GEO 3210 - Quaternary Environmental Change

(3) Sp (alternate years)

Overview of the geologic and paleoclimatic history of the Earth during the last 2 million years (the “Ice Age”), focusing on the interactions between geological, climatological, and biological processes and systems. Topics include the methods used to date Quaternary deposits, nature of Quaternary glaciations, use of proxy data to model past climates, causes of Quaternary climatic oscillations, history of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, and the increasing role of humans as agents of environmental change. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: GEO 1220 or GEOG 1000 or ANTH 2030.