ARSC/GEOL 2110
Physical Science of the Earth System
Assignments
Fall 2001
Week One:
Week Two:
- Lab report on GLOBE poster due Thursday September 6th.
Week Three:
Week Four:
Week Five:
Week Six:
- Lab report on the Color of Stars, due October
11th.
- Be sure to pick up your own packet of star spectra for the final stars
project.
- Study Exploration 2C in "What is in a Star?"
due October 9th. Use the movies on the web site or CD (not the URL
in the module) and work your way through the questions #1-8. Bring your answers
(and your questions) to class for discussion on Tuesday.
- Kit check-out: Please contact Ami at 303-735-0451, ami@cires.colorado.edu,
to make sure she will be at the 1333 Grandview location when you want to pick
up a kit. General hours are 8 am-noon, 1-5 pm weekdays, but she has errands
to run on campus so is not always at her desk. You will need to sign out the
kit and sign it back in. Ami will check it for completeness when you bring
it back. Use the packing list inside to check the contents. Bring your own
orange for the stream flow test!
- Send us permission and the last four digits of your SSN if you want to
have your grades posted on the course web page.
Week 7:
- Lab report on Elements in Stars due October 18th.
- Read Ch. 6 in Blue Planet on Rocks and Minerals for October 16th.
- Bring your star spectra and answers to lab report questions on your own
stars to discuss in groups on Thursday.
Week 9:
- Lab report on Rocks and Minerals due November
1st. Note reading assignment.
- Field project progress report due November
6th. Be sure you have made some progress to report!
- Exam 2 coming up on November 13th. Start thinking ahead and coming
to office hours to discuss any material you'd like to review.
- Astronomy observing session October 29th, 8 pm. Meet in the classroom,
wear warm clothes and walking shoes, bring a flashlight and a friend.
Week 10:
UPDATE: Astronomy night-time session has
been POSTPONED to November 8th, due
to an injury to our guest astronomer. Dress warmly, bring a flashlight, meet
at the classroom at 6:30 pm to carpool up to Chautauqua or Walker Ranch.
Week 11:
- Field project progress report due November
6th.
- Lab report on Mineral Crystals due
November 8th.
- A geology field trip is scheduled for November 8th. Wear hiking
shoes and dress for the day's weather, bring a water bottle.
- Send us a message with the last 4 digits of your SSN if you would like
your grades posted to the web site.
- Exam 2 is approaching on November 13th. Start preparing now and
take advantage of office hours to clear up any concepts you'd like to understand
better. The format will be like the previous exam-- open-note, open-book.
Review your lab reports and QOTDs, class notes and readings from Ch. 3, 6,
7, 8. Topics include properties of light; blackbody radiation; atomic absorption
and emission; electron shell model of atoms and ions; spectra of stars; minerals
and rocks; the rock cycle; crystal growth and relation to intrusive/extrusive
igneous rocks; crystal structures and their relation to mineral properties;
geologic dating.
- Auroral sightings were reported to have been visible as far south as Texas.
Go to http://spaceweather.com for information
on the storm and some great pictures. High-altitude red light is emission
following energetic proton collisions with N2, and and the lower-altitude
green light is emission following energetic electron collisions with O2. (protons
and electrons are emitted from the Sun).
- Stratigraphy puzzle is due November 13th as a take-home QOTD. See
"Inferring past events from the rock record" in red lab manual. Correction:
G is a fault, not granite (K is also a fault, or crack). Resources: diagram
p. 164 of Blue Planet, text on p. 163 explaining it, specific rock types in
Ch. 7 (igneous) and 8 (sedimentary and metamorphic).
- For your reference in studying, suggested answers
to the Mineral Crystals lab report are posted. Please don't look at them
until you have turned in your report!
Week 12:
- Please bring your Identikey and password for the CU computer lab to class
on Thursday this week (Nov. 15) and Tuesday next week (Nov. 20).
We will be working in the computer lab.
- Lab report on exponential decay and radioactivity
due November 15th.
- Lab report on Geologic Time is due November 15th. Don't wait until
the last minute, you can use office hours this week if you have questions.
- Solar System Collaboratory modules for climate labs Week 12 and 13. Follow
on-screen instructions to select monitor and browser! http://solarsystem.colorado.edu/cu-astr/
- Infrared spectra of greenhouse molecules, for climate lab Weeks 12 and 13:
http://chemistry.beloit.edu/Warming/pages/infrared.html
Week 13:
- Reading for upcoming material and beyond: Topics include climate, convection,
atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation and ocean/atmosphere roles in climate.
Climate: Ch. 12 pp. 271-280; pp. 286-288. Ch. 14 all. Focus attention on what
types of evidence do we have for climate change over time and on connections
to ideas we have previously studied. Human influences: Ch. 20, pp.476-485
- Workshops on study strategies and test-taking skills: http://www.Colorado.EDU/sasc/
- Lab report on Climate Modeling, due Thursday
Nov. 29.
Week:14:
- Reading for convection and global circulation: Ch. 4 pp. 66-71, finish Ch.
12, Ch. 13 pp. 294-307. Oceans, Ch. 11 pp. 241-255.
Week 15:
- Internet resources for ocean circulation lab using satellite data:
http://squall.sfsu.edu/courses/geol103/labs/currents/currents.home.html
- Lab report on Convection is due Thursday
12/6.
- Tuesday (12/4) we will do the computer lab on ocean circulation using satellite
data (last lab handout in your red book). Please bring your Identikey and
password.
- Thursday (12/6) we will wrap up our recent unit on climate and circulation
and reexamine the GLOBE poster. Please bring your Blue Planet text to class
as a resource. You will receive an assignment to prepare you for the exam
review next week.
Week 16:
- Tuesday (12/11) we will do a review for the final exam. Your exam review
worksheet will be due this day.
- Thursday (12/13) we will have the field project poster session. Final lab
report on global circulation and climate is due this day. This is also the
final deadline for any late lab reports.
- Saturday (12/15) we have the final exam. Format will be very similar to
the previous exams and will emphasize more recent material but will also include
comprehensive questions over the previous material. Start planning ahead for
the final and come to office hours or make an appointment to get your questions
answered.