September 4, 2008 www.brocku.ca/Extreme_Earth

Extreme Earth ERSC 1P92 Fall 2008 Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Instructor: Rick Cheel Department of Earth Sciences Office: Mackenzie Chown D418 Phone: 905-688-5550 Ext. 3512 E-mail: rcheel@brocku.ca Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

All course material will be located at: www.brocku.ca/extreme_earth Return to Extreme Earth Home Page www.brocku.ca/Extreme_Earth

First, some important considerations….. ERSC 1P92 Extreme Earth Extreme low frequency events and the geological record of their causes and effects, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, climatic change and impacts with extraterrestrial bodies. Lectures, 3 hours per week. Note: secondary school sciences are not a prerequisite. Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in ERSC 1F01, 1F90 and 1F95. Brock University, 2008-2009 Calendar

First, some important considerations….. By October 24 you will have been communicated more than 15% of your total grade for the course. Friday, October 31 is the last date for withdrawal without academic penalty and last day to change from credit to audit status for duration 2 courses without academic penalty.

Extreme Earth aims to provide: a basic understanding of how the Earth system operates on an ongoing basis. examples of changing paradigms and the challenges to new ideas. examples of extreme events of various scales of magnitude and frequency. Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Grade Distribution Assignment 1 10% Due Tuesday, Oct. 28 Assignment 2 10% Due Thursday, Nov. 13 Assignment 3 10% Due Tuesday, Nov. 26 Midterm test 30% Last names beginning A to K: In class Thur., October 9 Last names beginning L to Z: In class Fri., October 10 Final Exam 40% Scheduled by the Registrar Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Assignments (10% each): Locating earthquake epicenters. Reconstructing tectonic plates on the fictitious planet of Tralfamadore (Kurt Vonnegut fans should enjoy this). Example mulitple choice questions. Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Introduction and course synopsis Outline and schedule September 4 Introduction and course synopsis September 5 & 9 Scientific Ideas, Geology 001, a brief History of Geology and Catastrophism in the 20th September 11 to 25 The Origin of the Solar System and its bodies; Near Earth Objects, collisions and risk to humans; impact craters; Nemesis hypothesis Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Continental Drift: the history of an idea; Outline and schedule Sept. 26, 30 & Oct. 2 Continental Drift: the history of an idea; Geomagnetism October 3 Plate Tectonics. October 7 and 14 to 24 Earthquakes Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Outline and schedule October 21 Assignment 1: Locating an earthquake epicentre October 9 Mid term test for last names beginning A to K October 10 Mid term test for last names beginning L to Z Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Atmosphere and climate (past and present); sea level change. Outline and schedule Note: By October 24 you will have been communicated more than 15% of your total grade for the course. October 28 to November 4 Atmosphere and climate (past and present); sea level change. Note: Friday, October 31 is the last date for withdrawal without academic penalty and last day to change from credit to audit status for duration 2 courses without academic penalty. Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Assignment 2. Plate Boundaries on Trafalmador Outline and schedule November 6 Assignment 2. Plate Boundaries on Trafalmador November 7 to 14 Volcanoes Part I: Composition, deposits, types of volcanoes and their distribution. November 18 to 21 Volcanoes Part II: Prediction of eruptions; impact of eruptions; super volcanoes; volcanoes in space. Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

Wrap up, review and course information. Outline and schedule November 25 Wrap up, review and course information. Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

The usual disclaimer…. The schedule and topics may change without notice. Check the web-based schedule for changes and updates Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

significant asteroid impact: class will be cancelled! In the event of a significant asteroid impact: class will be cancelled! Return to Extreme Earth Home Page

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