INTRODUCTION
TO EARTH SYSTEMS
GEOL
1340
New Core Course
Course Description
Earth’s dynamic systems include the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere
and biosphere. Life developed and evolved as a result of the interaction
of these systems. Considering the potential of humans to alter the planet
the future of life on Earth depends on a full understanding of this evolutionary
process.
Introduction to Earth Systems, GEOL 1340, is level 1 core course. It will
be taught in the Fall semester of 2001 as a Distance Education course.
The lectures are available by tape purchase or can be viewed on the UH
main campus on the Blue channel. All the slides used in the lectures are
available on this web site.
The level of difficulty is similar to that of Physical Geology. College
Algebra, MATH 1310, 1315, or credit for by UH is a prerequisite. Of course,
any higher level math will also suffice. Exams are multiple choice format.
Topics covered include a tour through the Solar System examining its evolution
and Earth's place in its formation. Next we take a look at the atmosphere
and the basic causes of storms which transport water from the oceans to
the land sustaining life as we know it. Third we examine the oceans and
their importance in moderating the climate and acting as the cradle of
life on Earth. Next our attention turns to the Earth itself and processes
in the interior of the Earth that have molded and changed the configuration
of the continents and oceans and brought about climates changes as life
evolved from simple one-celled organisms to shellfish to amphibians to
Dinosaurs and finally to mammals and humans. Lastly we look at the modern-day
biosphere, man's place in it and his potential to damage it or live in
harmony with it.
Power Point Presentations
All the slides used in the PowerPoint presentations that make up the lectures
are available for downloading. They are subdivided into the four sections
representing the four quarters of the semester. Each section contains the
material covered for each of the four exams over the semester. Thus, section
#1 covers all the lectures relevant to Exam #1, section #2 to Exam #2 etc…
The slides are in color and organized by page number for two-sided printing.
Thus page one contains 12 slides that will cover one page, double sided
or two pages if one-sided pages are printed.