COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course concentrates on understanding the
earth's dynamic environments through the study of processes and physical and
human interactions related to the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and cryosphere. A
scientific approach is used to examine fundamental concepts in earth and
environmental science related to topics such as plate tectonics, landform
development, atmospheric processes, global climate and water resources, in
order to provide an understanding of how the earth system functions and the human
role in these phenomena.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Earth
Environments has three objectives: a) To provide a core of knowledge about the
earth's physical environments and how earth processes operate to influence the
earth's surface environment, b) to focus on modern concepts in earth science
and the scientific methods used by earth scientists to explore and come to
understand a dynamic earth, and c) to develop an understanding of the role of
earth science in modern society.
GENERAL EDUCATION
COMPONENT: Earth Science 101 fulfills the General Education
requirement for one course in a natural laboratory science under the Liberal
Studies Component C, Science: Understanding the Natural World.
TEXTBOOK: Christopherson, R.W. 2001. Elemental Geosystems.
3rd edition. Prentice Hall,
LABORATORY MANUAL: Wilder, Dean. 2007. Introduction to Earth System
Science. Department of Geography and Earth Science,
WEEK OF: LECTURES:
4/14 THE
EARTH’S CLIMATE SYSTEM
4/21 WATER
RESOURCES
4/28 SOILS
LABORATORY EXERCISE DATA:
SKI_AREA_SNOW_DATA
(ski_area_snow_data.xls)
LA CROSSE PRECIPITATION DATA
(laxprecip.xls)