| Earth Sciences |
ESCI 400 - Freshman Field Seminar
Credits:
1.00
A field introduction for new or prospective majors to New
Hampshire's mountains, rivers, estuaries, and beaches. Field
excursions (approximately 5) are scheduled on Friday
afternoons. Cr/F.
ESCI 401 - Principles of Geology
Credits:
4.00
The Earth; earth materials (rocks and minerals), landforms,
and the processes that form them (volcanism, earthquakes,
glaciation, etc.). Field trips. Special fee. Lab. Students
may not receive credit for both ESCI 401 and ESCI 409.
ESCI 402 - Earth History
Credits:
4.00
Introduction to basic geological principles. Use of case
studies to illustrate scientific methods used in
reconstructing Earth's evolution through time. Topics
include the origin of the Earth, the Cambrian explosion of
life, building of the Appalachians, assembly of Pangaea, the
rise and fall of dinosaurs, the formation of the Rocky
Mountains, mammalian evolution, Pleistocene glaciation,
and human origins. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 405 - Global Environmental Change
Credits:
4.00
Human activity rivals nature as an agent of change in the
global environment. Explores evidence of environmental
degradation in Earth's crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere;
considers prospects for future sustainable human health,
diversity, and economic development. Problem solving through
critical analysis of environmental variables. Special fee.
Lab.
ESCI 409 - Environmental Geology
Credits:
4.00
Environmental impact of geologic processes; natural
hazards--landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding,
erosion, and sedimentation; land exploitation and site
investigations; environmental considerations of water-supply
problems; the recovery of energy and mineral resources.
Special fee. Lab. Students may not receive credit for both
ESCI 401 and ESCI 409.
ESCI 450 - Introduction to the Earth Sciences
Credits:
1.00
Modular course introducing contemporary topics in earth
sciences. Each module is approximately 3.5 weeks. Four of
the following topics are offered each semester (check Time
and Room Schedule for current semester offerings): Planetary
Geology; Plate Tectonics; Rocks and Minerals; Earthquakes;
Water Resources of New England; Springs and Underground
Rivers; Evolution of Mountains; Volcanoes; The Global Ocean;
The Gulf Stream; Geologic Time; Climate Change; Beaches and
Coasts; Prehistoric Life; Energy and the Environment;
Geology of Puerto Rico. Additional topics may be available.
Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 450A - Introduction to Earth Sciences
Credits:
1.00
ESCI 450B - Introduction to Earth Sciences
Credits:
1.00
ESCI 450C - Introduction to Earth Sciences
Credits:
1.00
ESCI 450D - Introduction to Earth Sciences
Credits:
1.00
ESCI 501 - Introduction to Oceanography
Credits:
4.00
Physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes in
the sea. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 512 - Principles of Mineralogy
Credits:
4.00
Natural history of the solid state; introductory
crystallography, diffraction, and structure of minerals.
Silicate minerals; their chemical and physical properties,
origins, occurrences, and uses. Nonsilicates. Prereq:
CHEM 401, 403, or 405. Field trips. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 514 - Introduction to Climate
Credits:
3.00
The climate as a system controlled by the fluid, chemical,
geological, and biological dynamics of the earth.
Investigation of natural and man-made climate change over
the period of 100 to 100 million years, including the
greenhouse effects, tectonic climate forcing, astronomic
(Milankovich) cycles, deep ocean circulation, and biological
feedback. How past climate is measured. Prereq: one
introductory course in Earth Sciences or permission.
ESCI 530 - Field Methods
Credits:
4.00
Standard geological field-mapping techniques, including pace
and compass and plane table and alidade; bedrock and
surficial mapping on topographic and aerial photographic
bases in local areas; one 3- to 4-day exercise in a selected
area of the Northern Appalachian Mountains. Prereq:
ESCI 401 or 409; 402. Special fee. Writing intensive.
ESCI 561 - Surficial Processes
Credits:
4.00
Processes leading to the development of landforms, chemical
and mechanical weathering of earth-surface materials and
erosion and transport in colluvial, fluvial, glacial, and
coastal systems. Field trips. Prereq: ESCI 401 or
permission. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 595 - Introductory Investigations
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Special topics by means of lectures, conferences, assigned
readings, and/or field or laboratory work in the areas of
geology, hydrology, or oceanography.
ESCI 596 - Introductory Investigations
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
See description for ESCI 595.
ESCI 614 - Optical Mineralogy and Petrography
Credits:
4.00
Description and classification of igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic rocks in hand specimen and thin section;
optical mineralogy. Prereq: ESCI 512. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 631 - Structural Geology
Credits:
4.00
Structural units of the Earth's crust and mechanics of their
formation. Prereq; ESCI 530. Special fee. Lab and fieldwork.
ESCI 652 - Paleontology
Credits:
4.00
Use of the fossil record to address current problems in
Earth history, paleoecology, and evolutionary biology.
Examples are drawn from both vertebrates and invertebrates.
Lab combines analytical paleontological methods with a
systematic survey of important fossil groups. Prereq:
ESCI 402 or permission. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 653 - Estuaries and Coasts
Credits:
4.00
Examines physical and biological aspects of estuaries and
coasts with special regard to sediment transport. Includes
field trips and cruises to the coastal environments of New
Hampshire and Maine, with follow-up laboratory analyses. A
student project is required involving field sampling and
oceanographic equipment design, fabrication, and testing.
Prereq: ESCI 501;/or permission. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 658 - Principles of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Dynamics
Credits:
4.00
Introduction to the basic elements of kinematics and
dynamics, relevant to processes important in earth, ocean,
and atmospheric sciences. Review of particle dynamics
followed by an introduction to continuum mechanics of the
solid earth, hydrologic and environmental fluid systems.
Includes biweekly laboratories and homework problem
recitation sessions. Prereq: MATH 426, PHYS 407. Lab.
ESCI 703 - Fluvial Hydrology
Credits:
4.00
Mechanics of natural open-channel flows: forces, the
continuity and energy principles, velocity distributions,
flow resistance, fluvial erosion and sediment transport,
channel form, computation of flow profiles, weirs, hydraulic
jumps, and stream-flow routing. Lab and field exercises.
Prereq: one year each of calculus and physics. Special fee.
ESCI 705 - Principles of Hydrology
Credits:
4.00
Basic physical principles important in the land phase of the
hydrologic cycle, including precipitation, snowmelt,
infiltration and soil physics, evapotransportation, and
surface and subsurface flow to streams. Problems of
measurement and aspects of statistical treatment of
hydrologic data. Field trips. Prereq: MATH 425 (or MATH 424)
and PHYS 402. Special fee. Lab. Writing intensive.
ESCI 710 - Groundwater Hydrology
Credits:
4.00
Principles for fluid flow in porous media with emphasis on
occurrence, location, and development of groundwater but
with consideration of groundwater as a transporting medium.
Major topics include well hydraulics, regional groundwater
flow, exploration techniques, and chemical quality.
Laboratory exercises involve use of fluid, electrical,
and digital computer models to illustrate key concepts.
Prereq: ESCI 705 or permission. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 715 - Global Atmospheric Chemistry
Credits:
3.00
Introduction to the principles of atmospheric chemistry
and their relationship to biogeochemical cycles, climate,
and global change. Focus is on understanding the basic
physical and chemical processes that determine the trace gas
distribution in the global troposphere. An introduction to
atmospheric vertical structure and global circulation
dynamics provides the foundation. Then chemical cycles of
important C, S, N molecules are examined, including their
possible perturbation by human activities. Basic
photochemical processes are outlined, particularly with
respect to reactive nitrogen, hydrocarbons, and the
production/destruction of ozone. Prereq: one year chemistry.
ESCI 717 - Macro-scale Hydrology I
Credits:
4.00
Focus on the numerous roles of water in the Earth System.
Topics include: the global water cycle, impacts of the
greenhouse effect and other anthropogenic disturbances,
hydrologic modeling, soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer
schemes, water quality, GIS and water-related remote sensing
tools, global freshwater resources. Course is organized
around formal lectures, in-class discussion, student
presentations, class projects. Prereq: ESCI 705 or
permission. (Offered alternate years.)
ESCI 718 - Macro-Scale Hydrology II
Credits:
4.00
A continuation of ESCI 717. Students and instructor jointly
select a research topic in macro-scale hydrology to be
analyzed in-depth during the course of the semester. A
primary goal is the preparation of a manuscript for
publication in a refereed scientific journal. Extensive
library research, reading of recent and relevant scientific
literature, technical analysis and writing. Prereq:
ESCI 717. (Offered alternate years.)
ESCI 725 - Igneous Petrology
Credits:
4.00
The evolution of igneous rocks as determined from field,
petrographic, chemical, experimental, and theoretical
studies. Application of thermodynamics to igneous
petrogenesis. Physical properties of magmas. Prereq:
mineralogy; petrography; adequate background in calculus,
chemistry, and physics. Field trips. Special fee. Lab.
(Offered in alternate years with ESCI 726.) Writing
intensive.
ESCI 726 - Metamorphic Petrology
Credits:
4.00
The metamorphism of pelitic, mafic, and calc silicate rocks
as determined from field, petrographic, mineral chemistry,
experimental, and theoretical studies. Closed- and
open-system reactions, multisystems, reaction space.
Calculation of pressure-temperature time paths. Prereq:
mineralogy; petrography; adequate background in calculus,
chemistry, and physics. Field trips. Special fee. Lab.
(Offered in alternate years with ESCI 725.) Writing
intensive.
ESCI 732 - Regional Geology and Advanced Structure
Credits:
4.00
Readings, discussion, and field/lab exercises in the
tectonic analysis of mountain systems. Emphasis on the
northern Appalachian Orogen. Application of modern
structural analysis. Field excursion. Prereq: ESCI 631 or
permission. Special fee.
ESCI 734 - Applied Geophysics
Credits:
4.00
Gravity, magnetic, seismic, and electrical methods of
investigating subsurface geology. Fieldwork and use of
computers in data analysis. Prereq: ESCI 401; one year
of calculus; one year of college physics;/or permission.
Special fee. Lab. Writing intensive.
ESCI 741 - Geochemistry
Credits:
4.00
Thermodynamics applied to geological processes; geochemical
differentiation of the earth; the principles and processes
that control the distribution and migration of elements in
geological environments; stable and radiogenic isotopes
in geologic processes. Prereq: ESCI 512 or permission.
ESCI 745 - Isotope Geochemistry
Credits:
4.00
Discussion of element abundance and isotope formation;
radioactive decay as applied to geologic systems, detailed
investigation of K-Ar, Rb-Sr, U-Pb, and Sm-Nd systems, and
geologic-oceanographic applications of stable isotopes. Lab
involves mass spectrometric and chemical techniques of
isotopic analysis. Course includes the completion of a
laboratory project. Prereq: ESCI 741;/or permission.
Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 746 - Analytical Geochemistry
Credits:
4.00
Theory, instrumentation, and applications of analytical
methods in geochemistry. Prereq: one year of chemistry or
geochemistry;/or permission. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI 747 - Aqueous Geochemistry
Credits:
4.00
Processes that determine the geochemical characteristics
of water bodies. Emphasis on the geochemical continuum of
terrestrial water and its geochemical evolution. Topics
include the influence of cyclic salts, the nature of
weathering reactions, the CO2-CaCo3 system, the formation
and dissolution of salts and authigenic mineral formulation.
Prereq: one year of chemistry or geochemistry;/or
permission. Lab.
ESCI 750 - Biological Oceanography
Credits:
4.00
Biological processes of the oceans, including primary and
secondary production, trophodynamics, plankton diversity,
zooplankton ecology, ecosystems and global ocean dynamics.
Field trips on R/V Gulf Challenger and to the Jackson
Estuarine Laboratory. Prereq: one year of biology or
permission of the instructor. (Also offered as ZOOL 750.)
Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)
ESCI 752 - Chemical Oceanography
Credits:
3.00
Water structure, chemical composition and equilibrium
models, gas exchange, biological effects on chemistry, trace
metals, and analytical methods. Prereq: permission.
Optional 1 credit lab (see ESCI 752L).
ESCI 752L - Chemical Oceanography Lab
Credits:
1.00
Optional lab for ESCI 752. Includes short cruise aboard
R/V Gulf Challenger. Special fee.
Co-requisites:
ESCI 752
ESCI 754 - Sedimentary Rocks and Stratigraphy
Credits:
4.00
Examine observational and interpretative techniques to
evaluate sedimentary rocks in their stratigraphic context.
The relationship between time, space, and deposition is
assessed using a problem-solving approach based on real
geological examples. Topics such as facies analysis,
stratigraphic correlation, and basin analysis provide the
framework to interpret the stratigraphic record of earth
history. Prereq: ESCI 614 or permission. Special fee. Lab
and field trip.
ESCI 755 - Analytical Techniques for Sediments
Credits:
2.00 to 4.00
A laboratory course focusing on applied analytical
techniques geoscientists use in sediment sampling;
coarse-and fine-grained textural analysis, and some aspects
of mineralogical composition. Special fee. Lab.
ESCI #756 - Estuarine Sedimentation
Credits:
4.00
Examines all aspects of estuarine sedimentation, from
erosion and transportation to deposition. Emphasis on
fine-grained estuarine sediments and factors affecting
particulate matter transport. Animal/sediment and
plant/sediment interactions considered in detail. Includes
an in-depth field research project in student's area of
interest conducted by graduate students with undergraduate
participation at the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory. Subject
matter is relevant to students in related disciplines in
which animal/plant/sediment relationships are important.
Lab.
ESCI 758 - Introductory Physical Oceanography
Credits:
3.00
Descriptive treatment of atmosphere-ocean interaction;
general wind-driven and thermo-haline ocean circulation;
waves and tides; continental shelf and nearshore processes;
instrumentation and methods used in ocean research.
Simplified conceptual models demonstrate the important
principles. Prereq: college physics; ESCI 501;/or
permission.
ESCI 759 - Geological Oceanography
Credits:
4.00
Major geological features and processes of the ocean floor;
geological and geophysical methods; plate tectonics. Prereq:
two semesters each of calculus, physics, and geology;/or
permission. Lab. Writing intensive.
ESCI #760 - Introductory Dynamic Oceanography
Credits:
3.00
Basic physical laws governing ocean and atmospheric
circulation under the influence of Earth rotation, density
stratification, and friction. Topics include surface waves,
wind-driven and thermohaline ocean circulation,
ocean/atmosphere interaction, instabilities, fronts, and
climate. Simplified mathematical models demonstrate the
important principles. Prereq: college physics and
differential equations;/or permission.
ESCI 762 - Glacial Geology
Credits:
4.00
Survey of glacial processes and glacier dynamics with
emphasis on understanding the physics of glaciers, glacial
geologic processes, and interpretation of glacial
deposits and landscapes. The course includes discussion
of the role of glaciers and ice sheets in the Earth's
climate system, analysis of glaciological and
glacial-geologic data, short field exercises, and one
mandatory field trip that explores the glacial
landscapes of New England. Prereq: ESCI 561 or permission.
Special fee. Lab.
ESCI #763 - Glacier Research
Credits:
4.00
Glaciers as proxy indicators of climate change with specific
emphasis on the interpretation of physical and chemical time
series collected from glaciers. Field and laboratory work
used as a tool in the course. Prereq: surficial processes;
glacial geology; one year of college calculus; one semester
each of college physics and chemistry;/or permission.
ESCI 764 - Introductory Paleoclimate Analysis
Credits:
4.00
An overview of paleoclimate indicators for the last one
million years in the context of global teleconnections
(atmosphere-lithosphere-hydrosphere-cryosphere) and
mathematical tools developed to interpret and link the
different records of climate change. Prereq: one year
calculus, one year chemistry, basic statistics;/or
permission.
ESCI 765 - Natural Climate Variability
Credits:
4.00
Review of paleoclimate over the last several billion years
of Earth history with particular emphasis on paleoclimate
indicators and major events. Prereq; permission. Lab.
(Offered in alternate years.)
ESCI 770 - Introduction to Ocean Mapping
Credits:
4.00
An introduction to the principles and practice of
hydrography and ocean mapping. Methods for the measurement
and definition of the configuration of the bottoms and
adjacent land areas of oceans, lakes, rivers, estuaries,
harbors and other water areas, and the tides or water levels
and currents that occur in those bodies of water. Prereq:
PHYS 407-408. (Also listed as OE 770.) Lab.
ESCI 771 - Geodesy and Positioning for Ocean Mapping
Credits:
3.00
The science and technology of acquiring, managing, and
displaying geographically-referenced information; the size
and shape of the earth, datums and projections;
determination of precise positioning of points on the earth
and the sea, including classical terrestrial-based methods
and satellite-based methods; shoreline mapping, nautical
charting and electronic charts. Prereq: MATH 426, PHYS 408.
(Also listed as OE 771.)
ESCI 795 - Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Geologic, hydrologic, and oceanographic problems and
independent studies by means of conferences, assigned
readings, and field or laboratory work fitted by ESCI
faculty to individual student needs; or, new or specialized
courses. Topics include geochemistry; geomorphology;
geophysics; glaciology; groundwater; structural and regional
geology; crystallography; mineralogy; petrology;
thermodynamics; ore deposits; earth resource policy;
paleontology; sedimentation; stratigraphy; water resources
management; chemical, physical, and geological
oceanography; earth systems. Also, senior synthesis and
earth science teaching methods.
ESCI 796 - Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
See description for ESCI 795.
ESCI 797 - Colloquium
Credits:
Presentation of recent research in the earth sciences by
guest speakers and department faculty. May be taken four
times. Cr/F.
ESCI 799 - Senior Thesis
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Students work under the direction of a faculty sponsor
to plan and carry out independent research resulting in an
oral presentation and a written thesis. Two-semester
sequence; IA (continuous course) grade given at end of
first semester. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 credits.
Cr/F.