Earth Science 110

Introduction to Earth Science

Dr. Colbath's Section

General Course Information

• Earth Science 110 is a 4 unit, general education course designed for non-science majors which satisfies the IGETC requirement for a physical science laboratory course.
• This course provides a survey of the earth sciences, and will include some information from geology, oceanography, meteorology and the astronomy of the solar system. Emphasis is on understanding the earth as an integrated system.
• Exciting new discoveries are currently being made in planetary astronomy, and we plan to use Internet resources in the laboratory to tap into this information. The comparison of Earth with the other planets and moons will thus provide the central theme for this section of Earth Science 110.
• Course Requirements.
• Outline of Reading Assignments.
• Find copies of class assignments
  • Preparing for Geography Quiz 1
  • List of countries for Geography Quiz 4
  • List of countries for Geography Quiz 5
  • Preparing for Mid-Term Exams
  • If you are considering a career in teaching, one piece of information you will need for your term project is a copy of the California Science Standards.  Visit the California State Board of Education page, and click on the Science Standards link to download a copy in pdf format.  
  • Click here to begin On-Line Assignment 1
  • Click here to begin On-Line Assignment 2
  • Click here for guidelines on preparing the final report for the term project
• Click here to have a look at finished student projects on the ESCI 110 Student Project Page
• Jennifer Reed located a web site with information for ordering classroom sets of ReHeaters (the green bags full of sodium acetate we use to demonstrate latent heat):  
  http://www.reheater.com/

Web Links

• NASA's Planet Page. In looking at planet earth as a system we will use the other planets in the solar system for comparison. This is a great starting point for finding information about the planets.
• Stephen Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A nice preview of a world-class aquarium and museum.
• Seismosurfing the Internet. This web site maintains extensive links to other sites with current information about earthquakes, seismology and seismic engineering.
• Volcano World.  The name says it all!  A model for a thorough, easy to use web site.
• Live Internet Seismic Server.  Only registers moderate to large earthquakes, but records can be spectacular as you look at near real time earthquake records from around the world.  Seismograph traces are updated every 30 minutes.
• Click here for the latest Surface Weather Conditions in the United States.
• Click here for radar images from Unisys.com that can be animated to show moving weather fronts in the United States
• Click here to visit the Weather Channel's web site

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