last updated (2/22/2010)

Instructor: Dr. Douglas Smith
Email: dosmith@csumb.edu
Office Hours: by appointment through email or phone
Office: Rm. E213 or E225, Chapman Academic Science Center (Bldg. 53)
Ph: (831) 582-4696

 Lecture: Tuesday 10:00-11:50
Room 53/E223, Science Center             

Lab_section: Thursday 8:00-11:50
Room 53/E223, Science Center

Fieldtrips
Parking lot between Bldg. 53 and 13.

Texts:     1)Exploring Geology, 2nd Ed., Reynolds, et al.

2) Stream Channel Reference Sites (Harrrelson et al., 1994)         5 megabyte pdf reference for river surveys technique published by the US Forest Service

Other Course Materials: Hand lens, sturdy shoes/boots, 3H pencil (mechanical or wood), 5 colored pencils, eraser, "Rite-in-the-rain" field notebook, calculator, clipboard, small daypack, water bottle, warm clothes, light rain gear (poncho or jacket).

Introduction

Geology/Hydrology is a unique course that develops an understanding of the central role that Earth Sciences play in human culture. In truth, everything we have or use in our society ultimately comes from the Earth and returns to the Earth, so a clear understanding of how the planet provides and reclaims resources is one key to developing responsible leaders and voters in our society. We keep these themes in mind as we explore plate tectonics, minerals, rocks, faults, folds, earthquakes, floods, global sea level, geologic time, map analysis, surface and ground water, and overpopulation.

The earth’s strongly interlinked physical and biological systems have evolved over the past 4.5 billion years, and continue to change today. The landscape and biological environments you see today are but snapshots--still frames-- from a continuing feature length movie. Monterey Bay and the hills framing the Salinas Valley offer exceptional opportunities to experientially learn about your planet and the socio-economic impact of geology and hydrology on our communities.

You will gain from the course a new way of looking at your planet, your community, and yourself. You will also have a new intellectual "toolbox" with which to measure and interpret the physical aspects of the Earth system. Your progress will be assessed in a variety of ways including field notes, short field reports, reflective writing, multiple choice questions, and essay examination. You will be able to improve your course grade by attending and summarizing seminars on sime aspect of Earth Sciences.

TOP

Course Learning Outcomes

This course partially satisfies the requirements for...

ESSP MLO #2--Earth Systems Science & Policy Foundations--Ability to apply principles and methods of the major physical and life science components of the earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere, as well as the chemical and physical processes underlying these components; human components of the earth system including the social, economic, and political structures that shape our interactions with our environment.

The key subjects of MLO #2 addressed in ESSP 260/260L are the geosphere and fresh water portion of the hydrosphere. We cover the basic principles of geology and hydrology in each lecture, laboratory and field experience. The learning experiences and assessments are detailed below in the list of Course Learning Outcomes (CLO). You will have the opportunity to "apply" the principles in several fieldtrip reports and laboratory experiences. As much as possible, the principles learned in the course are related to the interaction of Earth Systems and humanity. Those aspects are explicitly found in CLO #6, #10, and the "Geological Journal" assignment.

Course Learning Outcome 1--Large-scale Earth Structure and Processes: Students will be able to accurately describe the large-scale structure of the planet and relate the structure to plate tectonic theory.  Student will be able to identify the major tectonic plates and plate boundaries on a physiographic map of the planet. 

Learning Experiences
1.     Class lectures, readings, illustrations, animation, variety of maps
2.      Fieldtrips to view elements of the North American/Pacific Plate boundary

Learning Assessments
1.     Informal assessment of in-class cross-section exercise
2.      Midterm and final exam

Course Learning outcome 2--Survey of minerals and rocks: Students will be able to identify and interpret 10 important common rock-forming minerals in hand specimen and rocks.  Students will, at a minimum, be able to classify and interpret field specimens of rocks into the three major rock groups.  Students will be able to interpret a general regional geologic history based upon a vertical or lateral sequence of rocks

Learning Experiences
1.      Class lectures, readings, illustrations, photographs
2.      Individual and group workshops in lab
3.      Individual and group workshops on every field trip

Learning Assessments
1.      Lab exercise
2.      Mid-term and final exam.

Course Learning outcome 3--Topographic maps and spatial literacy: Students will be able to read, interpret, and create topographic maps. Students will be able to accurately draw a topographic profile from a line transect of a topographic map. Students will be able to use a compass in conjunction with a topographic map for plotting data and locating themselves on a map.  Students will be familiar with the notion of scale, orientation, and the UTM coordinate system.  They will be able to calculate the slope of a segment of the topography and report the slope in several formats.  

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, in-class exercises
2.      Topographic maps provided on all relevant fieldtrips where experience may be gained

Learning Assessments
1.      Lab exercise
2.      Mid-term and final exam.

Course Learning outcome 4--Geologic map literacy & structural geology: Students will be able to read, interpret and create simple geologic maps.  Students will be able to create a crude structural cross section from a geologic map showing interpreted subsurface rocks and structures.  Students will be able to interpret past stress fields from a variety of strained rocks.  Emphases will be placed upon understanding the diverse geology of California and the Monterey Bay area.

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, readings, group in-class exercises, photographs and illustrations
2.      Geologic maps provided on all relevant fieldtrips where experience may be gained
3.      Examples of faults and folds on field trips
4.      Geologic map of California is a required “text” for the course

Learning Assessments
1.      Lab exercise
2.      Field exercise
3.      Mid-term and final exam.

Course Learning outcome 5--Temporal literacy:      Students will be able to discuss deep geologic time, and will be able to name several of the major time divisions in Earth history.  Students will be able to properly place in sequence several of the major events in Earth history that shaped the Monterey Bay region, including sea level history.  Students will be able to interpret a several kinds of “unconformities” that represent differing scales of missing time in the rock record.

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, readings, demonstration
2.      Field experiences where time and missing time are discussed

Learning Assessments
1.      Fieldtrip reports
2.      Midterm and Final exam

Course Learning outcome 6--Geologic hazards of Monterey Bay region: Students will be able to discuss the details of earthquake, landslide and marine geological hazards.  Student will be able to use a nomogram to interpret a seismogram in terms of intensity, magnitude, and epicenter distance.  Student will be able to perform crude land-use planning for risk reduction.  

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, readings, demonstration, video
2.      Map interpretation
3.      Fieldtrips showing examples of fault and landslide damage

Learning Assessments
1.      Fieldtrip reports
2.      Midterm and Final exam

 Course Learning outcome 7--Soils: Students will be able to discuss the critical value of soil within the context of linking the various Earth subsystems (spheres) and within the context of human culture.  Students will be able to identify the layers of a simple soil profile and discuss the major materials and process occurring in each layer.  Student will be able to classify a soil sample in terms of texture and color using comparative charts and “feel.”

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, readings, illustrations, demonstrations
2.      Practice in group and individual workshop
3.      Field exercise

Learning Assessments
1.      Fieldtrip report
2.      Final exam

 Course Learning outcome 8--Basic survey techniques: Students will be able to perform a survey transect and accurately plot the results in a spreadsheet.  Students will be able to use turning points to close a survey.  Students will be able to take clear, standard survey notes during the survey.  Students will be able to perform a “two-peg” test of transit level precision.

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, readings, demonstration
2.      Samples of exemplary work
3.      Field exercise in surveying technique
4.      Field experience requiring the use of surveying

  Learning Assessments
1.      Survey exercise
2.      Fieldtrip reports

 Course Learning outcome 9--River and Groundwater Hydrology: Students will be able to discuss the central role that water plays in the environment and human culture, with emphasis on issues affecting the Monterey Bay region.  Students will be able to survey and analyze the basic morphology of a river channel.  Students will be able to accurately measure or estimate surface water discharge in a river reach using floats, current meters, or “slope-area” calculations.  Students will be able to produce a crude flownet and analyze groundwater kinematics based upon well data.

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture, readings demonstration
2.      Samples of exemplary work
3.      Field surveys
4.      Discharge measurement in the field
5.      Map interpretation
6.      Fieldtrips

Learning Assessments
1.      Fieldtrip reports
2.      Lab exercises
3.      Final exam

Course Learning outcome 10--Human culture in the Earth System: Students will be able to integrate the knowledge base from the course to answer specific questions about sustainable development, resource management, and land-use planning.  Student will appreciate that the environment we live in is dynamic, that preparing for change is as critical as preserving the present environment.  Student will appreciate the very significant impact that the Earth’s environment has upon human culture and the significant impact human culture has upon the Earth’s environment.

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture
2.      Totality of the course (classroom and field), and personal observation
3.      “Geologic Journal:” introspective writing on the topic of self in the environment/Earth/universe

  Learning Assessments
1.      Geological Journal
2.      Fieldtrip report
3.      Final exam

Course Learning outcome 11--Geology in interdiscplinary setting: Students will be able to describe the geology of a field location as background for interdiscinplary studies.  

Learning Experiences
1.      Lecture
2.      Samples of exemplary work
3.      Several fieldtrip reports
4.      Optional seminar reports

Learning Assessments
1.      Fieldtrip reports

TOP

ASSESSMENT

Assignments may be turned in anytime before class on the due date, except for in-class assignments, which are due at the end of class. Assignments turned in after the due date/time will earn 1/3 of the possible points, and no comments or corrections will be made.

TOP

TOPICS/READINGS/DUE DATES

TOP

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations please see me by 2/5/10 during office hours or
make an appointment by calling 582-4696, by email dosmith@csumb.edu. ALSO, contact:
Student_Disability_Resources@csumb.edu, Phone: 831/582-3672 voice, or 582-4024 fax/TTY------- http://www.sdr.csumb.edu/

Class Policy on Academic Honesty

Within the SMART College , plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are not tolerated.  Students who are found by faculty to have committed plagiarism in an assignment will, at minimum, upon the first offense fail that assignment. Upon the second offense, a student will, at minimum, fail the class. Each incident and the student's name will be reported to the college administration. (SMART Academic Honesty Website)

Links

CSUMB LIBRARY

CA Geology map

US Geology map

U.S. Shaded relief map

Big_Sur_field_guide.pdf large pdf file
A fieldguide to the geology of the central coast from Monterey Bay to Big Sur. Includes lots of good articles including geology and hydrology, and a color geologic map and cross-section of the region.

TOP