Program Details : University Catalogs : University of Minnesota

ESCI 4203 - Environmental Geophysics

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4203/ESci 8203
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Seismic exploration (reflection and refraction); potential techniques (gravity and magnetics) and electrical techniques of geophysical exploration. prereq: Phys 1301

ESCI 4204 - Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Present geomagnetic field at the Earth's surface, secular variation, geomagnetic field reversals. Physical and chemical basis of paleomagnetism: origin of natural remanent magnetization, mineralogy of magnetic minerals, magnetic polarity stratigraphy, apparent polar wander, and environmental magnetism. prereq: 2201, Phys 1302, Math 1272 or instr consent

ESCI 4212 - Geodynamics

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4212/ESci 8212
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

This course focuses on the dynamics of the solid Earth, particularly that of the lithosphere and the asthenosphere, probing further into the geodynamic problems that are introduced in ESCI 2201 through applications of continuum mechanics. Key continuum mechanics concepts to be examined include constitutive relations for different rheological classes (elastic, plastic, viscous, visco-elastic, visco-elasto-plastic), conservation laws (conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; continuity, force balance, and heat transfer), and simplifications and assumptions involved in their applications. Geodynamic problems to be discussed include plate cooling, lithospheric deformation, mantle convection, shear (viscous and frictional) heating, subduction, faulting, and their effects on the Earth?s thermochemical structures, geoid and topography, and the distributions of earthquakes and volcanism. Analytical solutions and numerical models of simple geodynamic problems are introduced, and recent applications of complex geodynamic models to explain geological, geophysical, and geochemical observations are discussed based on selected scientific journal articles. Graduate students are expected to present and lead paper discussions, and their performance will be graded and counted towards their participation. Instructor?s consent will be required if the following prerequisites are not met: ESCI 2201, MATH 1371 and 1372 (or equivalent), and PHYS 1301 and 1302 (or equivalent).

ESCI 4401 - Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4401/ESci 8401
Typically offered:	Periodic Spring

General principles of solution chemistry applied to geology. Solution-mineral equilibria. Redox processes in natural waters. Geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids. Environmental geochemistry.

ESCI 4402 - Biogeochemical Cycles in the Ocean

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4402/ESci 8402
Typically offered:	Spring Even Year

Marine biogeochemistry and chemical oceanography. Processes controlling chemical composition of oceans past/present. Cycles of major/minor constituents, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and oxygen and their isotopes. Role of these cycles in climate system. prereq: [CHEM 1021, CHEM 1022] or instr consent

ESCI 4501 - Structural Geology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Fundamental concepts related to deformation of Earth's crust. Processes associated with deformation, faulting, folding, fabric development. Lab/recitation include solving problems, conducting physical/numerical experiments. Field trips.

ESCI 4502 - Tectonic Styles

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Origin and nature of major types of tectonic disturbances affecting the crust and lithosphere, including analysis of the form and development of individual structural components and relationship to plate tectonics. Changes over geologic time in the nature of orogenic processes. prereq: 4501 or instr consent

ESCI 4602 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Interpretation of origin of sedimentary rocks through application of basic physical/chemical principles. Modern depositional environments, petrographic microscopy, basin dynamics, stratigraphy. prereq: [2301] or instr consent

ESCI 4701 - Geomorphology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Origin, development, and continuing evolution of landforms in various environments. Environmental implications. Weathering, slope and shore processes, fluvial erosion and deposition, arid region processes, glacial processes. This course includes lecture and laboratory components, including field trips. Prereqs: MATH 1271 (Calculus I) or equivalent; PHYS 1301 (Physics I: Classical Mechanics) or equivalent. Instructor consent is required to take this course without the prerequisite courses or their equivalents, and it is recommended to take these classes at least concurrently (as co-requisites) with geomorphology. No help will be given on material covered in prerequisite courses.

ESCI 4702 - General Hydrogeology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Theory of groundwater geology, hydrologic cycle, watershed hydrology, Darcy's law, governing equations of groundwater motion, flow net analysis, analog models, groundwater resource evaluation/development. Applied analysis of steady and transient equations of groundwater motion and chemical transport. Chemistry of natural waters. prereq: [concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in CHEM 1062, concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in CHEM 1066, MATH 1271, PHYS 1201] or instr consent

ESCI 4703 - Glacial Geology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered:	Fall Odd Year

Formation and characteristics of modern glaciers; erosional and depositional features of Pleistocene glaciers; history of quaternary environmental changes in glaciated and nonglaciated areas. Field trips and labs. prereq: 1001 or instr consent

ESCI 4801 - Geomicrobiology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Geosphere/biosphere interactions over temporal/spatial scales. Global biogeochemical cycling, microbe-metal interactions, microbial paleobiology, environmental geomicrobiology, life detection, habitability of planets.

ESCI 4911 - Advanced Field Geology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Summer

Geologic mapping; study of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks; structures and surficial features; problem solving. Paper required. prereq: 3911, instr consent

ESCI 5102 - Climate Change and Human History

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 3002/ESci 5102
Typically offered:	Spring Even Year

Causes of long-/short-term climate change. Frequency/magnitude of past climate changes, their geologic records. Relationship of past climate changes to development of agrarian societies and to shifts in power among kingdoms/city-states. Emphasizes last 10,000 years. prereq: 1001 or equiv or instr consent

ESCI 5201 - Time-Series Analysis of Geological Phenomena

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Time-series analysis of linear and nonlinear geological and geophysical phenomena. Examples drawn from ice age cycles, earthquakes, climatic fluctuations, volcanic eruptions, atmospheric phenomena, thermal convection and other time-dependent natural phenomena. Modern concepts of nonlinear dynamics and complexity theory applied to geological phenomena. prereq: Math 2263 or instr consent

ESCI 5203 - Mineral and Rock Physics

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Spring

Physical properties of minerals and rocks as related to the composition and dynamics of the Earth's crust, mantle, and core. prereq: 2201, Phys 1302

ESCI 5204 - Geostatistics and Inverse Theory

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Fall Odd Year

Statistical treatment of geological and geophysical data. Statistical estimation. Stochastic processes/fields. Non-linear/non-assumptive error analysis. Cluster analysis. Eigenvalue-eigenvector methods. Regional variables. Correlograms and kriging. Theoretical framework of linear geostatistics and geophysical inverse theory. prereq: Stat 3011 or instr consent

ESCI 5302 - Isotope Geology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Theory and uses of radioactive, radiogenic, and stable isotopes in geology. Radioactive dating, geothermometry, and tracer techniques in geologic processes. prereq: 3303W or instr consent

ESCI 5353 - Electron Microprobe Theory and Practice

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 5353/MatS 5353
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Characterizing solid materials with electron beam instrumentation, including reduction of X-ray data to chemical compositions. prereq: [One yr chem, one yr physics] or instr consent

ESCI 5402 - Science and Politics of Global Warming

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 3402/ESci 5402
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

Detection/attribution of global warming using radiation, climate system, and carbon cycle. Effects on society/biodiversity. National/global efforts. Controversy over responses/consequences.

ESCI 5403 - Computer Applications in Earth & Environmental Sciences

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	OPT No Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

This class is meant to provide students with skills in scientific computer programming, with a special focus on the Earth & environmental sciences and other disciplines where spatial data are important. The course assumes no previous knowledge of computer programming. Although the class will use MATLAB, topics covered in the course include concepts common to all programming languages including functions, logic, branching, loops, data types, binary code, data formatting for input/output, among others. Additionally, students will develop problem-solving skills in learning how to design algorithms to achieve a task and in learning how to troubleshoot and debug their code. Students taking the class at the 5xxx level will be required to complete a programming project related to their own research. This course will be different from other introductory-level programming courses in that it will have a spatial emphasis and focus on examples and datasets related to the Earth and environmental sciences. Students will learn how to access a variety of Earth and environmental science data repositories and work with data in standard formats (i.e. NetCDF). Working with geographically referenced data in different projections will be explored using different toolboxes available for that purpose. Plotting of data will also be extensively covered including the production of publication-quality figures and animations.

ESCI 5503 - Advanced Petrology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Fall Odd Year

Quantitative approach to modern igneous/metamorphic petrology. Emphasizes thermodynamics of minerals/melts and with applications to phase diagrams, thermobarometry, melting relationships, and energetics of petrologic mass transfer. prereq: 2302, CHEM 1061, CHEM 1065, [MATH 1372 or MATH 1272 or MATH 1572]

ESCI 5705 - Limnogeology and Paleoenvironment

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Within-lake, hydrogeologic, and landscape (geological/biological) processes that lead to formation of various proxy records of paleoenvironment. Systems approach to physical, geochemical, biogeochemical, and biotic proxies. Basic principles, case studies. Emphasizes how proxy records relate to paleoclimate. prereq: instr consent

ESCI 5805 - Standards and Practices for Professional Geoscienists

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

This course is meant to provide students with a clear understanding of the standards and practices regularly used by Geoscience professionals in industry and agency. The course builds on the foundational knowledge offered through the core curriculum of the Earth Sciences undergraduate major, and fills a critical gap in showing how this knowledge is translated into common standards and practices, regulations, funding mechanisms, and even professional expectations within a variety of geoscience disciplines. In short, this course aims to smooth a student?s transition from University to an entry-level position from which they can build a successful and sustainable career. This course is targeted for both upper level undergraduates and graduate students. Aspects of the course include: -Detailed discussion of regional stratigraphy, bedrock and glacial geology and how they relate to various industrial applications and environmental issues. -Examination of state and federal environmental regulations, as well as the phases of environmental impact statements. -Survey of fundamental investigation techniques (GeoProbe drilling, hollow-stem auger drilling, well installation, analytical testing ? soil, groundwater, air). -Introduction to environmental clean-up grants and their management. -Assessment of topics covered in the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) Fundamentals of Geology (FG) exam. This exam is a required step on the way to becoming a registered geologist. The exam is offered in mid-March, and the expectation is that students participating in the class will take it. -Coordination and completion of the 40 hour HAZWOPER training through UMN. -Invited lectures from select representatives of various subfields and professional organizations (groundwater & contaminant hydrogeology, mining & geophysical exploration, environmental engineering, petroleum) to give students a jumpstart in their professional networking.

ESCI 5971 - Field Hydrogeology

Credits:	2.0 [max 2.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4971W/ESci 5971
Typically offered:	Every Summer

Aquifer, vadoze zone, and surface water hydrology field techniques. Shallow soil boring and sampling. Well installation. Single/multiple well aquifer testing. Ground water sampling for chemical analysis. Weather data collection, hydrogeologic mapping, water balance calculation. prereq: instr consent

ESCI 5980 - Seminar: Current Topics in Earth Sciences

Credits:	1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0]
Grading Basis:	S-N or Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

Topics in earth sciences investigated in a seminar format.

ESCI 8203 - Environmental Geophysics

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4203/ESci 8203
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Seismic exploration (reflection/refraction). Potential techniques (gravity/magnetics), electrical techniques of geophysical exploration. prereq: Phys 1301 or equivalent

ESCI 8204 - Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4204/ESci 8204
Prerequisites:	2201, Phys 1302, [Math 1272 or #]
Typically offered:	Spring Even Year

Present geomagnetic field at Earth's surface, secular variation, geomagnetic field reversals. Physical/chemical basis of paleomagnetism. Origin of natural remanent magnetization, mineralogy of magnetic minerals, magnetic polarity stratigraphy, apparent polar wander, environmental magnetism. prereq: 2201, Phys 1302, [Math 1272 or instr consent]

ESCI 8243 - Principles of Rock Magnetism

Credits:	1.0 -3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Remanent magnetizations, their classification and origins. Fundamentals of fine particle magnetism; magnetic minerals; separation of multicomponent magnetizations; effects of chemical change on magnetization; magnetic proxies of climatic and environmental change; biomagnetism. prereq: 4204 or instr consent

ESCI 8353 - Phase Equilibrium in Mineral Systems

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Principles of homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria and their application to problems in petrology. Emphasis on derivations from first principles and formulation of algebraic and graphical methods essential to multicomponent systems. prereq: 4301, Chem 3501, Math 2243

ESCI 8354 - Igneous Petrology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Igneous rocks and processes, emphasizing geochemistry of melts and minerals. Content varies with instructor and student interest. prereq: 4301 or instr consent

ESCI 8355 - Metamorphic Petrology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Metamorphic processes; relation of theory and observation to current problems. Relation of fundamental concepts and techniques to progressive development of mineral assemblages. Term paper required. prereq: 8353

ESCI 8401 - Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4401/ESci 8401
Typically offered:	Every Spring

General principles of solution chemistry applied to geology. Solution-mineral equilibria. Redox processes in natural waters. Geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids. Environmental geochemistry.

ESCI 8402 - Biogeochemical Cycles in the Ocean

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4402/ESci 8402
Typically offered:	Spring Even Year

Marine biogeochemistry/chemical oceanography. Processes controlling chemical composition of oceans past/present. Cycles of major/minor constituents, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, oxygen/their isotopes. Role of cycles in climate system. prereq: [Chem 1021, Chem 1022] or instr consent

ESCI 8501 - Structural Geology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4501/ESci 8501
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Fundamental concepts related to deformation of Earth's crust. Processes associated with deformation, faulting, folding, fabric development. Lab/recitation include solving problems, conducting physical/numerical experiments. Term Paper. Field trips. prereq: 2301 or instr consent

ESCI 8502 - Tectonic Styles

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4502/ESci 8502
Prerequisites:	4501 or 8501 or #
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

Origin/nature of major types of tectonic disturbances affecting crust/lithosphere, including analysis of form/development of individual structural components/relationship to plate tectonics. Changes over geologic time in nature of orogenic processes. prereq: 4501 or 8501 or instr consent

ESCI 8511 - Mechanics of Sediment Transport

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	CE 8511/ESci 8511
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Spring Even Year

Particle motion in fluids. Criteria for incipient motion. Formulations for bedload and suspended load. Bedform mechanics, hydraulic resistance relations. Channel stability, aggradation/degradation, alluvial stream morphology.

ESCI 8601 - Introduction to Stream Restoration

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	CEGE 8601/EEB 8601/ESci 8601
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Background material essential for participating in a stream restoration project. How to assimilate geologic, hydrologic, and ecological data at the watershed and reach scales to plan a restoration project and evaluate/critique existing stream restoration projects. prereq: Grad student in CE or ESCI or EEB or WRS or FW or BAE or FR or HORT or ENR or LA or SRSE or instr consent

ESCI 8602 - Stream Restoration Practice

Credits:	2.0 [max 2.0]
Course Equivalencies:	CEGE 8602/EEB 8602/ESci 8602
Grading Basis:	S-N only
Typically offered:	Every Summer

Field experience, group design project. Students provide a stream restoration context for each other?s elective coursework, complete critical assessments of stream restoration projects, and design a stream restoration site. prereq: 8601 or CE 8601

ESCI 8701 - Geomorphology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESci 4701/ESci 8701
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Landscapes and the processes that shape them, encompassing fluvial, hill-slope, glacial, aeolian, and coastal environments. Mechanics of solids and fluids at Earth's surface. Erosion, deposition, and sediment transport. Prereqs: MATH 1271 (Calculus I) or equivalent; PHYS 1301 (Physics I: Classical Mechanics) or equivalent; or instructor consent.

ESCI 8712 - Transport Phenomena and Analytical Geohydrology

Credits:	3.0 -4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Microscopic flow parameters, momentum, mass and energy transport through porous media. Geologic factors in aquifer performance, equations for groundwater flow, and analysis of pump tests. prereq: 5701 or CE 3502 or instr consent

ESCI 8718 - Numerical Methods in Hydrogeology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall

Introduction to finite difference and finite element methods in hydrogeology. Students develop one- and two-dimensional models of diffusion and advection-dispersion equations. prereq: 5701, CSci 1107 or instr consent

ESCI 8970 - Seminar: Current Topics in Earth Sciences

Credits:	1.0 -4.0 [max 32.0]
Typically offered:	Periodic Fall & Spring

Seminar course. Individual topics will be determined and added per semester. prereq: instr consent

University Catalogs

Earth Sciences Minor