GG101: Dynamic Earth, Spring 2014
Instructor: Clint Conrad
office: 804 POST
phone: 956-6649
e-mail: clintc@hawaii.edu
GG101: Dynamic Earth, Fall 2013
Natural
Hazards
(Tsunamis)
Geological
Deformation
Landscape
Evolution
Earth’s
Interior
Dynamics
Purpose:
An overview of Planet Earth and its ever-changing
interior, landforms, and surface environment.
Clint Conrad
Associate Professor of Marine Geophysics
 BA from UC Berkeley
 PhD from MIT (1999)
 University of Hawaii
since 2008
My research field is:
Solid Earth Geophysics
Research areas include:
 Interior of the Earth
 Sea Level Change
 Seismic Activity
 Volcanism
Honolulu
StarAdvertiser
July 1, 2013
Class Information
Instructor:
Clint Conrad
office: 804 POST
phone: 956-6649
e-mail: clintc@hawaii.edu
Lectures:
Tues. & Thurs. 12:00-1:15 PM
POST 723
Office Hours: After class or by appointment (e-mail me)
Class Website:
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/conrad/classes/GG101/GG101.html
From the GG website:
GG  People  Faculty  Conrad  Website  Courses  GG101
See the website for:
Syllabus and schedule
Download lecture powerpoints
Homework due dates
Textbook
Physical Geology: The Science of Earth
by Charles Fletcher
 Available in the Bookstore
 Online version is available
Important: You need to buy
a book to get access to the
WileyPlus online system.
We will be using WileyPlus for:
 Homework assignments
(about 2 per week)
 Some Exams (3 exams total)
To access the WileyPlus Online System:
1. Go to www.wileyplus.com/WileyCDA
2. Click on “Register for a new class”
3. Search on “Manoa”
4. Choose “FLETCHER-GEOLOGY”
5. Make sure to choose CONRAD as instructor
(not Fletcher or McCoy)
6. Create account using your registration code
(you get this with your book purchase)
Class website and WileyPlus Demo
Start from G&G Department Website:
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/index.html
Grading:
50% Homeworks:
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1-2 per week (about 20 total)
Each homework is about 2.5% of your grade
Multiple choice questions on WileyPlus
Questions based on Textbook reading
Collaboration is OK, open book and notes
Usually due 1 week after lecture on the topic
50% credit is given for late homework
No extensions to homework due dates
50% Exams:
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3 Exams total (one every 5 weeks)
Each exam is 17% of your grade
Multiple choice / short answer questions
Questions based on textbook and lectures
Final Grades
A = 90-100%
B = 80-90%
C = 70-80%
D = 60-70%
F = below 60%
How to do well in this course:
 Reading: Do assigned reading BEFORE lecture
(this will help you understand the lecture better)
 Lectures: Attend EVERY lecture!
 Homework: Make sure to do EVERY homework!
 Questions: Ask questions! (they help with learning)
Every week, you will need to spend:
3 hours in lecture
1-2 hours doing homework
2-3 hours doing reading
2 hours preparing for exams
10 hours total (about)
Part I:
Planet Earth
Earth formation
Earth materials (types of rocks)
Major Earth processes
Part II:
Earth’s Dynamic Interior
Interior Dynamics
Volcanism, Earthquakes, Mountain Building
Geologic Time, Earth History
Part III:
Earth’s Dynamic Surface
Global change
Glaciers and climate
Hydrology (water processes)
Coastal and Marine Geology
What is Geology?
“Geology is the study of Earth and other planets”
What is Geology?
Two Branches of Geology
1. Physical Geology:
Study of Earth Processes: chemical
biological
physical
Diamond head,
Oahu
What is Geology?
Two Branches of Geology
2. Historical Geology:
Study of geological events in Earth’s history
Russian Meteor: Feb 15, 2013
Dinosaur Extinction
How do we study Geology?
Critical thinking:
Geologists use reasoning
To explain the world around us
Geologists Use:
 Repeatable observations
 Testable predictions
The Scientific Method
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
chain continues beyond
the main islands.
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
chain continues beyond
the main islands.
Hypothesis:
A long crack in the crust
permits volcanism across
the Pacific.
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
chain continues beyond
the main islands.
Hypothesis:
A long crack in the crust
permits volcanism across
the Pacific.
Testable Prediction:
The volcanoes should
all be the same age.
Volcanic Ages for the Hawaiian Chain
ages are in
Millions of
Years
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
chain continues beyond
the main islands.
Hypothesis:
A long crack in the crust
permits volcanism across
the Pacific.
Testable Prediction:
The volcanoes should
all be the same age.
Results of Test:
Failure! Volcanoes are
younger in the east.
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
chain continues beyond
the main islands.
New Hypothesis:
The seafloor is moving
westward over a
source of volcanism.
plate
motion
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
chain continues beyond
the main islands.
New Hypothesis:
The seafloor is moving
westward over a
source of volcanism.
.
Testable
Prediction:
Ages of the submerged
islands should increase
moving westward.
plate
motion
Testable Predictions
Observation:
The Hawaiian island
continues past the
main islands
New Hypothesis:
The seafloor is moving
westward over a
source of volcanism.
.
Testable
Prediction:
Ages of the submerged
islands should increase
moving westward.
Results of Test:
Success! Our hypothesis
is confirmed. (so far)
plate
motion
Why Study Geology?
1. Geology helps us understand how human society
interacts with our planet.
Example: Natural Hazards
Floods/Tsunamis
Earthquakes
Why Study Geology?
1. Geology helps us understand how human society
interacts with our planet.
Example: Managing Land Use
Why Study Geology?
2. Many jobs require knowledge of Geology
Oil / mineral
exploration
Volcanologist
Urban planner
Conservationist
Many others!
Environmental
Engineering
Engineering geology
Hydrology
Why Study Geology?
3. Geology will help us understand local and global challenges
Climate Change
Peak Oil
Mineral Resources
Soil Erosion
Water Availability
Sea Level Change
1. 70 meters rise
2. 20 meters rise
3. 1 meter rise
Why Study Geology?
3. Geology will help us understand local and global challenges
http://earthengine.google.org/#intro
Climate Change
Peak Oil
Mineral Resources
Soil Erosion
Water Availability
Sea Level Change
Geologic change can happen on human timescales,
and humans are major force for geologic change!
Why Study Geology?
4. Be an informed citizen / voter
Climate Change
Peak Oil
Mineral Resources
Soil Erosion
Water Availability
Sea Level Change
Core Geology Concepts
1. The Earth is Shaped by Plate Tectonics
Core Geology Concepts
1. The Earth is Shaped by Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
predicts movements
of continents
Core Geology Concepts
1. The Earth is Shaped by Plate Tectonics
Evidence for continental motion from fossils
Core Geology Concepts
2. Earth processes and history are recorded in its rocks
 Rocks are an aggregation of minerals
 Rocks are recycled over time (called the rock cycle)
Core Geology Concepts
2. Earth processes and history are recorded in its rocks
Igneous Rocks form from molten rock
Core Geology Concepts
2. Earth processes and history are recorded in its rocks
Sedimentary Rocks form by the action of
surface process on rock particles.
Core Geology Concepts
2. Earth processes and history are recorded in its rocks
Metamorphic Rocks form by the action of
large pressures and temperatures
Core Geology Concepts
3. The Geologic Time Scale summaries Earth history
Dinosaurs
First Land Plants
First Life
Earth Formed
Assignments on WileyPlus:
HW 0: Ungraded – just for practice using
The WileyPlus system
HW 1: Due before class (Jan 21)
Based on Chapter 1 of Fletcher’s book