Earth Sciences

• CAS ES 483: Geodynamics II: Fluids and Fluid Transport
  Large- and small-scale phenomena in oceanic, atmospheric, and landsurface fluids. Properties of gases and liquids; surface body forces; statics; flow analysis; continuity and momentum conservation. Darcy's Law; potential, open channel, and geostrophic flow; dimensional analysis; diffusion, turbulence.
• CAS ES 491: Directed Study in Earth Sciences
  Individual instruction and directed research of a selected topic.
• CAS ES 492: Directed Study in Earth Sciences
  Individual instruction and directed research of a selected topic.
• CAS ES 500: Field Geology
  Scientific observation, interpretation, and solution of geological problems in the field through application of field mapping techniques. Includes recognition of rock types and structures as well as metamorphic effects of tectonic events, map making methods, and report preparation.
• CAS ES 503: Structural Petrology
  Structural analysis of deformed rocks in thin section. Deformation mechanisms at the crystal lattice and grain scale. Interpretation of tectonic deformation processes and pressure-temperature conditions based on preserved microstructure and metamorphic mineral growth. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 505: Plate Tectonics and Kinematics
  Structure and geometry of lithospheric plates and plate boundaries; mechanisms of divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries; orthogonal and oblique subduction; triple junctions; mantle plumes, nature and origin of large igneous provinces and sedimentary basin, Phanerozoic orogenic belts.
• CAS ES 507: Dynamical Oceanography
  Introduction to the physical ocean system. Physical properties of seawater; essential ocean dynamics; mixing and stirring in the ocean; simple waves; observed current systems and water masses; and coupled atmosphere-ocean variability. Also offered as CAS GE 507.
• CAS ES 514: Dynamic Landsurface Hydrology
  Land surface hydrology with emphasis on the unsaturated zone. Development and applications of physics governing transport of water, vapor, and heat in soils and the near surface atmosphere. Effects of vegetation, topography, and water table on runoff, evapotranspiration, and recharge. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 533: Quantitative Geomorphology
  Quantitative analyses of surface processes that lead to landform evolution and landscape change. Emphasizes study of analytical techniques in understanding specific depositional and erosional processes; models of global landscape change; tectonic and climatic geomorphology.
• CAS ES 534: Ice-Age Systems
  Cenozoic climate change and development of Earth's ice sheets; distribution and stratigraphy of glacial deposits; ice-ocean atmosphere interactions and feedback mechanisms; geomorphic and glaciologic models for ice-sheet reconstructions; numerical models of ice-sheet growth and decay. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 541: Coastal Processes
  Shorelines as functions of tidal and wave energy; onshore, offshore, and alongshore sediment transport from theoretical and empirical viewpoints; barrier island, backbarrier and tidal inlet morphology and processes; wave dynamics; tides. Two hours lecture, three hours lab/fieldwork.
• CAS ES 543: Estuaries and Nearshore Systems
  Physical and ecological processes interacting in estuarine and nearshore environments, including salt marshes, beaches, lagoons, deltas, and in wave- and tide-dominated regimes. Lectures complemented by extensive field work oriented toward individual and group research projects.
• CAS ES 545: Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea
  In-depth treatment of physical, biogeochemical, geological, and biological oceanography of the Caribbean, oriented toward development of research project to be fulfilled during ES 546. BU and SEA faculty jointly teach. Taught in Woods Hole as part of BUMP Marine Semester.
• CAS ES 546: Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea: Applications and Research
  Participation on oceanographic research expedition to pursue research developed as part of ES 545. Nearshore and open ocean research in geological, chemical, physical, and biological oceanography. BU and SEA faculty jointly teach. Taught at sea on research vessel operated by Sea Education Association.
• CAS ES 561: Mechanics of Earthquakes
  Explores current understanding of many aspects of earthquake phenomena, including where and when earthquakes occur, how an earthquake begins, and the likelihood of reliable earthquake prediction. Multidisciplinary techniques used to study earthquakes are introduced, including geologic, geodetic, and seismological methods.
• CAS ES 571: Geochemical Modeling
  Quantitative techniques used to interpret chemical variations in earth materials. Principles of chemical equilibrium, mass transport, and kinetics applied to aqueous, igneous, and metamorphic systems. Focus on geological processes of melting, crystallization, mixing, reaction, weathering, and diagenesis. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 573: Analytical Methods in Geochemistry
  Introduces students to quantitative analytical techniques used in geology, including x-ray, optical emission, mass spectrometric, and neutron activation methods. Examples are drawn from igneous and sedimentary systems. Emphasizes criteria for selecting and using techniques appropriate to specific geologic problems. Three hours lecture, two hours lab. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 576: Aquatic Geochemistry
  Fundamentals of water chemistry as applied to the evolution of surface, soil, and ground waters. Emphasis is on chemical equilibrium and kinetics, pH as a master variable, carbonate chemistry, mineral solubility, aqueous complexes, ion exchange, redox, and weathering reactions.
• CAS ES 581: Solid Earth Geophysics
  Explores the methods and results of geophysical exploration into the solid earth. Topics include crustal and whole-earth seismology, the Earth's gravitational and magnetic fields, earthquake source phenomena, and structure of the planet.
• CAS ES 587: Seminar in Earth Sciences
  Discussion of current topics in earth sciences with assigned readings and lecture seminars.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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