Course Instructor: Dr.Rahul
Chopra
This primary aim of this course is to introduce students to
aspects of the origin and evolution of planet earth. We will examine physical
and chemical origins of planetary systems of our solar system, with a special
emphasis on processes that were important in the evolution of our planet. The
role of meteorite studies and comparisons with neighboring planets will be used
to place the origin and evolution of the earth in the larger context of the
solar system. We will then discuss various aspects of the evolution of planet
Earth. Topics that will be discussed include the internal differentiation of
the Earth into the core, mantle, and crust; their compositions; the concept of plate
tectonics; an introduction to minerals and rocks; how they are produced and
what can they tell us; the age of rocks and geological features etc. A number
of topics will be discussed in the larger context of why and how is it that the
earth is the most habitable planet in our solar system. In the latter part of
the course, the role humans play in the habitability of the planet will be
discussed and will include an introduction to the science behind climate change
and global warming.
This course will include a laboratory component with the aim
of introducing students to how science works and why we believe what we do.
Aspects of the lab component will include how to identify minerals and igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and what can they tell us. A day long
geological field trip to the Deccan basalts around FLAME will be used as an
introduction to both the geology of the region and understanding how it is that
a million km3 of magma was erupted in a relatively short duration in
our backyard around 65 million years ago. We will also discuss the extinction
of dinosaurs in this context.
Week
|
Topic
|
1
|
Introduction to the solar system:
Properties of the sun and the planets.
|
2
|
Formation of the solar system and
the planets. Meteorites as recorders of early solar system history. How and
why the planets differ from one another.
|
3
|
Time Scales: How time is
measured. Timescales of planetary formation and evolution.
|
4
|
Structure and Evolution of the
Earth: Processes responsible for the development of distinct chemical
reservoirs (Core, Mantle, Crust, Oceans, and Atmosphere)
|
5
|
Building Blocks of the Earth:
Minerals and Rocks. Identification of Minerals and Igneous, Sedimentary, and
Metamorphic Rocks.
|
6
|
Plate Tectonics: A model
representation which explains the behavior of the Earth. Earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, the compositions of the ocean basins and the continents.
|
7
|
Plate Tectonics continued
|
8
|
The role of the atmosphere: Properties of the atmosphere with special
emphasis on components allowing for life:
H2O, O2, O3 (ozone), CO2.
Role of the atmosphere in maintaining comfortable surface temperatures.
|
9
|
Climate and Climate Change: Ice
Ages; Geological records of past climate; Catastrophic Scenarios: “Snowball
Earth” and Runaway greenhouse effects.
|
10
|
Review and Recap
|
Grading
Home-Work: 20% Labs: 20% Mid-Term
Exam: 25% Final Exam: 35%
Text:
Course material will consist of selections of texts and
papers which will be provided electronically. Lecture powerpoints will also be
provided electronically. A useful text book for this class is How to Build A
Habitable Planet – Wallace Broker
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