GEO 202 Geology: Surface and Environmental Geology

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 3
Credits: 4

Offers a descriptive survey of geologic surface processes including: rivers, coasts, mass movement, groundwater, deserts, and glaciers, and the interaction of climate and climate change on these systems. Includes topographic map interpretation and field activities.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Apply critical thinking skills and act in a scientifically responsible manner when interacting with the natural world.
Read, interpret and use topographical maps to show natural and manufactured features.
Identify the different types of rivers and their associated processes.
Describe the different types of coasts and explain how coastal processes affect human development of the land.
Describe the various types of mass wasting processes and identify areas that might be susceptible to landslides.
Describe groundwater systems and the issues involving water use.
Describe how deserts form, from the small-scale sand transport to large scale atmospheric patterns.
Describe glaciers and processes of glaciation; summarize the climatic processes affecting glacial ice ages.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.

Content Outline
Required text for college credit: Monroe and Wichander; The Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolution

Topographic map reading
- Read, comprehend, and explain the value of topographical maps in showing natural and manmade features
- Use coordinate systems
  - Latitude/longitude
  - Public land survey system
  - Universal Transverse Mercator system
- Distinguish between true and magnetic headings
- Map Scales
  - Describe the different map scales and what they mean
  - Measure distances using maps using bar scales and map scales
- Topographic profiles
  - Use contour data to create topographic profiles
  - Calculate slope and gradient from contour data
Mass Movement
- Controlling factors of mass movement
  - Gravity
  - Water
  - Slope
- Classify types of mass movement events
  - Slopes failures
  - Flows
- Prevention and mitigation of mass wasting events
  - Explore and propose solutions to areas prone to mass movement
  - Critically judge the risks of developing in areas prone to mass movement events
Streams and Ground Water
- Hydrologic cycle
- Issues involving water use
- River mechanics
  - Channel formation
  - Sediment transport
- Formation and evolution of drainage patterns
- Floods
  - Apply inquiry skills to interpret stream data to evaluate the potential for future flood events within a particular area
  - Discuss ethical issues related to governmental response to flooding
- Dams
  - Assess the environmental impact of human-constructed dams
  - Evaluate the effects of damn on society
Glaciation
- Distinguish between the different types of glaciers
- Describe the glacial formation and dynamics
- Describe features formed by glacial erosion and deposition
- Glacial Ice ages
  - Identify evidence and possible causes of glacial ice ages
  - Summarize the significance of the Milankovitch cycles on climate change
Deserts and Wind
- Summarize the different types of deserts
- Describe the planetary wind system and climatic zones
- Identify various desert features and landforms
- Describe the effects of wind in the desert
  - Formation of winds ripples
  - Describe the various types of dunes and their formation
Shoreline
- Describe the major features of the world’s oceans
  - Salinity
  - Temperature
  - Heat Capacity
  - Predict the impact of global warming on the salinity and temperature of the world’s oceans
- Analyze ocean dynamics
  - Circulation
  - Tides
  - Waves
- Describe coastal features
  - Erosional features
  - Depositional features
  - Reefs
- Describe coastal evolution
- Critically examine and analyze coastal hazards in relation to human development