University of Kentucky
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
GLY 150 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
(GenEd Intellectual Inquiry in Natural/Physical/Mathematical sciences version)
Course Description
This course is an introduction to earthquakes and volcanoes through observation, theory, modeling, and case
studies. Students will learn why, where and how earthquakes and volcanoes occur in the context of plate
tectonics paradigm. Earthquake and volcanic occurrences, hazards mitigation, and implication for societies
will be discussed, with a focus on earthquake hazards in the central US. A class term project is required.
Day/Time/Place: TBD depending on lecture/recitation format
Instructor: Professor A.B. Jones
Email: abj222@uky.edu
Office phone: 123-4567
Office address: 257 POT
Preferred method on contact: TBD
Office Hours: MW 11:00 a.m., or by appointment
Teaching Assistants: W.X. Yount
email: wxy222@uky.edu
Course Goals/Objective:
– Students will learn through reading, class discussion, group exercises, and data analysis why, where
and how earthquakes and volcanoes occur in the context of plate tectonics paradigm.
– Understand hazards associated with earthquakes and volcanoes and how to mitigate them
– Learn and apply how the principles of a scientific method and related data can be used to generate
useful information (e.g., the theory of seismic waves and seismograms (data) to calculate the location
of an earthquake.
– A focus of the course will be accessing, manipulating, and analyzing data (past and real time) related
to earthquake and volcanic distributions, histories, and measurable phenomena. In the process
students will acquire experience in data collection, evaluation, and synthesis to predict likelihoods of
earthquake occurrences and volcanic eruptions.
Student Learning Outcomes: upon completion of this course, students will be able to
– Demonstrate understanding of scientific methods as practiced by geoscientists
– Demonstrate understanding of fundamental principles pertaining to the theory of plate tectonics and
the phenomena leading to the formation of earthquakes and volcanoes
– Be able to explain from observed phenomena how to deduce plate tectonic boundaries from
topographic/bathymetric features, magnetic lineaments, the pattern of earthquake and volcano
distributions (employ the scientific method)
– Apply the knowledge of the fundamental principles of the seismic waves to locate earthquakes and
compute earthquake magnitudes
– Using existing datasets or near-to-real time monitoring, describe the phenomena and sequence of
events that precede volcanic eruptions and how to use the data to evaluate an impending eruption
(volcano monitoring and short-term prediction)
– Understand hazards to society from earthquakes and volcanoes and how to mitigate the hazard by
appropriate precautions
Required materials (textbooks, lab materials, etc.):
Natural Disasters: Earthquakes and Volcanoes (UK custom edition) by Patrick L. Abbott. Publisher:
McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-725544-2 / ISBN-10: 0-07-725544-5
This special edition is much cheaper than the full sixth edition of this book. It is available at the bookstore.
Grading*:
Description of components that determine course grade:
Numerical grading scale:
A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; E: below 60;
Relative value given to each activity (Total 100%):
Three Exams ~ 45%
Homework and Quizzes ~ 10%
Recitation and/or in-class active learning exercises ~ 25%
Class project, report and presentation ~ 15%
Class engagement ~ 5% (this is half the letter grade)
Tentative course schedule: The course will be taught either MW, WF, or TR with either a separate
recitation section (with TA) or an in-class recitation sections one per week with the help of 2 half TAs and
the instructor.
(Homework, homework due dates, in-class assignments and changes in the schedule will be announced
during the class period. Please come to the class and be engaged in the course.)
Lecture Schedule
_________________________________________________________________________________
Meeting
Day
Date Mon
Lecture Topic
Readings
_________________________________________________________________________________
1
Thurs. xx Aug.
Course Introduction
2
Tues. xx
Earthquakes and Volcanoes Overview Ch. 2
Part I. Plate Tectonics (Figuring out the model of how the Earth works)
3
Thurs. xx
Continental Drift
4
Tues. xx
Topography and Earthquakes
5
Thurs. xx
Volcanoes and Ages
6
Tues. xx
Seafloor Spreading
7
Thurs. xx
Plate Tectonics Paradigm
Part II. Earthquakes
8
Tues.
9
Thurs.
10
Tues.
11
Thurs.
12
Tues.
13
Thurs.
14
Tues.
15
16
17
18
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
Thurs. xx
Tues.. xx
Thurs. xx
Earthquake Geology
Ch.4 pp.77-86
Seismic Waves
Ch.4 pp.86-91
Seismic Waves
Ch.4 pp.86-91
Measuring and Locating Earthquakes Ch.4 pp.91-97
Earthquake Magnitude and Intensity
Ch.4 pp.97-107
Exam #1 (content will be announced later)
Earthquake Magnitude and Intensity
Ch.4 pp.97-107
Ch.6 pp.131-141
Paleoseismology; Liquefaction
Ch.6 pp.142-150
Earthquake Mitigation
Earthquake Prediction
Ch.6 pp.151-160
New Madrid Video - The Day the Earth Shook Ch. 7
(Last day to drop classes is March 23)
****Spring Break in Spring Semesters SEE ACADEMIC HOLIDAYS ****
19
Tue. xx
Tsunami
Part III. Volcanoes
Ch.3 pp.49-61
Ch.3 pp.51-55
Ch.3 pp.61-76
Ch. 5
20
Tues.
xx
21
22
Thurs. xx
Tues. xx
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
Tues.
Thurs.
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
Tectonics, Volcano Types, Composition, and Eruption Styles
Ch.8 pp.185-190
Exam #2 (content will be announced later)
Volcano Types, Composition, and Eruption Styles
Ch.8 pp.190-198
Earth Revealed Volcanism (30 minutes) + Discussion
+ In-class exercises
Hotspot and Mid-ocean ridge
Ch.8 pp.199-215
Volcanic Hazards
Ch.9 pp.215-229
Volcanic Hazards
Ch.9 pp.229-240
Volcano Monitoring
Ch.9 pp.240-244
Case Histories
To be assigned
TBD
TBD
Exam #3 (content will be announced later)
Recitation or In-class active learning exercises schedule
See the list of topics and assignments in the separate list***
_________________________________________________________________________________
Week
Recitation Topic
Readings
_________________________________________________________________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
_________________________________________________________________________________
The tentative course schedule, the syllabus, and some of the course materials and assignments will be posted
on Blackboard (Some of the assignments and due dates may only be announced during the class.) For getting
started with Blackboard, see: http://www.uky.edu/Blackboard/getingstarted.php
Course Policy on Academic Accommodations due to disability: If you have a documented disability that
requires academic accommodations, please see me as soon as possible during scheduled office hours. In
order to receive accommodations in this course, you must provide me with a Letter of Accommodation from
the Disability Resource Center (Room 2, Alumni Gym, 257-2754, email address jkarnes@eamil.uky.edu) for
coordination of campus disability services available to students with disabilities.
Course Policy for Attendance:
Attendance will be recorded for every class meeting. Two unexcused absences will be allowed without
penalty. After that, each absence will incur a 10% reduction in the attendance grade. Excused absences will
be given at instructor’s discretion only with proof as defined by S.R. 5.2.4.2.
[http://www.uky.edu/Ombud/policies.php S.R. 5.2.4.2 defines the acceptable reasons for excused absences.]
For further information see http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part2.html 5.2.4 – Academic Standards
Attendance and Completion of Assignments 5.2.4.1
Excused absences: 5.2.4.2 – see for definitions
Make-up opportunities:
The instructor shall give the student an opportunity to make up the work and/or the exam
missed during an excused absence…” implies the student shall not be penalized for the
excused absence.
Verification of absences:
Students missing work due to an excused absence bear the responsibility of informing the
instructor about their excused absence within one week following the period of the excused
absence (except where prior notification is required)‚ and of making up the missed work.
Course Policy for Submission of Assignments:
Assignments must be neatly typed or hand-written (as appropriate for the assignment), clearly labeled, the
arguments and reasons must be well-articulated and complete. Review the assignment for logic and
reasoning, specify units of all quantities and answers, define constituents of equations, cross-check
numerical answers against theoretical expectations and graphs from books or classroom materials.
Deadlines for assignments will be specified when the assignments are given.
Course Policy on Academic Integrity:
All assignments, projects, and exercises completed by students for this class should be the product of the
personal efforts of the individual(s) whose name(s) appear on the corresponding assignment.
Misrepresenting others’ work as one’s own in the form of cheating or plagiarism is unethical and will lead to
those penalties outlined in the University Senate Rules (6.3.1 & 6.3.2) at the following website:
http://www.uky.edu/USC/New/rules_regulations/index.htm. The Ombud site also has information on
plagiarism found at http://www.uky.edu/Ombud
Course Policy on Classroom civility and decorum:
The university, college and department have a commitment to respect the dignity of all and to value
differences among members of our academic community. There exists the role of discussion and debate
in academic discovery and the right of all to respectfully disagree from time-to-time. Students clearly
have the right to take reasoned exception and to voice opinions contrary to those offered by the instructor
and/or other students (S.R. 6.1.2). Equally, a faculty member has the right -- and the responsibility -- to
ensure that all academic discourse occurs in a context characterized by respect and civility. Obviously,
the accepted level of civility would not include attacks of a personal nature or statements denigrating
another on the basis of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, national/regional origin or other such
irrelevant factors.
Course Policy for Group Work & Student Collaboration:
When students are assigned to a team by the course instructor and/or the TA for a specific assignment, the
team must explain the original assignment given to each individual, the actual involvement of each member
of the team in the project and actual assessment of the contribution of each other to the final product. Each
individual will be graded separately by the instructor or the TA depending on the description and also the
report or the presentation. We want to encourage balanced and active participation and contribution by all
group members.