GEOL 314 Earth Surface Environments

General

• Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issue
• Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate mastery of the concepts, knowledge and vocabulary of earth surface processes at the level upper division level, the level necessary for post-graduate study.
• Demonstrate quantitative reasoning skills and use arithmetic, algebra and statistics at a level appropriate for graduates of bachelors degree science programs.
• Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories and knowledge in geomorphology and hydrology.
• Describe the basic institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, etc.) that are evolving to deal with environmental and natural resource challenges.
• Develop a qualitative understanding of the three-dimensional complexity of groundwater flow, particularly in urban watersheds.
• Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.
• Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.
• Formulate and test hypotheses by performing experiments in geology, including the collection of data, statistical and graphical analysis of results, and an interpretation of its sources of error and uncertainty.
• Have familiarity with experimental and simple quantitative models for fluid flow through porous geologic materials.
• Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems.
• Recognize the potential for and consequences of geologic hazards associated with rapid landscape disturbances such as floods, landslides, and coastal erosion.
• Understand and competently articulate the conditions under which soil resources can be managed sustainably, in agricultural, urban, and in less-disturbed settings.
• Understand and competently articulate the roles of agriculture, urbanization, and mineral resource extraction in landscape disturbance.
• Understand the nature and structure of soil resources. Identify key components of soils in the field, and the physical, biological, and chemical properties of soil horizons.
• Understand the role of fluvial (river) erosional and depositional processes in shaping landscape.
• Understand the role of glaciation in shaping landscape, with specific reference to Minnesota.
• Understand the unequal distribution of water resources and the cultural and political implications.
• Use topographic maps, surficial geologic maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery to recognize landforms and interpret the processes necessary for their development.