GEO 107 - Geologic Catastrophes in the Pacific Northwest

5 Credits

Volcanoes, earthquakes, and landslides! Examine the geologic hazards that impact residents of the Pacific Northwest. We will look at earthquake hazards, prediction, and preparation; tsunamis; volcanic hazards and volcanic eruptions in the Cascade Range (especially from Mount Rainier), and landslide hazards in the Puget Sound area. Emphasis will be on analyzing the risk from these hazards, their impact on human populations, and how you can be better prepared and resilient in the face of potential catastrophes.

Course Note Previously GEOL 107.
FeesSC

Quarters Typically Offered
Fall Day
Winter Day
Spring Day

Designed to Serve General students as an elective to satisfy distribution requirements.
Active Date 20210403T10:08:53

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 28
Contact Hours: Lecture 55
Total Contact Hours 55
Degree Distributions:
AA

Science

Course Outline

Plate Tectonics and the basics of rocks and the rock cycle.
Hazard and Risk.
Geologic materials.
Earthquakes - hazards (including tsunamis), forecasts, and measurement
Earthquakes - hazard, mitigation, risk in the Pacific Northwest.
Volcanoes - Magma, eruption styles, products, landforms.
Volcanoes - hazards, mitigation, risk in the Pacific Northwest.
Volcanoes - hazards, mitigation, risk globally.
Mass Wasting - Causes, types, mechanisms.
Mass Wasting - hazards, mitigation, risk in the Pacific Northwest.
Mass Wasting - hazards, mitigation, risk globally.
Optional topics: Flooding, Coastal Erosion, Mass Extinctions, Bolide Impacts, and other geologic hazards.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will articulate the relationship between the plate tectonics setting of the Pacific Northwest and geologic hazards by identifying and summarizing the geologic hazards that could impact their homes.

Students will explain risk, distinguish it from hazards and describe the factors that impact their personal and community risk

Students will analyze their personal risk through quantitative and qualitative methods.

Students will be able to identify and discuss mitigation techniques used to reduce personal and community risks.

Students will be able to explain the mechanics of earthquakes including how earthquakes are generated by forces in the crust, the factors that affect the magnitude and intensity of quakes, and the primary and secondary hazards that result from earthquake activity.

Students will be able to explain the mechanics of volcanoes, including their formation in the Pacific Northwest, what leads to volcanic eruptions, what products come out of volcanoes, and the primary hazards associated with volcanic activity.

Students will be able to explain the mechanics of landslides, including the forces that are acting on slopes, factors contributing to slope instability, how the glacial geology of the Puget Sound lowlands contributes to slope instability, and techniques to mitigate the risk of landslides.

Students will effectively communicate personal risk in written, verbal, or graphical form, based on evaluation of thorough research using and citing credible sources.