| Earth, Oceans, & Space |
EOS 812 - Introduction to Space Plasma Physics
Credits:
4.00
Introduction to the subject of space plasma physics
including solar physics, heliospheric physics,
magnetospheric physics, and ionospheric physics. The course
provides an overview of the basic phenomena and processes
(e.g. particle acceleration and transport, shock formation,
magnetic structures and reconnection, wave propagation,
wave-particle interactions, instabilities), theoretical
techniques (e.g. single-particle orbits, kinetic and fluid
descriptions), and experimental techniques. (Also offered
as PHYS 812.) (Alternate years only.)
EOS 815 - Global Atmospheric Chemistry
Credits:
3.00
Introduction to the principles of atmospheric chemistry
and their relationship to biogeochemical cycles, climate,
and global change. Focus is on understanding the basic
physical and chemical processes that determine the trace
gas distribution in the global troposphere. An introduction
to atmospheric vertical structure and global circulation
dynamics provides the foundation. Chemical cycles of
important C, S, and N molecules examined, including their
possible perturbation by human activities. Basic
photochemical processes outlined, particularly with respect
to reactive nitrogen, hydrocarbons, and the
production/destruction of ozone. Prereq: one year college
chemistry. (Also offered as ESCI 815.)
EOS #816 - Atmospheric Aerosol and Precipitation Chemistry
Credits:
3.00
This course describes and examines the processes
determining the chemical and physical characteristics of
atmospheric aerosol particles and precipitation. Important
foci include the role of aerosol particles in the
long-range transport and deposition of geochemical
materials, optical properties of these particles and their
impact on the global radiative balance, cloud microphysical
processes relevant to both radiative effects and
precipitation scavenging, and heterogeneous reactions at
the solid-liquid, solid-gas, and liquid-gas interfaces in
the atmosphere. Major segments of the course are devoted to
the removal of gases and particles from the atmosphere by
wet and dry deposition processes. Most attention will be
paid to processes active in the trophosphere, but important
differences between the trophosphere and stratosphere,
radiative effects of stratospheric aerosol particles, and
exchange between the trophosphere and stratosphere are
addressed. Prereq: one year of college chemistry or
permission. (Also offered as ESCI 816.)
EOS 817 - Macro-Scale Hydrology I
Credits:
4.00
Focus on the numerous roles of water in the Earth System.
Topics include the global water cycle, impacts of the
greenhouse effect and other anthropogenic disturbances,
hydrologic modeling, soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer
schemes, water quality, GIS and water-related remote
sensing tools. based on extensive reading of current
scientific literature, the students and instructors jointly
select a research topic in macro-scale hydrology which will
result in the preparation of a manuscript for publication
in a refereed scientific journal. Course designed to be
taken two consecutive semesters (fall and spring). Prereq:
principles of hydrology or permission. (Also offered as
ESCI 817.)
EOS 818 - Macro-Scale Hydrology II
Credits:
4.00
A continuation of EOS 817. Students and instructor jointly
select a research topic in macro-scale hydrology to be
analyzed in-depth during the course of the semester. A
primary goal is the preparation of a manuscript for
publication in a refereed scientific journal. Extensive
library research, reading of recent and relevant scientific
literature, technical analysis, writing. Course designed to
be taken two consecutive semesters (fall and spring).
Prereq: macro-scale hydrology I. (Also offered as ESCI
818.) (Alternate years only.)
EOS 830 - Terrestrial Ecosystems
Credits:
3.00
Processes controlling the energy, water, and nutrient
dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems; concepts of study at
the ecosystem level, controls on primary production,
transpiration, decomposition, hebivory; links to earth
system science, acid deposition, agriculture. Prereq:
forest ecology; introduction to botany or principles of
biology;/ or permission. Lab. (Also offered as NR 830.)
EOS 844 - Biogeochemistry
Credits:
4.00
Examines the influence of biological and physical
processes on elemental cylcing and geochemical
transformations from the molecular to the global scale,
involving microorganisms, higher plants and animals and
whole ecosystems; factors that regulate element cycles
including soils, climate, disturbance and human activities;
interactions among the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere,
and atmosphere; transformations of C, N, S, and trace
elements. Prereq: one semester each of biology and
chemistry. (Also offered as NR 844.)
EOS 850 - Biological Oceanography
Credits:
4.00
Biological processes of the oceans, including primary and
secondary production, trophodynamics, plankton diversity,
zooplankton ecology, ecosystems and global ocean dynamics.
Field trips on R/V Gulf Challenger and to the Jackson
Estuarine Laboratory. Prereq: one year of biology or
permission of instructor. (Also offered as ZOOL 850, ESCI
850.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.) May be
repeated.
EOS 864 - Data Analysis in Earth System Science
Credits:
4.00
An overview of paleoclimate indicators for the last one
million years in the context of global teleconnections
(atmosphere-lithosphere-hydrosphere-cyrosphere) and
mathematical tools developed to interpret and link the
different records of climate change. Prereq: one year
calculus; one year chemistry; basic statistics;/ or
permission. (Also offered as ESCI 864.)
EOS #865 - Paleoclimatology
Credits:
3.00
Review of past changes in Earth's climate system with
emphasis on the nature and causes of climate variability
during the Quaternary period (the last ~1.8 million years
-- a time interval dominated by cycles of global
glaciation). Topics include evidence for climate change,
techniques used to reconstruct paleoclimate records, and
proposed mechanisms of global climate change. Course
incorporates discussion of recent scientific papers from
the primary literature. (Also listed as ESCI 865.)
EOS 867 - Earth System Science
Credits:
4.00
This course provides an introduction to the study of Earth
as an integrated system. It investigates the major
components (e.g. atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere,
hydrosphere, and lithosphere), dynamics (e.g., energy
balance, water cycle, biogeochemical cycles), and changes
within the earth system. Particular emphasis placed on the
interactions and feedbacks within the system. The links
between components will be presented by examining present
day processes and selected events in Earth's history. The
lab portion examines these concepts through the development
and use of computer models of Earth system processes.
Prereq: Calculus. Permission. Lab. (Also offered as NR 867.)
EOS 895 - Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Study on an individual or group basis of topics not
covered by the other listed courses. Topics may include
any area relevant to interest in Earth, ocean, atmospheric,
and space studies. (May be repeated.) Lab.
EOS 896 - Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
See description for EOS 895.
EOS 901 - Seminar
Credits:
1.00
Introduction to the fundamental components of the Earth
system, such as the biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere,
and its environment in space. Basic concepts are presented
in a lecture format by selected EOS faculty according to
their research specialization. To familiarize the student
with the literature in earth, oceans, and space science and
engineering, students are expected to contribute to a
discussion of current topics of interest in the literature.
Cr/F.
EOS 940 - Physics of Fluids
Credits:
3.00
Basic principles of fluid dynamics including a review of
thermodynamics, hydrostatic equilibrium and convective
stability, continuity/momentum/energy equations, viscosity,
vorticity, and magnetohydrodynamics. Selected applications
of these principles to topics including the dynamics of
Earth's atmosphere, discontinuities and shocks, surface
water waves, the solar wind, turbulence, acoustic-gravity
waves, magnetic structuring of the Sun's atmosphere, and/or
the solar magnetic dynamo. (Also offered as PHYS 940.)
(Alternate years only.)
EOS 954 - Heliospheric Physics
Credits:
3.00
The solar wind and its effects on cosmic rays. The basic
equations of the solar wind: mass, momentum, angular
momentum, and energy balance. Transport processes. Waves,
shocks, and instabilities in the solar wind. The basic
equations of energetic particle transport. Solar modulation
of solar and glacatic cosmic rays. Interaction of energetic
particles with shock waves. Salient data are reviewed.
(Normally offered every other year.) Also offered as PHYS
954.
EOS 987 - Magnetospheric Physics
Credits:
3.00
Introduces plasma physics of the interaction of solar and
stellar winds with planets having magnetic fields, most
predominately, the Earth. Both MHD and kinetic descriptions
of internal and boundary processes of magnetospheres as
well as treatment of the interaction with collisional
ionospheres. Flow of mass, momentum, and energy through
such systems. Prereq: PHYS 951;/ or permission. (Also
offered as PHYS 987.) (Normally offered every other year.)
EOS 988 - High Energy Astrophysics
Credits:
3.00
One-semester course on the physical principles
underpinning the field of high energy astrophysics.
Subjects covered include production, detection, and
transport processes of neutral and charged high energy
particles and photons. Emphasizes the applications of these
processes to the detection and measurement problem and
theory of telescope design. Uses astrophysical examples to
illustrate the subject matter. First part serves as a basis
for discussing the astrophsyics of the heliosphere,
including solar flares, galactic and solar cosmic rays, and
the influence of the Earth's magnetic field on cosmic rays.
Prereq: PHYS 941; 942; 944. (Also offered as PHYS 988.)
(Normally not offered every year.)
EOS 995 - Special Topics
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
EOS 996 - Special Topics
Credits:
3.00 to 4.00
See description for EOS 995.