GEL 17 - Earthquakes & Other Earth Hazards  - Spring 2008

Instructor: Dr. Luigi Jovane

jovane@geology.ucdavis.edu

Office: Physics/Geology Rm 380

Office Hours: Tue 10:30-12:00

photo: San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain. This perspective view of a portion of the fault
was generated using data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), which flew on
NASA's Space Shuttle last February, and an enhanced, true- color Landsat satellite image. credit: NASA/JPL/NIMA

Geology 17:  This course focuses on five major hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami, landslides & floods.  We’ll look at a variety of disasters and catastrophes from around the world, but we’ll pay special attention to the threat of these hazards to Californians. 

Textbook: Natural Disasters by Patrick L. Abbott (A)                                                          ISBN:  0-07-305034-2
          or     Natural Hazards and Disasters by Hyndman & Hyndman (H)                            ISBN:  0-495-31667-9

   Reading this text selectively to enhance your understanding of topics discussed in lecture will almost certainly improve your final grade. The textbook is well written and is very useful for the figures that it contains. You will find it a very important supplement to the lecture in the class.

Outlines of notes will NOT be posted on the class website. Figures and class topics will follow mainly the Textbook. Any material that is not included in the Textbook will be provided during the course.

   Write your own notes during class, annotate them with details from the lectures, and study them for exams. Try to study the notes soon after the class period to help lock in the information and sharpen your understanding. The notes need to be supplemented by selectively reading the relevant pages in the book. 

Class Structure:

   Come to class - You'll spend much less time during the hour you spend listening to me and watching images than you will trying to teach the material to yourself from notes and the book. The students who come to class invariably get the best grades. This class should not be difficult - With just a moderate amount of time, energy, and concentration, you can earn an A or B and propel yourself on to fame, fortune, and a six-figure income.

   I strongly encourage you to speak up in class - any question is legitimate and I'll take the time to answer it.

   I’ll show a variety of video clips of varying length – you are responsible for the information and key points illustrated on the videos.

   I would also strongly recommend putting in at least 1 hour of study time for every hour in the classroom.  Reading your notes and the book during this hour will push you toward the front of the curve.

Exams and Grading:

check the Study Guide for the FINAL!!
if you have comments or correction to suggest me, you are welcome!
15 extra credit: Extra credit opportunity = Oral presentation (non peer-review paper- 2 credits / peer-review paper - 5 credits)

GEL 17: Earthquakes & Other Earth Hazards - Spring 2008

We'll try to stay as close to this schedule as possible,
  but be ready for evolving dates and topics (except for exams, of course).

 Week of:  Lecture Topic:  Chapters:
March 31
  Introduction; Overview of the course
  
 April 2
  Plate Tectonics & Hazards  3 A (2 H)
 April 7-9
  Faults & Earthquakes; Measuring Earthquakes  4 A (3 H)
 April 14-16
  Earthquake Hazards of California
  6 A (4 H)
 April 21-23
  Earthquake Prediction and Preparedness  7 A (4 H)
 April 28
  Tsunami  5 A (5 H)
 April 30
  Midterm  (50 minutes, bring Scantron 2000)
 May 5
  movie
 
 May 7-12
  Volcanoes & Tectonics  8 A (6 H)
 May 14-19  Volcanic Hazards; Predicting Volcanic Eruptions  9 A (7 H)
 May 21-28
  Mass Wasting: Landslides and Mudflows
  10 A (8 H)
 June 2-4

  Floods: Human Interaction with Rivers
  14 A (12 H)
 June 11
 Final Exam - Wednesday 8:00-10:00  
 (comprehensive) - bring Scantron 2000


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