GEO 111/GEO 112 Geologic Hazards and Natural Disasters Lecture and Laboratory
Alan Benimoff, Engineering Science and Physics and the Masters program in Environmental Science
CUNY College of Staten Island
Summary
GEO 111 Lecture Class: An introduction to geologic hazards, their causes and the natural disasters that result. Processes at the surface of the Earth and in the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Geologic hazards that occur due to surface processes, including slope failure, stream and coastal flooding, severe weather events, wildfires, climate change and impacts. The Theory of Plate Tectonics, andearthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes produced as a result of tectonic processes. A full day fieldtrip is required. Material in lectures compliments and supports the lab activities.
GEO 112 Laboratory class introducing geologic hazards, their causes and the natural disasters that result. Hands on exercises using maps, online data sets and lab measurements to interpret geologic hazards that occur due to surface processes and plate tectonics.
Co-requisite GEO 111 Geologic Hazards and Natural Disasters Lecture class.
GEO 112 Laboratory class introducing geologic hazards, their causes and the natural disasters that result. Hands on exercises using maps, online data sets and lab measurements to interpret geologic hazards that occur due to surface processes and plate tectonics.
Co-requisite GEO 111 Geologic Hazards and Natural Disasters Lecture class.
Course URL: https://csivc.csi.cuny.edu/geology/files/hazards.html
Course Size:
71-150
Course Format:
Lecture and lab
Institution Type:
University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs
Course Context:
This is an introductory course with no pre-requisites. It satisfies the college-wide science requirement in Scientific World. This course is geared towards non-science majors. This course will give the students something that is relevant to them. This course is popular with students and always fills beyond capacity.
Course Content:
The course topics are: surface processes in the context of the hydrosphere and atmosphere; slope failure, severe weather events, coastal processes, streams and flooding, climate change, wildfires and impacts, plate tectonics and the structure of the earth; earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes.
Course Goals:
- Have a basic knowledge of processes operating at the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere and hydrosphere that create geologic hazards, such as slope failure and flooding.
- Have a basic knowledge of the Theory of Plate Tectonics and understand how tectonic processes lead to volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Understand the processes that cause geologic hazards and use this knowledge to assess where natural disasters are more likely to occur.
- Use information from film/video to increase understanding of geologic processes and their impact on people.
- Appreciate how geologic hazards impact our everyday lives and be able to understand the science behind events that are frequently reported in the media.
Course Features:
Hazard City home assignments. Completion of a fieldtrip (with short written exercises) to a location where there is the potential for one or more geologic hazards. A follow up written report will include additional sources of information.
Course Philosophy:
Material covered in lecture is reinforced in the laboratory with exercises that deal with natural hazards on Staten Island, e.g. hurricane storm surge, land use and mass wasting. Students will each compile a map of Staten Island showing areas at risk, and write a final report analyzing the risk of geologic hazards on Staten Island.
Assessment:
The course will be assessed using the following criteria:Exams 30%; Home Assignments15%; Journal Entries 15%; Class Participation 15%; Fieldtrip and Report 15%; Quizzes 10%.
GEO 112, the lab component of this course is assessed as follows:Lab exercises and reports 80% Final Report 20%.
(1)During lab classes, students will collect data from online sources (e.g. USGS), topographic and geologic maps, historical sources and fieldwork and use this to assess areas at risk from geologic hazards caused by surface processes. (2) During lab classes, students will collect data from online sources (e.g. USGS), topographic and geologic maps, historical sources and fieldwork and use this to assess areas at risk from geologic hazards caused by plate tectonic processes. (3) Students will each compile a map of Staten Island showing areas at risk, and write a final report analyzing the risk of geologic hazards on Staten Island.
GEO 112, the lab component of this course is assessed as follows:Lab exercises and reports 80% Final Report 20%.
(1)During lab classes, students will collect data from online sources (e.g. USGS), topographic and geologic maps, historical sources and fieldwork and use this to assess areas at risk from geologic hazards caused by surface processes. (2) During lab classes, students will collect data from online sources (e.g. USGS), topographic and geologic maps, historical sources and fieldwork and use this to assess areas at risk from geologic hazards caused by plate tectonic processes. (3) Students will each compile a map of Staten Island showing areas at risk, and write a final report analyzing the risk of geologic hazards on Staten Island.
Syllabus:
References and Notes:
Keller and DeVecchio. Natural Hazards: Earth's Processes as Hazards, Disasters and Catastrophes Plus Mastering Geology – Access Card Package 4/E. ISBN: 9780133907650
Keep a journal of events related to geological hazards that are reported in the news media for the semester. This journal should include reports of events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other geological hazards. You should submit your journal using the form linked from Blackboard every week by Sunday evening, starting 2/8/15 and ending 5/17/15, excluding Spring Break (4/5/15 and 4/12/15). Each entry should include a title and date for the event, a short paragraph summarizing the news article in your own words and a statement of why you found this article interesting and its wider significance. You must also provide a citation to your source of information. Late journal entries will not be accepted.
Keep a journal of events related to geological hazards that are reported in the news media for the semester. This journal should include reports of events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other geological hazards. You should submit your journal using the form linked from Blackboard every week by Sunday evening, starting 2/8/15 and ending 5/17/15, excluding Spring Break (4/5/15 and 4/12/15). Each entry should include a title and date for the event, a short paragraph summarizing the news article in your own words and a statement of why you found this article interesting and its wider significance. You must also provide a citation to your source of information. Late journal entries will not be accepted.