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Instructor: Chris S. Renschler ( rensch@buffalo.edu )
Audience: Undergraduate Students of all disciplines.
Time schedule: MWF 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM (Fillmore 170); (3 credit hours)
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10-11 am & 12-1 pm (Wilkeson 116)
Note: the only valid and continuously updated class syllabus is posted on UBlearns!
Objectives: The lecture introduces the main concepts and theories in Earth System Science and investigates the complexity and interaction of physical, chemical and biological processes in geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and ecosphere. The goal of this class is to gain the fundamental understanding of environmental processes and their local, regional and global impacts. The lecture creates an interdisciplinary learning environment that supports the communication among various disciplines about environmental systems issues and problems.
Required Textbook: Strahler and Strahler, 2005. Physical Geography: Science and Systems of the Human Environment, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (ISBN 0-471-48053-3).
Course Format: The course consists of lecture presentations with computer-projected text, figures and tables mostly derived from the textbook. All slides shown in class are available on UBlearns in PDF format and students are encouraged to take additional notes. Students are encouraged to bring their textbook to class. As the textbook, the lectures have five distinctive parts with interactive review sessions after each part:
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Part 1 - Introducing Physical Geography – Spheres, Scales, Systems, and Cycles,
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Part 2 – Weather and Climate Systems,
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Part 3 – Systems and Cycles of the Solid Earth,
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Part 4 - Systems of Landform Evolution, and
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Part 5 - Systems and Cycles of Soils and the Biosphere.
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Exams: There will be four exams with 50 multiple-choice questions (50 minutes time). There will be one test exam that will allow students to get some practice. There will be no final exam. Make-up exams will be only given where a student contacts me before or at the day of the scheduled test and offers an acceptable excuse. Make-up exams must be taken no more than 7 days after the scheduled exam date, except where prolonged illness prevents this. In case of an illness or accident a medical certificate from either a doctor or health service will be required. The instructor reserves the right to alter the course schedule and format of the exams as is deemed necessary. Â
Grading: Your grade is based on the results of the four exams (25% each). Bonus points can be gained by active participation during the class and especially in the interactive review sessions. The final letter grades are A (90-100%), A- (85-89%), B+ (80-84%), B (75-79 %), B- (70-74%), C+ (65-69%), C (60-64%), C- (56.6-60%), D+ (53.3-56.6%), D (50-53.3%), and F (0-50%).
Class Schedule:
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Week
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Dates
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Mondays
Wednesdays
Fridays
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Part 1 - Introducing Physical Geography – Spheres, Scales, Systems, and Cycles (Ch.1-4)
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1
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Jan 12/14/16
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Introduction (Ch.1)
Spheres, Scales, Systems, and Cycles (Ch.2)
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2
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Jan 19/21/23
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No classes - Martin Luther King Day Observed
The Earth as a Rotating Planet (Ch.3)
The Global Energy System (Ch.4)
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Part 2 – Weather and Climate Systems (Ch. 5-9)
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3
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Jan 26/28/30
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Review Session Part 1
WEDNESDAY: Test Exam Part 1 (Ch.1-4)
Air Temperature & Air Temperature Cycles (Ch.5)
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4
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Feb 2/4/6
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Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation (Ch.6)
Winds & Global Circulation (Ch.7)
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5
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Feb 9/11/13
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Weather Systems (Ch.8)
Global Scope of Climate (Ch.9) Â
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Part 3 – Systems and Cycles of the Solid Earth (Ch.12-15)
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6
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Feb 16/18/20
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Review Session Part 2
WEDNESDAY: 1st class exam: Part 2 (Ch.5-9) + Part 1 (Ch.1 & 2)*
Earth Materials and the Cycle of Rock Change (Ch.12)
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7
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Feb 23/25/27
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The Lithosphere and the Tectonic System (Ch.13)
Volcanic and Tectonic Landforms (Ch.14)
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8
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Mar 2/4/6
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Weathering and Mass Wasting (Ch.15)
Video: The Next Pompeii?
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Mar 9/11/13
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No classes - Spring Break
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Part 4 – Systems of Landform Evolution (Ch.16-20)
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9
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Mar 16/18/20
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Review Session Part 3
WEDNESDAY: 2nd class exam: Part 3 (Ch.12-15) + Part 1 (Ch.1 & 2)*
The Cycling of Water on the Continents (Ch.16)
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10
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Mar 23/25/27
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Fluvial Processes and Landforms (Ch.17)
Landforms and Rock Structure (Ch.18) Â
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11
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Mar 30/Apr 1/3
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Waves and Wind (Ch.19)
Glacier Systems and the Ice Age (Ch.20) Â
Review Session Part 4
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Part 5 - Systems and Cycles of Soils and the Biosphere (Ch.21-24)
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12
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Apr 6/8/10
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MONDAY: 3rd class exam: Part 4 (Ch.16-20) + Part 1 (Ch.1 & 2)*
Soil Systems (Ch.21)
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13
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Apr 13/15/17
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Systems and Cycles of the Biosphere (Ch.22)
Biogeographical Processes (Ch.23)
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14
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Apr 20/22/24
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Global Ecosystems (Ch.24)
Earth System Science Summary (Concluding Remarks)
Review Session Part 5
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15
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Apr 27
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MONDAY: 4th class exam: Part 5 (Ch.21-24) + Part 1 (Ch.1 & 2)*
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*Note that, each exam includes the basics learned in Part 1 Ch. 1 and 2 ("Introducing Physical Geography" & "Spheres, Scales, Systems, and Cycles").
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