and Seismology
Lab: Geologic Maps, Block Diagrams, and Rock Structures
Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes
Lab: Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior
Earthquakes throughout the U.S. & Canada
Lab: Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior
Exam 1 (Exam only, no lab meeting)
Volcanic Eruptions: Plate Tectonics and Magmas
Lab: Minerals
Volcano Case Histories; Killer Events
Lab: Igneous Rocks (part of “Rocks and the Rock Cycle”)
Tsunami vs Wind-Caused Waves
Lab: Waves, Currents, and Tides
Tsunami vs Wind-Caused Waves
Lab: Waves, Currents, and Tides
External Energy Fuels Weather and Climate
Lab: Earth-Sun Relations
Tornadoes, Lightning, Heat, and Cold
Lab: Heating the Atmosphere
Tornadoes, Lightning, Heat, Cold
Lab: Air Masses, Mid-Latitude Cyclones, and Weather Maps
Exam 2 (Exam only, no lab meeting)
IVC Holiday
IVC Holiday
Hurricanes
Lab: Atmospheric Moisture, Pressure, and Wind
CHAPTER
Preface; Prologue
1
3L
1
3L
2
7L
2
7L
3
8L
3
8L
4
6L
5
6L
Preface, Ch. 1 – 5; Labs
6
1L
7
2L
8
11L
8
11L
9
12L
10
13L
10
15L
Chapters 6 – 10, Labs
No Class Meeting
No Class Meeting
11
14L
#
20
DATE
Mar 30
21
Apr 4
22
Apr 6
23
Apr 11
24
Apr 13
25
Apr 18
26
Apr 20
27
Apr 25
28
29
Apr 27
May 2
30
May 4
31
May 9
32
May 11
33
34
May 16
May 23
TOPIC
Hurricanes; Coastal Processes and Hazards
Lab: Atmospheric Moisture, Pressure, and Wind
Climate Change
Lab: Global Climates
Floods
Lab: Running Water and Groundwater
Floods
Lab: Running Water and Groundwater
Fire
Lab: Arid and Glacial Landscapes
Fire
Lab: Arid and Glacial Landscapes
Mass Movements
Lab: Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks (part of “Rocks and
the Rock Cycle”
Mass Movements
Lab: Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks (part of “Rocks and
the Rock Cycle”
Exam 3 (Exam only, no lab meeting)
Impacts with Space Objects
Lab: Examining the Terrestrial Planets
Impacts with Space Objects
Lab: Examining the Terrestrial Planets
The Great Dyings
Lab: Geologic Time
The Great Dyings;
Lab: Geologic Time
Review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM, 11 am, Room B204
CHAPTER
11; 16
14L
12
16L
13
4L
13
4L
14
4L
14
5L
15
2L
11-16 and Labs
17
20L
17
20L
Epilogue
9L
Epilogue
9L
Comprehensive; study
guide will direct your
study toward the main
educational themes of
the class
THE SERIOUS STUDENT - A Student who is serious about obtaining a high grade will complete the following tasks:
1. Read each text chapter at least 3 times prior to an exam; the first reading will be prior to the first class meeting where the topic of
that text chapter will be covered in class, the second reading will include preparation of a detailed outline of the text chapter, and
the third reading will be immediately prior to taking the first exam on that chapter.
2. Take detailed notes during lectures (including videos); review these thoroughly several times prior to exams.
3. For each text chapter, review and answer all of the questions at the end of the chapter .
4. Attend all classes; be on time to begin class, take breaks only when the instructor indicates it is time to do so, and stay to the end
of class (or to the end of the work being done).
5. Participate in discussions, ask questions, and answer any question asked of you during class discussions.
6. Pay close attention to the instructor during lectures and lab discussions.
7. Complete all lab reading and lab work assigned, answer all lab questions in the lab manual that are assigned, and show all work to
the instructor at the time the questions are turned in for each lab.
8. Ask questions during lecture if a topic is not clearly understood.
9. Notify the instructor in advance if illness prevents class attendance on any given day. No other activities will be scheduled by
any student to overlap with scheduled class meeting times.
10. Form and participate in a study group with some of your classmates; challenge each other!