GEO391, Unique no.: 48255

T, Th 11-12:30

Instructors: Jay L. Banner, Isabel P. Montaez (Visiting Professor, Univ. of California, Riverside)

Scope of course: To examine and critically evaluate evidence preserved in the rock record for variations in atmospheric, oceanic and hydrologic processes through Earth history. This will be a seminar style course with several guest lecturers.

Outline of topics

1. Global hydrologic, oceanic and atmospheric cycles

2. Global distribution of the elements and modern bio-geo-chemical cycles

3. Chemical and isotopic background: tracers of atmosphere-ocean-land interactions and geochronology

4. Overview of types of geologic records available

5. Long-term (1-100 m.y.) processes reflected in records of sea level, ocean chemistry, and greenhouse-icehouse cycles: Stratigraphic, lithologic and geochemical evidence in marine sediments.

6. Glacial-interglacial (0.01 - 1 m.y.) processes reflected in records of sea level, sea surface and atmospheric temperatures, and ocean and groundwater chemistry: Stratigraphic, lithologic, geochemical, and paleontologic evidence in marine and terrestrial sediments, ice cores, corals, speleothems.

7. Holocene (annual to millenial scale) processes: Integration of marine and terrestrial proxies at high temporal resolution.