Geology 112

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Greensheet 112
Assingnments

Hazards and Risks of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Geology 112

Fall, 2006

Section 1-Monday, Wednesday 1030-1145

 Sections 2-Tuesday, Thursday; 0730-0845

Sections 3 -Tuesday, Thursday, 1030-1145

 

 

Instructor: Paula Jefferis, 
Office: Duncan Hall 419
Phone: 408-924-5016 
Department Office: 408 924-5050
E-mail: jefferis@geosun.sjsu.edu

  Office hours: Monday/Wednesday: 1145-1215

                        Tuesday/Thursday: 0930-1030; 1145-1215

                         or  by  appointment.

         

Special note for fall classes:

Please note that a special assignment will be distributed on Monday, August 28th and Tuesday August 30th. This assignment will be due on September 11th for the Monday class and September 12th for the Tuesday class.

There is no class August 30 and 31, September 5, 6, 7 or 13.

Thank-you for your cooperation

        Prerequisites:  passage of WST, upper division standing, GE core completion

 

Required text: Natural Hazards and Disasters, first edition, Donald Hyndman and David Hyndman

 

Scope of Course:

            This course emphasizes how volcanoes and earthquakes are associated with the geological setting. In addition, an emphasis is placed on how we can prepare, predict and recover from these natural disasters.

           

Course Objectives:

            Geology 112 addresses the student learning objectives for GE Guidelines under Area R courses in the following ways:

 

  1. In order to demonstrate an understanding of the methods and limits of scientific investigation, you will:

a)       examine and be able to explain the causes and distribution of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and the nature of and limitations of geoscientific study of these phenomena.

b)       critically assess the validity and effectiveness of various risk mitigation strategies such as prediction, paleoseismology, legislation and retrofitting.

 

  1. In order to distinguish science from pseudo science, you will:

a)       investigate a variety of postulated methods for predicting earthquakes and eruptions, and critically discuss the scientific basis, if any, of each.

  1. In order to apply a scientific approach to questions about the earth and environment, you will:

a)       recognize hazards posed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

 

Course organization:

            The course is divided into four main sections. The first portion of the class covers plate tectonics and associated physical characteristics. Volcanic activity in terms of rock and landform classification, volcanic hazards, prediction of an eruption and recovery after a volcanic eruption are the topics covered during the second section. Earthquakes, seismology, earthquake hazards and earthquake prediction are covered in the third section. The last portion of the class includes mitigation methods used to reduce risk associated with earthquakes.

 

 

This page was last modified by P. Jefferis on 08/25/06 . She is a lecturer in the Department of Geology at San Jose State University