COURSES
Thomas J. Algeo
Professor of Geology
University of Cincinnati
Introduction to Environmental Sciences (EVST 101)—Fall Quarter, 3 cr., for non-majors
This course is an overview of the history of the Earth,
including its origin, the development of continents, the atmosphere, and oceans,
and the evolution of life.
Historical Geology (GEOL 103)—Summer Quarter, Term III, 3 cr., for non-majors
This course is an overview of the history of the Earth,
including its origin, the development of continents, the atmosphere, and oceans,
and the evolution of life.
Geology of the Human Environment: National Parks (GEOL 104)—Fall Quarter, 3 cr., for non-majors
This course is an introduction to specific geologic topics using a limited number of national parks as examples. The first half is devoted to groundwater and cave formation and focuses on Mammoth Cave and Carlsbad Caverns as examples of two different types of cave development. The second half is devoted to volcanoes & volcanic hazards and uses Hawaii (Kilauea), Mount St. Helens, and Yellowstone as examples of three different types of volcanic systems. Syllabus
Field Geology of Cincinnati (GEOL 107)—Summer Quarter, Term I, 3 cr., for non-majors
This course is an introduction to the geology of the Cincinnati area, especially its Ordovician-age marine deposits (the Cincinnatian Series) and Pleistocene-age glacial deposits. General topics covered in this course include sediments and sedimentary rocks, stratigraphy, and depositional processes and environments. The course includes six fieldtrips to local sites of geologic interest. Syllabus
Global Climate Change (Honors Geology, GEOL 399)—Spring Quarter, 3 cr., for A&S honors students
This
course will examine operation of the global climate system, records of past and
present climate change, and the prospects for future change as a function of
natural and anthropogenic influences on climate.
Global climate change is likely to be one of the most important and
controversial issues of the 21st century, and this course will provide students
with the information to make better-informed decisions regarding the environment
and their impact on it. Specific topics include:
Sedimentary Petrology (GEOL 502)—Winter Quarter, 3 cr., for upperclass majors & first-year grad students
The course is an introduction to sedimentary rocks, their constituents, their environments of deposition, and the diagenetic processes that alter them after deposition. Students will learn to recognize sediment constituents, name sedimentary rock types, and interpret depositional and diagenetic features in petrographic thin-sections. Syllabus
Sedimentation & Stratigraphy (GEOL 531)—Fall Quarter, 3 cr., for upperclass majors & first-year grad students
This course is an
introduction to sediments & sedimentary facies, the processes that control
sediment production, transport, and deposition, and the stratigraphic patterns
that result from sediment accumulation. Syllabus
Advanced Geology Fieldtrip (GEOL 576)—variable, 3 cr., for upperclass majors & first-year grad students
Advanced geology fieldtrips are run to areas of special geologic interest and are intended to give students first-hand experience in the observation and interpretation of geologic field relationships. In recent years, fieldtrips have been run to the Florida Keys, to study modern carbonate depositional environments (can be taken in conjunction with GEOL 604), and to the Southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau, to study general depositional processes and the regional geology of this area. Syllabus
Advanced Carbonate Sedimentology (GEOL 604)—Spring Quarter, 3 cr., for senior majors and grad students
This course is a survey of the sediment types, depositional processes, and biota of carbonate depositional environments, ranging from freshwater to shallow-marine and deep-marine facies and from the Recent to the remote geologic past. Carbonates are of especial importance in the Cincinnati area owing to the preponderance of limestones in the Cincinnatian Series, the designated "type" unit for Upper Ordovician strata in North America. Syllabus
Stable Isotope Geochemistry (GEOL 611)—Spring Quarter, 3 cr., for senior majors and grad students
This course provides an overview of stable isotope geochemistry, including both theory and applications to problems in the natural sciences. Specific topics include isotopic variation in the natural environment (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere), controls on the origin of isotopic variation, secular patterns of isotopic variation in major reservoirs, and applications to paleoclimatic, sedimentological, and biological studies. Isotopic systems discussed include H and O in water, C and O in carbonates, C-S-N in organic matter, and S and Sr in other reservoirs. Syllabus
Last updated 15 March 2011