870 Earth Science

870:010. Astronomy -- 3-4 hrs.
Introduction to the Universe, solar system, stars, and galaxies, including apparent motions of bodies in the sky; development of astronomy and its impact on humankind. Prerequisite: student must have satisfied university entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:011. Astronomy Laboratory -- 1 hr.
Fundamentals of astronomical observation, the use of introductory astronomical instruments, and application of charts and almanacs to finding one's way about the night sky. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Corequisite: 870:010. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:021. Elements of Weather -- 3 hrs.
Meteorological elements and their applications to environment; interpretation of weather maps and weather data; forecasting and briefing on daily weather. Discussion, 3 periods. No credit for those who have completed 870:121. Prerequisite: student must have satisfied university entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:022. Elements of Weather Laboratory -- 1 hr.
Fundamentals of meteorological observation, use of basic meteorological instruments, and applications of maps and charts to understanding forecasts. Intended for science teaching majors and minors. Lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite or corequisite: 870:021. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:031. Physical Geology -- 4 hrs.
Introduction to the physical environment, emphasizing materials of the Earth and processes that lead to changes within and on the Earth. Lab emphasis: rocks and minerals, geologic processes, and landscape development. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: student must have satisfied university entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:035. Earth History -- 4 hrs.
Methods and principles used in deciphering the 4.6 billion-year history of our planet; discussion of history and evolution of life on Earth and examination of major physical and plate-tectonic events through geologic time. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: 870:031 or equivalent. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:037. Field Studies in ____________ -- 1-4 hrs.
Field studies in various areas of Earth Science: geology, oceanography, paleontology, meteorology, and astronomy. To be preceded by seminars on proposed study area. Student collection of data in the field and reports on their findings. May be repeated for credit in different study area. Only 4 hours may be applied to the Earth Science minor. Prerequisites: an 870:0xx course appropriate to the specific field studies and approved by department head; consent of instructor. (Offered Spring)

870:109(g). Fundamentals of Astronomy -- 3 hrs.
Basic principles of astronomy intended primarily for teachers. No credit for students with credit in 870:010 or its equivalent. Prerequisites: one year of high school algebra or equivalent; junior standing; consent of department head. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:111(g). Fundamentals of Weather -- 3 hrs.
Basic principles of meteorology intended primarily for inservice teachers. Prerequisites: junior standing; consent of department head. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:113(g). Topics in Earth Science -- 1-3 hrs.
Offered both on- and off- campus in flexible format. May include plate tectonics, geomagnetism, naked-eye astronomy, telescope usage, weather forecasting, or other topics of current interest. Topics indicated in Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit on different topic. Application to major requires consent of department head. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:115(g). Volcanology -- 3 hrs.
Origin, classification, eruptive mechanisms and hazards of volcanoes, and related phenomena. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered odd Springs)

870:121(g). Meteorology -- 4 hrs.
Topics of weather observation and prediction; physical basis of cloud formation; radiational heating and cooling; the Earth's energy budget; wind circulation; precipitation processes; storm systems; and maps and charts. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 860:044; 870:021; 880:054; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

870:122(g). Weather Analysis and Forecasting -- 3 hrs.
Focus on middle latitude weather systems, principally those of the cold season. Topics include discussion of historical conceptions and models of extratropical cyclones, present understanding of these weather systems, and techniques of analysis and prediction. Important component is hands-on forecasting. Discussion/lab, 4 periods. Prerequisites: 870:121; junior standing. (Offered odd Springs)

870:123(g). Air Quality -- 4 hrs.
Topics from atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, physical meteorology, and micrometeorology; atmospheric transport processes in time and space; local and regional concentrations of pollutants; implications of air pollution control strategies; numerical modeling techniques with application to air quality issues; field studies and remote sensing of atmospheric transport. Discussion, 4 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 870:121; junior standing. (Offered even Springs)

870:125(g). Principles of Paleontology -- 4 hrs.
Basic principles of paleontology with special emphasis on invertebrate animals of the geologic past, their fossilization, morphology, description, classification, and evolutionary trends. Laboratory studies of major groups of invertebrate fossils. Investigations of faunal suites and interpretation of their geologic age and paleoecology. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 4 periods. Prerequisites: 870:035; junior standing. (Offered Spring)

870:128(g). Fundamentals of Geology -- 4 hrs.
Basic principles of physical geology intended primarily for inservice teachers. Prerequisites: junior standing; consent of department head. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:129(g). Structural Geology -- 4 hrs.
Origins and mechanics of rock deformation. Description and analysis of structural features. Field trip. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 4 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031; 870:035; junior standing. (Offered even Springs)

870:130. Crystallography -- 2 hrs.
Morphologic, structural, and x-ray crystallography. Laboratory exercises emphasize identification of unknown compounds, determination of space lattices, space groups, and cell parameters by x-ray diffraction. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods (nine-week course). Prerequisites: 860:044 or equivalent; 800:046 or knowledge of trigonometry. (Offered Fall)

870:131. Systematic Mineralogy -- 2 hrs.
Crystal chemistry, determinative methods, and systematic description of naturally-occurring compounds with emphasis on rock-forming minerals. Laboratory exercises cover advanced determinative techniques. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods (nine-week course). Prerequisites: 870:031; 870:130. (Offered Fall)

870:135. Optical Mineralogy-Petrography -- 4 hrs.
Optical properties of minerals and use of the petrographic microscope. Introduction to petrography of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on identification of minerals in thin sections. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods. Prerequisite: 870:131. (Offered Spring)

870:136(g). Stratigraphy and Sedimentation -- 4 hrs.
Investigation of layered rocks, sedimentary processes, sedimentation, environments of deposition, correlation procedures, and classification and description of common sedimentary rocks. Field trips. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 4 periods. Prerequisite: junior standing. Prerequisite or corequisite: 870:035. (Offered Fall)

870:137(g). Field Studies in ____________ -- 1-4 hrs.
Field studies in various areas of Earth Science: geology, oceanography, paleontology, meteorology, and astronomy. To be preceded by seminars on the proposed study area. Student collection of data in the field and reports on their findings. May be repeated for credit in different study area. Only 4 hours may be applied to the Earth Science minor. Prerequisites: an 870:1xx course appropriate to the specific field studies and approved by department head; junior standing; consent of instructor. (Offered Spring)

870:141(g). Geomorphology -- 3 hrs.
Classification, description, origin, and development of landforms and their relationship to underlying structure and lithology; emphasis on geomorphic processes. Includes fluvial, glacial, periglacial, eolian, karstic, weathering, and mass-movement processes and features. Discussion, 2 periods; labs and field trips, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

870:142(g). Igneous Petrology -- 4 hrs.
Description, classification, and genesis of igneous rocks. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 870:135; junior standing. (Offered odd Falls)

870:143(g). Geochemistry -- 4 hrs.
Distribution of elements in the Earth and chemical laws governing those distributions. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods. Prerequisites: 860:048 or 860:070; junior standing. (Offered even Falls)

870:151. Planets -- 2 hrs.
Examination of the Sun's family of nine planets, attendant satellites, and interplanetary debris; processes at work in the Solar System; search for planets elsewhere in the Galaxy. Discussion, 1 period; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:010 or equivalent. (Offered Spring)

870:152. Stars -- 2 hrs.
Study of structure and the evolution of stars; the Sun, protostars, red giants, white dwarfs, variable stars, supernovae, pulsars, and black holes. Discussion, 1 period; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: 870:010 or equivalent. (Offered odd Springs)

870:153. Galaxies and Cosmology -- 2 hrs
Study of the Milky Way Galaxy and other galaxies. Examination of active galaxies and radio galaxies, quasars, and galactic black holes. Discussion of the structure, origin, and fate of the Universe. Discussion, 1 period; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: 870:010 or equivalent. (Offered even Springs)

870:154(g). Observational Astronomy -- 2 hrs.
Use of astronomical instruments, (telescopes, cameras, and spectroscopes), along with observing aids, (charts, catalogs, and ephemerides), for collection, analysis, and interpretation of astronomical data. Prerequisites: 870:010 (4 semester hours) or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

870:160(g). Geology of Iowa -- 2 hrs.
Iowa's geologic history Precambrian to present. Rock record, changes in environments of deposition, fossil record, and occurrence and origin of important economic mineral resources. Pleistocene (Ice Age) history. Discussion, 2 periods. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Variable)

870:165(g). Oceanography -- 3 hrs.
Basic principles of geological, biological, chemical, and physical oceanography; emphasis on marine geology. Physiographic features of ocean basins, coastal features and processes, oceanic sediments, biological and geological resources, and ocean management. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered even Springs)

870:171(g). Environmental Geology -- 3 hrs.
Emphasis on geology's relation to social, economic, and political realms through team preparation of simulated environmental-impact statements or planning documents. Analysis of issues or problems of local concern where possible. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered odd Falls)

870:173(g). Environmental Hydrology -- 3 hrs.
Introduction to environmental aspects of watershed hydrology. Surface water hydrologic processes, pollution of surface water resources, surface water - ground water interactions, unsaturated zone hydrologic processes, movement of chemicals in soils, site characterization, and soil remediation techniques. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 870:031; junior standing. (Offered even Springs)

870:175(g). Hydrogeology -- 3 hrs.
Principles and applications of hydrogeology including study of runoff, stream flow, soil moisture, and ground water flow. Examination and analysis of ground water flow to wells, regional ground water flow, geology of ground water occurrence, water chemistry of ground water, water quality and ground water contamination, ground water development and management, field methods, and ground water models. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 870:031; junior standing. (Offered odd Springs)

870:180. Undergraduate Research in Earth Science -- 1-3 hrs.
Research activities under direct supervision of Earth Science faculty member. Credit to be determined at registration. May be repeated for maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisites: consent of instructor and department head. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:181. Investigations in Earth Science -- 4 hrs.
Introduction to significant concepts and theories of earth science and a model of effective teaching strategies related to elementary school level. Topics include geologic materials and processes acting on them and fundamentals of earth history, weather, and astronomy. Discussion and/or lab, 5 periods plus arranged. Prerequisite: 820:031. (Offered Spring)

870:189(g). Readings in Earth Science -- 1-3 hrs.
Maximum of 3 hours may be applied to earth science or geology majors or minors. Prerequisites: junior standing; consent of instructor and department head. (Variable)

870:191. Undergraduate Practicum -- 1-2 hrs.
Practical experience in teaching; participation in laboratory and instructional assistance under direct supervision of staff member. May be repeated for maximum of 4 hours. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing; consent of instructor and department head. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:195. Internship — 1-6 hrs.
Supervised work experience in approved work situation. Offered on credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: consent of department head. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:292. Research Methods in Earth Science -- 3 hrs.
Methods and evaluation of research in the earth sciences. Individual exploration of possible research or thesis project in the earth sciences. Discussion, 3 periods. (Variable)

870:297. Practicum.
(Variable)

870:299. Research.
(Variable)