SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Terry Wright

Geol. 110-NATURAL DISASTERS – Fall 2002

Dates	Lecture topics	Reading
8/29	Introduction to the course
9/3	The Rock Cycle: Plate tectonics	Ch. 2
9/5	Plate Tectonics: Earthquakes	Ch 2
9/10	Earthquakes and seismology	Ch. 3
9/12	Earthquakes: faults	Ch. 3
9/17	Earthquake Hazards Quiz 1	Ch. 4
9/19	Earthquake hazards illustrated by major earthquakes	Ch 5
9/24	Earthquake Prediction and Prevention	Ch 4
9/26	Minerals and Magma and Igneous Rocks	Ch 6
10/1	Volcano behavior and Volcanic features: Quiet volcanos	Ch 6
10/3	Explosive volcanos, volcanic hazards	Ch 7
10/8	Prediction of Volcanic eruptions	Ch 7
10/10	Volcanos and Plate Tectonics	Ch 7
10/15	Exam I
10/17	Landslides: description and classification	Ch 8
10/22	Landslides: hazards and prevention (Quiz 2-websurfing)	Ch 8
10/24	Floods: causes, description and classification	Ch 12
10/29	Climate change	Ch 9
10/31	Climate change, cont.	Ch 9
11/5	Severe weather	Ch 10
11/7	Classification and effects	Ch 10
11/12	Hurricanes and coastal erosion	Ch 11
11/14	Exam II
11/19	Fire: types and descriptions	Ch 13
11/21	Fire: suppression	Ch 13
11/26	Extinctions	Ch 14, 15
11/28	Thanksgiving
12/3	Disease and population	Ch 16
12/5	Dealing with disasters: Psychology, government response
12/10	Exam III
12/12	Summary and Review
	Final Exam (Comprehensive)-Thursday 12/19 8-9:50

Texts: Natural Disasters 3^rd ed: Abbott, Pat

Computer requirement: Activate your Computer account on campus system at the IT center in the Schulz Center. See “email” on my web page for more information. If you have an off campus ISP (aol, earthlink, etc), follow directions to register for our listserv on my web page,

Your first assignment is to email me and the class a description 100 words long of who you are, why you took the class and your personal experience of a natural disaster. The address for this assignment is Geol110-1@sonoma.edu which is the address of our listserv which sends a message to the whole class.

We will use email and the Web for instant access to information. Take time now to access my homepage on your computer or go to the library reference area, use one of the computers there to find my home page at http://www.sonoma.edu/geology/wright and investigate some of our class links. Help is available at the Library reference desk. Use of email and research on the web is worth about 10% of your grade, and can make a difference of one whole grade point of your final grade.

Grades: 3 hour Exams and 1 final: 80% (Each exam is 20%)

3 quizzes: 15% ( 1 Unannounced)

Participation: 5% ( disaster story email and several attendance checks)

You may take this class on a Cr/NC basis. Cr is assigned for C- grade or above, NC is D+ or below. Exams are graded on a curve.

Drop Policy: I follow the dates in the class schedule. Incompletes will be only given in extreme circumstances.

Office Hours: in Darwin Hall 335B T Th 10:30-12 (after class): MW 11-12, or by appointment. You can also leave a message on voice mail 664- 2304 or in my box in Geology Office Darwin Hall 126 or e-mail: my address is wrightw@sonoma.edu (remember the w)

Attendance: It makes sense to attend class, and come on time. It also makes sense to be quiet during lecture out of courtesy to me and others who want to learn. People who insist on talking will be disturbing the class, and will be asked to leave the room.

Make-up exams and quizzes will not be given. You can miss one exam and that will not be entered into your grade. I will drop your lowest exam grade. Please talk with me if there are any problems or prolonged absences from class.

General Education Credit: This class earns 3 units toward the GE requirement in Natural Science, under the Special Emphasis category (B 3).