Time Schedule:
William S D Wilcock
ESS 410
Seattle Campus
Sedimentological and petrologic processes that determine the geologic record. Prerequisite: either ESS 101 or ESS 210. Offered: jointly listed with OCEAN 410.
Class description
The aim of this class is to provide a basic introduction to the geological processes that form and shape the ocean basins and their margins. Up until Fall 2006, the class was organized into two distinct sections that dealt primarily with mid-ocean ridges and coastal sedimentary processes. The class has now been revamped to cover the material in a more integrative and expansive fashion with an increased emphasis on global-scale processes. The class format minimizes formal class-long lectures and emphasizes in-class student participation though exercises which the students start in class and finish for homework.
We will first learn to interpret global bathymetric maps in terms of plate tectonics and will investigate some of the geophysical processes that record the ocean's history and shape the ocean basins. We will learn how earthquakes are located and how we can deduce the style of faulting from earthquake records. We will then focus on volcanic and tectonic processes at mid-ocean ridges and subduction zones before moving on to understand the role of sedimentary processes along continenal margins and in the deep oceans.
There will be a weekend field trip to Mt. St. Helens that will count for 5% of the grade. Students not able to participate may have the opportunity to get credit by participating in an alternate field trip to the beaches of the Olympic Coastline. There may also be an optional 1-day field trip to Puget Sound on the R/V Barnes
There is no required textbook for this course because no single textbook properly covers all the topics covered in this class. However, students will periodically be assigned background reading that covers the key topics presented.
Student learning goals
Be able to interpret global and regional bathymetric maps in terms of the plate tectonic processes that shape the earth
Understand earthquake locations and focal mechanisms (beach-ball plots) in terms of plate tectonic processes.
Understand how the oceanic crust/lithosphere is formed at mid-ocean ridges and how plate spreading rate influences the characteristics of mid-ocean ridges
Understand how the oceanic lithosphere is consumed at subduction zones
Understand the basic processes that lead to the transportation and deposition of sediments in the ocean basins.
Interpret sedimentary thicknesses and types in terms of sediment supply and changes in sea level
General method of instruction
Alternating lecture and in class exercises/labs. The students write and revise a short article in the format of a Nature "News and Views" article to introduce a paper that describes a key tectonic feature. They work in small groups or individually to give a short presentation on the same topic. There is a field trip
Recommended preparation
Limited to ESS majors. Non-ESS majors should enroll for OC410
Class assignments and grading
The class includes 15-20 exercises for Tu/Th lab. Students not completing these during the lab times will be finish them for homework. Students write and revise a short article in the format of a Nature "News and Views" article to introduce a paper that describes a key tectonic feature. They work in small groups or individually to give a short presentation on the same topic. They participate in a field trip
There are two optional weekend field trips to Mt St. Helens and the Olympic coastline and an optional day trip to Puget Sound aboard the R/V Thompson.
Grades are assigned based on the write-ups (and timeliness of completion) of the lab exercises exercises, the News and Views article, the presentation and mid-term and final exams. 5% credit is given for participation in a field trip.
