EARTH Course Descriptions

Earth Sciences (2009-2010)

This course is given in two parts: 1. Planet Earth: Structure of the Earth including plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes. 2. A Home for People: Natural processes operating on the Earth, e.g. erosion, mass wasting, glaciation permafrost, rivers, etc.

For students taking EARTH 121. Laboratory exercises on selected topics from EARTH 121 lectures. [Offered: F]

This course presents a broad overview of earth system processes and their influence on humans. Course emphasis is placed on anthropogenic impacts on natural systems, the impacts of geologic, biologic, and atmospheric processes on humans, and the effects of human activities on the environment. Course topics include sustainable development and the availability and use of natural resources, principles of ecology and environmental science, biogeochemical cycles, climate and climate change, soils and food supply, energy systems, surface water and groundwater, waste generation and management, pollution, and catastrophic natural processes.

For students taking EARTH 122. Laboratory exercises on selected topics from EARTH 122 lectures. [Offered: W]

Introduction to the main components of the hydrologic cycle including precipitation processes, evapotranspiration, soil water and groundwater flow, and surface water features. Emphasis will be placed on the atmospheric and geologic processes controlling water movement in the cycle at the global and local scales. Examples related to environmental impacts of urbanization and land-use management will be stressed. [Offered: F]

This course consists of outdoor field exercises designed to provide students with hands-on experience with a variety of hydrological monitoring techniques. Emphasis will be on the practical aspects of collecting, interpreting, and reporting of groundwater, surface water, meterological, and water quality data within a watershed. Tutorials will be used to evaluate and interpret the data collected and discuss the accuracy and limitations of the different techniques.

This course is a basic introduction to the important chemical and physical systems that occur in the terrestrial atmosphere. The course will include physical aspects of the atmosphere, such as the altitude dependence of temperature and pressure; radiative transfer; the greenhouse effect and basic climate science. It will also introduce the atmospheric chemistry responsible for acid rain, photochemical smog and ozone depletion. [Offered: F]

Origin, abundance and geochemistry of elements. Introduction to stable isotope geology and radiometric dating. Basic aqueous geochemistry. [Offered: W,S]

This course introduces the science of hydrology, emphasizing the hydrologic cycle and the interactions that are of environmental significance. The course presents material that is strongly conceptual, balanced with quantitative tools that provide additional insight to the science of hydrology.

Systematic mineralogy: study of the physical properties of the major rock-forming minerals; their identification, classification and occurrence. Introduction to crystallography; elements of symmetry and the interrelationship of crystal structure to the physical and chemical properties of minerals. Elementary petrology of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in hand specimen. [Offered: F]

An introduction to optical mineralogy. Basic theory of the behaviour of light through minerals; concept of indicatrices; understanding relief, retardation, birefringence, interference figures and other optical properties of minerals. Microscopic examination of important rock forming minerals and the identification of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Introduction to silicate phase equilibria; use of mineral stability diagrams to understand igneous and metamorphic petrogenesis. [Offered: W,S]

An introduction to stratigraphic principles and methods used in deciphering geological history. The development of stratigraphic sequences as controlled by global and regional tectonics and sea level fluctuations. Examples are drawn primarily from North American geology through study of the craton and adjacent mountain belts. Laboratory work will include construction and interpretation of various types of maps and cross sections. [Offered: F]

The principles of paleontology with particular stress on the paleontological concepts; examples will be drawn primarily from the fossil record of invertebrates. Laboratory work will include projects related to lecture topics. [Offered: F]

Concepts of stress and strain; elementary rock mechanics; description and classification of folds, faults, foliations, lineations and joints; use of primary structures; introduction to geometrical analysis. Labs will emphasize geometrical problems, including geological maps and cross sections, and stereographic projection. [Offered: W]

An introduction to seismic, gravity, electric, electromagnetic and magnetic methods of exploration geophysics. [Offered: F]

The course will examine the physical causes and affects of natural disasters including landslides, snow avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, subsidence, volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts. Illustrated by case histories, the course will analyse the factors that lead to disasters. The effect of climate change, human activity, and population growth on the magnitude and frequency of disasters will be explored. The course will introduce the basic principles of Geo-Risk management and its applications in natural hazards engineering, in the development of mitigation strategies and in the re-insurance industry. [Offered: W]

The importance of geology to health. This includes examining the effects of volcanic gases and dust and other aerosols; tracing the sources and impacts of metals and other naturally occurring geological materials in the Earth's hydrosphere and crust; geology and the bioaccumulation of metals; and distinguishing natural versus anthropogenic processes on the geochemical distribution of toxic material in the near-surface environment. [Offered: W]

The chemistry and physics of the terrestrial atmosphere, with emphasis on the operation of major anthropogenic influences, such as ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect and tropospheric systems, such as photochemical smog. Other planetary atmospheres will be discussed in the context of their implications for the evolution of the earth's atmosphere. [Offered: W]

This course provides an introduction to modern regional air quality modelling. The models used are Models-3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's tropospheric modelling framework and MM-5, the meteorology model developed by the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research. The course covers the major elements in regional air quality modelling: emissions databases, chemical modelling, and the role of meteorology. A team-oriented modelling project relevant to Southern Ontario air quality will be carried out. [Offered: W]

Understanding and use of quantitative and analytical techniques founded in mathematics and the geosciences to describe, model and predict environmental phenomena. Emphasis is on issues that currently challenge society and practical approaches for addressing them. Topics include climate change models of biogeochemistry cycles, natural disaster prediction, pollution problems on land and in the atmosphere, and pricing financial products related to environmental risk. [Offered: F]

The principles and theories of the origins of volcanic and plutonic igneous rocks. Physics and chemistry of magma; controls of volcanic eruptions, magmatic differentiation and the distribution and occurrence of magma types. [Offered: Fall term of alternate years.]

Principles and theories of metamorphic rock genesis. Static, dynamic and polyphasal crystalloblastic growth. Processes of solid-state crystallization in metamorphic environments. Zonal and facies classifications; facies series and the place of metamorphism in global tectonics. Introduction to metasomatism. [Offered: Fall term of alternate years.]

The origin and physical properties of sediments. Fluid flow, glacier motion and sediment transport processes. Mechanical and chemical erosion rates, sediment fluxes and budget. Facies models of the major depositional environments. Diagenetic processes. Laboratories focussed on the description and interpretation of sediments and sedimentary rocks. [Offered: W]

Physical processes, environmental impact and remediation. Development, erosion and engineering capabilities of soils and glacial drift. Permafrost. Fluvial processes. Flood control. Glacial deposits. Landslides. Coastal processes. Laboratory work involves field projects, air photo interpretation and terrain analysis. [Offered: F]

Study of the Earth as a system, with a focus on global climate history and dynamics, biogeochemical cycling, and the impacts of human activity. Critical analysis and synthesis are emphasized in the context of group presentations and discussions. [Offered: W]

Quantitative introduction to the physical principles that govern the flow of fluids through porous and fractured geologic materials. Physical properties of fluids and porous media will be presented and conservation, flux and state equations will be developed. Physics of flow of immiscible fluids, including air-water and oil-water combinations will be included. [ Offered: F]

This course aims to provide an intuitive and physical understanding of the atmosphere. Topics will include the atmospheric distribution of temperature/pressure, stability, phase changes of water, fluid dynamical phenomena at various scales. The basic conservation equations of momentum, mass, and energy are introduced as a framework to understand the above topics. The physical foundation laid in this class will be linked to current research topics such as climate change, weather forecasting, and severe weather phenomena.

Field study in Sudbury and Whitefish Falls areas. Held for at least 9 days at end of the Winter term. Geological and geotechnical field techniques, map construction, report writing.

The application of chemical thermodynamics to geochemical problems. Development of the three laws of Thermodynamics; Gibbs free energy and equilibria constants. Introduction to various topics in aqueous geochemistry such as mineral equilibria, ion exchange and redox equilibria. Laboratory session will involve various experiments related to mineral solubility, chemical kinetics, acid-base equilibria and chemical modelling. [Offered: F]

Stress and strain; deformational behaviour of rocks; origin of folds, foliations, lineations, joints and faults; geometrical and kinematic analysis; relationships of structures from the microscopic to the megascopic scale. Labs will include simple experiments, advanced geometrical problems and observation and measurement of microstructure and fabric.

Each student will work under the direction of a member of the Department on a short research project. The results of this will be presented in thesis form and will be critically examined by members of this and, where pertinent, other departments.

Each student will work under the direction of a member of the Department on a short research project. The results of this will be presented in thesis form and will be critically examined by members of this and, where pertinent, other departments.

Stress, strain and strength in geomaterials. Origins of stress and stress measurement methods, including hydraulic fracture and strain relief. Rock Mechanics principles and design procedures in areas of mining, civil engineering and petroleum engineering. Monitoring methods, including introduction to microseismic surveillance. Course includes laboratory and project work. [Offered: W]

Review of basic concepts in engineering geology as applied to rock and soil, including material properties, variability in properties, external factors such as stress, and evaluation of design adequacy. Site investigation and characterisation techniques used to define and characterise the properties of geological materials and their use in selected engineering geologic design and construction problems. Laboratory assignments will focus on the determination of physical properties and site assessment problems. [Offered: W]

Glacial-interglacial cycles and sub-Milankovitch oscillations from ocean sediments and ice cores. Quaternary geochronology. Glacial sediment-land systems. Mineral exploration techniques pertaining to glaciated terrains and hydrostratigraphic analyses of Quaternary basins. Local field trips. Laboratory studies on glacial sediments. [Offered: F]

Advanced concepts on wetland ecosystems in the context of regional and global earth systems processes such as carbon and nitrogen cycling and climate change, applications of wetland paleoecology, use of isotopes and other geochemical tools in wetland science, and wetland engineering in landscape rehabilitation and ecotechnology. Current issues in Canada and abroad will be examined. [Offered: F]

An introduction to numerical techniques for groundwater modelling, focusing on the understanding of fundamental principles and an appreciation of the role of models. Finite difference, finite element, and particle tracing methods are studied and applied to the solution of problems in groundwater flow, aquifer mechanics, flownet generation, and advective-dispersive transport. Proper modelling approaches, error analysis, stability, discretization constraints, pitfalls, and model misuse are discussed. The student will write some simple FORTRAN programs, and obtain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art interactive groundwater models in the PC laboratory.

An introduction to physical hydrogeology, including Darcy's law, the groundwater flow equations for steady-state and transient conditions, applications to flow nets, aquifer testing, groundwater resources, and groundwater protection. The role of groundwater in the hydrologic cycle is explored with emphasis on natural groundwater flow systems and their influence on stream flow. Physical processes controlling groundwater contamination are introduced.

This course exposes students to a wide variety of field and laboratory techniques for collecting hydrogeologic data and to gain experience in interpreting the data. Advantages and limitations of various measurement and data reduction techniques are discussed along with the practical question of how much data is enough. Case studies will be presented to illustrate the complexity of natural systems and the need for good data collection and interpretation skills when characterizing contaminated sites. [Offered: F,S]

An introduction to the chemical side of hydrogeology with emphasis on groundwater quality and contaminants in the groundwater zone, the geochemical origin of major ions in natural groundwater, causes of hardness, groundwater age determination using isotopes, common causes of groundwater contamination; processes governing contaminant behaviour including dispersion, diffusion and adsorption, hydrogeologic aspects of site selection for waste disposal. [Offered: W]

A detailed examination of selected topics in exploration geophysics, with an emphasis on data processing, time series analysis and computer modelling of geophysical responses.

An application-oriented course emphasizing current methodology in near-surface geophysics, including electrical, electromagnetic, ground penetrating radar, seismic refraction and magnetic methods. The basic theory for geophysical data acquisition and interpretation is studied and applied to field data. The application of geophysical techniques to archeological, forensics, geotechnical and hydrogeological problems is discussed. [Offered: F]

Field exercises involving the use of standard near-surface geophysical methods. The practical aspects of performing geophysical surveys are a central theme of this course. [Offered: F]

The principles of metal concentration and deposition in magmatic and hydrothermal environments. Classic ore deposits are examined using these principles, including applications of fluid inclusion, stable isotope and mineral stability to ore-forming processes. Basic aspects of mineral exploration are also covered. Laboratories involve hand sample and ore petrology of suites from diverse deposits. [Offered: W]

One or more trips that emphasize field observations. Specific trips may be organized to examine field aspects of any of the disciplines within Earth Sciences or Geological Engineering. Field exercises and reports may be part of the requirements. Additional field trip fees will apply.