GEOLOGY 305 Water and the Environment

Fall 2004

K. Thorbjarnarson

Office GCMS-228F                                                              Time: TTh 9:30 - 10:45 AM

Phone 594-1392                                                                   Place: P-146

Email thorbjar@geology.sdsu.edu

 

Week of:                     Tuesday                                                         Thursday

8/31 - 9/2

Introduction and Water Cycle

 

Precipitation Patterns

Streams

9/7 - 9/9

Streams

Floods

Floods

Rivers of Gold

9/14 - 9/16

NOVA: Flood**

 

Water Diversions: US West Water History and Issues

9/21 - 9/23

Water Diversions

Cadillac Desert: Mulholland’s Dream I**

9/28 - 9/30

Cadillac Desert: Mulholland’s Dream II**

EXAM 1

10/5 - 10/7

Impacts of Dams and Channels

 

Three Gorge’s Dam**

10/12 - 10/14

Cadillac Desert: An American Nile**

 

Groundwater

10/18 - 10/21

Groundwater/Impacts of Groundwater Overuse

 

Impacts of Groundwater Overuse
10/26 - 10/28

Water Pollution and Laws

 

EXAM 2

11/2 - 11/4

NOVA: Toxic Trials**

 

Groundwater Pollution

11/9 - 11/11

A Civil Action I**

 

A Civil Action II**

11/16 - 11/18

Groundwater Pollution

NOVA: Are You Swimming In  A Sewer?**

11/23

Black Water Time Bomb**

Wastewater + San Diego Water

Thanksgiving

11/30 - 12/2

Watershed Runoff and the Cell from Hell

EXAM 3

12/7 - 12/9

Wetlands

Wetlands

12/16

--
FINAL EXAM, 10:30 - 12:30 

** = Movie

 

Texts:                  Fresh Water by E.C. Pielou

                   California Rivers and Streams by J.F. Mount

 

Class Website: www.geology.sdsu.edu/classes/geol351

 

 

 

Grading:  

70% Best 3 of 4 exams [including cumulative final exam]

10% Movie quizzes

20% 3 Internet Assignments

 

Movie Quizzes: A quiz will be handed out for completion during the first 5 minutes of a movie [Don't be late!].  The quiz must be handed in at the end of that class to count toward your grade.  Typically, a score of 50% on all movie quizzes will be graded as 100% for the movie quiz portion of your grade.  Exams will include material covered by the movie quizzes.  Answers to the movie quizzes will be posted on the class website before exams. Movie quizzes will only be returned if a score of less than 50% has been achieved.

 

Internet Assignments:  Described on link on class website.  Each assignment has a different due date. Late penalty of 2% per day – will not be accepted past Absolute Deadline set on web site.

 

Missed Exam Policy:         No makeup exams are given.  If due to illness or other reason you miss an exam, that exam will count as your lowest grade exam and be dropped.

Extra Credit: As you may drop your lowest exam grade, there will be no extra credit assignments for this class.

 

Office Hours: M 3-5 PM, TTh 11-12