Geosc 479

Fall 2006

Lecture and Lab Schedule:
Lecture - Monday, Wednesday 9:05-11:00am in 124 Walker
Lab - Monday 3:35-5:30pm in 341 Deike

Syllabus:
Click here for a link to the Fall 2006 Syllabus

ANGEL
Click here for a link to the ANGEL, Penn State's course management system

Text:
Coe, A. L., (ed.) The Sedimentary Record of Sea-level Change, 2003, The Open University and Cambridge University Press, 288 p.

Books on reserve in EMS Library:
(1) Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy in Well Logs, Cores, and Outcrops by J.C. Van Wagoner, R.M. Mitchum, K.M. Campion, and V.D. Rahmanian
(2) Ancient Sedimentary Environments by R.C. Selley
(3) Sequence Stratigraphy by D. Emery and K.J. Myers
(4) The Sedimentary Record of Sea-Level Change by Angela L. Coe
(5) Sea Level Changes: An Integrated Approach by Cheryl K. Wilgus, Bruce S. Hastings, Christopher G. St. C. Kendall, Henry W. Posamentier, Charles A. Ross, John C. Van Wagoner

Course Description:
The course strives to instill a theoretical foundation and hands-on techniques to allow the student to interpret earth history from stratigraphy. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding (1) the causes of relative sea-level change, and (2) how stratal architecture affects the quality of the fossil record. We will use Cretaceous strata of the Book Cliffs in Utah, and Miocene strata of the New Jersey margin as type-areas to explore these concepts. In the 1st half of the semester, we will focus on outcrop analysis and theoretical analysis. In the second half of the semester, we will use seismic stratigraphic analysis to examine the "ice-house" world of the Miocene in offshore New Jersey. The course will culminate in a team project interpreting seismic data.

* Field Trip to Cretaceous Strata of Utah
Click here for pictures from the Book Cliffs trip!

* Seismic Stratigraphic Analysis

* Sequence Stratigraphic Modeling

* Satisfies "Disciplinary Fundamental" Curriculum Requirement

* Application to global change research and petroleum exploration

This site was last updated on October 12, 2006
web problems may be directed to hnelson@geosc.psu.edu