Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Courses
EAS
122 courses with the subject EAS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
EAS 1101Climate and Energy: a 21st Century Earth Science Perspective3
Most people alive today will face unprecedented challenges and opportunities at the intersection of climate change and global energy demand. These two issues are inexorably linked to each other, and to virtually all global health and development grand challenges. Fundamentally, this course asks how we humans, as a species, found our way in to the current bottleneck of climate and energy challenges, and how we, as a society, might find solutions that guarantee future generations can enjoy a stable climate, a secure and nutritious food supply, and access to clean energy. Students learn the fundamental background that they will need to be an informed citizen on these timely and extremely important issues.
Provides an introduction to physical geology and earth systems science, especially through the lens of current media. Explores the scientific basis for informed decision-making regarding many timely environmental issues, including climate change; water resources; geologic hazards such as floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes; evolution and the history of life; and energy development. Several field trips are taken in the Ithaca area.
Our first human ancestors appeared only six million years ago--4.55 billion years into Earth's history. How did our planet develop the critical ingredients for human life-what are the characteristics that make our Pale Blue Dot suited to host complex life? Should we expect to find life elsewhere on other planets? How has human activity altered the story of the Earth, and what global challenges will Homo sapiens encounter in the coming years to decades? Can we devise and implement solutions to present and future environmental crises? In this course, we will investigate these questions through study of the formation and evolution of our universe, investigate the mechanisms that have led to intelligent life on Earth and quantify the impact of both natural and anthropogenic processes on Earth's changing surface. Students in this course will learn how to analyze and interpret scientific data and apply concepts like mass balance and convection to evaluate Earth as series of complex chemical and physical systems interacting over a breadth of scales.
Hands-on experience in the preparation and curation of fossils in laboratories at the Paleontological Research Institution. Students provide own transportation to the Museum of the Earth via public transit or other means. Activities include preparation and study of vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant specimens; sorting of bulk material such as field collections and mastodon dung; and curation of prepared specimens.
Explores the science of natural hazards, their societal impacts, and means of mitigation. The focus is on earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunami, but hurricanes, severe weather, climate change, landslides, wildfires, and the threat of extinction from a future impact by an extraterrestrial body are also considered.
Simplified treatment of the structure of the atmosphere: heat balance of the Earth; general and secondary circulations; air masses, fronts, and cyclones; and hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and atmospheric condensation. The optional 1-credit laboratory for the course is offered as EAS 1330.
EAS 1340Introductory Weather Analysis and Forecasting1
This course serves as an extension of the EAS 1330 first year major's lab. It provides opportunity for formal weather briefings, explores specific atmospheric storms (synoptic and mesoscale, including the climatology of each storm type), through assigned readings, map analysis, and weather discussions.
EAS 1400Introductory Undergrad Skills for Success1
This is an introductory undergraduate skills course and cohort building course for undergraduates in EAS. The course covers questions of how to navigate being an undergrad at Cornell, as well as how to study, work/life balance, mental health, how to approach professors, how to engage in research. Much of the course is student discussion on the topics. The course is intended for incoming freshman, newly declared sophomores and transfers, but all existing or potential majors can participate.
This class relies more on intuitive reasoning rather than complicated mathematical formulas to convey basic concepts about how the ocean works. For this reason, the class is very accessible to non-science majors. The class covers standard material about how the ocean works, but also includes current environmental threats facing the ocean such as global warming, ocean acidification, overfishing and coastal pollution. Students will gain a depth of knowledge about the ocean and global warming to enable them to speak and write confidently about contemporary public issues regarding the health of the ocean, global warming and a sustainable future. This course satisfies the Physical and Biological Sciences (PBS) requirement for students in most colleges. For students in A&S and CALS, this course counts as in-college credit.
EAS 1560Introductory Oceanography with Laboratory4
This class relies more on intuitive reasoning rather than complicated mathematical formulas to convey basic concepts about how the ocean works. For this reason, the class is very accessible to non-science majors. The class covers standard material about how the ocean works, but also includes current environmental threats facing the ocean such as global warming, ocean acidification, overfishing and coastal pollution. Students will gain a depth of knowledge about the ocean and global warming to enable them to speak and write confidently about contemporary public issues regarding the health of the ocean, global warming and a sustainable future. This course satisfies the Physical and Biological Sciences (PBS) requirement for students in most colleges and the Introductory Life Sciences/Biological Sciences requirement for students in CALS. For students in A&S and CALS, this course counts as in-college credit. This course is suitable for non-life sciences majors.
Fundamentals of radiation, thermodynamics, and mechanics will be introduced and used to understand energy and mass transfers in natural and built environments. Students will describe, identify and use basic principles of physics to discuss and assess renewable energy systems and solve environmental physics problems, using a physics vocabulary and appropriately quantifying results. The course is offered in the spring semester as a flipped class, meeting twice weekly. The course is offered in the fall semester as a web-based, online course and covers the same material.
This class covers events and organisms in the history of the Earth and its life, especially those that commonly appear in popular media such as documentaries, books, and science journalism. The class is intended for students of any background interested in an introductory exploration of how the Earth and life came to look the way they do and the science by which we study the geological past. Learn about movements of the continents and implications for climate and life; coevolution of life and the atmosphere; climate change through geologic time; and major patterns of biological evolution, including dinosaur diversification, mass extinctions, and human evolution. The course includes assignments to visit the Museum of the Earth and geological sites around the Cornell campus.
This course explores the human dimension of climate change, arguably the most significant crisis ever to confront humanity. The focus of this course will be narratives--the stories we tell ourselves as humans about the past, present and future in literature, art, science writing, and philosophy. We will address issues such as deep time; energy transitions; guilt and hope; justice and the future. No prior knowledge of atmospheric science or literary studies required. The course is open to anyone interested in thinking about the wicked problem that is climate change from various perspectives.
EAS 2250 provides a broad math-, physics-, and chemistry-based introduction to the earth sciences, including geology, paleontology, oceanography, and atmospheric science. Topics covered include formation of the Earth, the chemistry and physics of the Earth's interior, plate tectonics, weathering and erosion, soil development, stream and groundwater flow, volcanism and crustal deformation, the evolution of life, ocean and atmospheric structure, circulation and heat transport, ocean waves and tides, generation of storms, seawater chemistry, mineral and energy resources, and climate change.
EAS 2400Observing the Earth: Remote Sensing and GIS3
While the environmental challenges and hazards facing society over the next decades are diverse and complex, the next generation of scientists and engineers can look forward to a steadily increasing family of space-based observations that will help us better understand the ongoing changes. This data can enable researchers to highlight potential problems and gain the attention of decision-makers, and to evaluate the efficacy of attempts at mitigation so that we can redirect our efforts into the most useful avenues. Examples of engineering solutions that require evaluation of their outcomes include management and maintenance of coastal infrastructure, flood control or dam-building, and efforts to change land cover/land use. In this course, we will study the key questions facing our planet today, and explore the use of relevant data from current and future satellite missions. We will introduce students to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other methods for viewing and manipulating data. We will build from analysis of individual images, including multispectral imagery, and extend to time-series analysis of both optical and microwave data. Students will design and present a capstone project involving satellite data analysis and interpretation.
EAS 2500Meteorological Observations and Instruments4
Covers methods and principles of atmospheric measurements and observations including in situ surface, free-air, and remote systems. Students will gain practical experience in analysis of atmospheric data, and use of state-of-the-art instrumentation.
Familiarizes students from a range of disciplines with the basics and modern issues of climatology, such as what dictates the global and local climate, how to observe and measure it, the greenhouse effect and human-made climate change, natural climate variability and past climates. Also covers the carbon cycle, isotopes, climate models, and what our future climate might look like. Readings focus on deepening mechanistic understanding and recent scientific findings related to climate change.
EAS 2900Introduction to Programming for Meteorology and Climate Science3
Introduction to Python programming and visualization specifically tailored to applications in meteorology and climate science. Topics include: basic Python programming, data manipulation, and instruction in the use of scientific analysis and visualization packages such as numpy, pandas, xarray, cartopy, and metpy.
Life activities alter the physical and chemical environment of Earth's surface and are altered by that environment, while physical and chemical processes transform rock, transfer material, and create new rocks that record Earth's environmental history. The interactions over very long times constitute a coevolution of Earth and Life. Course uses modern systems and ancient systems to illustrate principles, methods of reconstructing deep history, and the context of natural change inherent to life and earth.
Control and function of the Earth's global biogeochemical cycles. Begins with a review of the basic inorganic and organic chemistry of biologically significant elements, and then considers the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nutrients, and metals that take place in soil, sediments, rivers, and the oceans. Topics include weathering, acid-base chemistry, biological redox processes, nutrient cycling and limitation, trace gas fluxes, bio-active metals, the use of isotopic tracers, controls on atmospheric carbon dioxide, and carbon cycle models. Interactions between global biogeochemical cycles and other components of the Earth system are discussed. Co-enrollment in one lab/discussion section per week is required.
Discusses processes that determine climate and contribute to its change, including atmospheric radiation, ocean circulation, and atmospheric dynamics. Investigates contemporary climate change issues and discusses them in the context of natural variability of the system.
Materials of the solid Earth (minerals, rocks) record the formation and evolution of our planet and the solar systems. This course will prepare students to identify minerals, understand their significance as a record of fundamental processes for our planet, and other rocky worlds in the solar system. This course will introduce geochemical concepts that include: element formation in the solar nebula, thermodynamic and kinetic properties that control the formation and chemical diversity of minerals, the mineral and rock record of deep Earth and surface processes. The lectures will be complemented by labs where students will learn to identify minerals using crystallography and polarized microscopy techniques. The labs will also include an introduction to modern analytical methods such as Raman and infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, with hands-on projects where the students will collect and interpret their own data.
Atmospheric processes at the micro to meso scale. Topics include the surface energy balance, atmosphere-surface exchange of energy and mass, boundary-layer meteorology, flow in complex (and simple) terrain, and deliberate and inadvertent climate modification. A series of exercises will be used to illustrate theoretical concepts using examples from agricultural applications and the renewable energy sector.
EAS 3410Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Hydrostatics3
Introduction to the thermodynamics and hydrostatics of the atmosphere and to the methods of description and quantitative analysis used in meteorology. Topics include thermodynamic processes of dry air, water vapor, and moist air and concepts of hydrostatics and stability.
Introduction to the basic equations and techniques used to understand motion in the atmosphere, with an emphasis on the space and time scales typical of storm systems (the synoptic scale). Derives the governing equations of atmospheric flow from first principles and applies them to middle latitude and tropical meteorology. Topics include balanced flow, atmospheric waves, circulation, and vorticity.
Fundamentals of subsurface imaging by geophysical methods as used in oil exploration and environmental investigations. Covers seismic reflection, refraction, gravity, magnetics, resistivity, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) techniques.
Study of weather map analysis and forecasting techniques by applying the principles of fluid and heat flow. Strengthens previously introduced meteorological concepts that are applied to forecasting midlatitude synoptic scale weather systems, such as cyclones, anticyclones, jet streams, fronts, and waves.
Covers thermohaline and wind-driven circulation and surface-ocean boundary-layer dynamics. Mathematical expressions for describing conservation of momentum, mass, and heat in a fluid are used to explain the ocean's responses to wind and buoyancy forcing.
The goal of the course is to teach participants the basic skills needed to work independently to acquire, analyze and visualize data sets derived from a variety of satellite sensors that provide global estimates of phytoplankton abundance, sea surface temperature ocean wind speeds, and geostrophic currents. An important feature of the course is to develop good Python programming skills that are needed to effectively analyze and visualize satellite data to answer important oceanographic questions. Background lectures will cover the fundamentals of bio-optics, phytoplankton pigment algorithms and, to a lesser extent, the underlying physical principals leading to the measurement of sea surface temperature, ocean wind speed and geostrophic currents. The 3-credit class is taught in an intensive format for 9 weeks with 150 minutes of lecture time and 4hr and 50min of computer lab time each week.
EAS 3555Marine Microbes and Disease in a Changing Ocean3
Marine microorganisms fuel globally significant elemental cycles through their activities. They also drive diseases in multicellular life through pathogenesis, modulation of host-associated microbiomes, and through induction of stressors (e.g. toxins, hypoxia). The purpose of this course is to provide junior- and senior-level students a background in biological oceanography, marine microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and disease pathogenesis in marine habitats. The emphasis of the course is on understanding how biology affects and is affected by the oceans, and how organisms interact to produce ocean biological phenomena. The course is divided into 4 modules: 1) Marine microbial diversity and ocean structure; 2) Ocean biogeochemistry; 3) Marine disease pathogenesis; and 4) Pollution and climate change. This course will equip students with foundations for further undergraduate courses in ocean sciences and environmental dynamics, and for graduate studies in biological oceanography and marine biology.
Covers global tectonics and the deep structure of the solid Earth as revealed by investigations of earthquakes, earthquake waves, the Earth's gravitational and magnetic fields, and heat flow. Students are highly encouraged to have either the math/phys prerequisites OR an introductory geologic sciences course before taking this class.
EAS 4010Fundamentals of Energy and Mineral Resources3
The sustainable development of humanity requires natural resources for the basics of life and for increasing global standards of living. Minerals and energy are critical for human existence now and for future generations, and so new resources must be discovered, developed efficiently, and kept in the circular economy through reuse and recycling. Discovery means fully understanding the Earth, including the geological processes that concentrate resources in the subsurface and the surficial conditions that may challenge resource extraction. Realistic estimates needed for future consumption include changing global demand and new technologies. Finally, we need to be aware of the social and political dimensions of mineral and energy resource management that regulate and control aspects of resource-related social development.
Quantitative study of the deformation, heat transport, and melting processes that have shaped the evolution of the solid Earth. Familiar physical and chemical principles and concepts are applied to the study of plate tectonics, fluid dynamics, mantle convection, melting, and mountain building.
Develops the ideas and methods necessary to understand how the Earth deforms-from individual earthquakes to the construction of mountain ranges. Discusses the driving forces of deformation, and how these forces interact with different geologic materials to cause deformation.
Explores the methods and applications of geodesy by focusing heavily on Global Satellite Navigation Network (GNSS) data and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data (InSAR). The course covers some of the key principles of geodesy, including how to describe and measure the shape of the Earth, how to find, select and process data of a range of types, and applications to problems relating to ground displacement (e.g., volcanoes, earthquakes, extraction of groundwater) and surface processes/characteristics (e.g., soil moisture, vegetation).
Analysis of GPS operating principles and engineering practice with a culminating design exercise. GPS satellite orbital dynamics, navigation data modeling, position/navigation/timing solution algorithm, receiver and antenna characteristics, analysis of error and accuracy, differential GPS.
This course focuses on relationships between fluids and geologic processes. A strong focus will be on feedbacks between fluid conditions and elastic and permanent deformation within rocks and sediments. Considerable attention is given to the science of safe and successful drilling operations. Topics of discussion include applications to earthquakes, volcanoes, seafloor vents, and well drilling. Graduate students and advanced undergraduates are welcome to enroll, particularly those who have taken hydrogeology and/or structural geology / mechanics. The course will involve quantitative problem solving, reading fundamental papers, analytical solutions, simple matlab or python scripting, and a final report where students will apply the skills and understanding developed in the course to a problem related to their research or field of interest.
EAS 4350Statistical Methods in Meteorology and Climatology3
Statistical methods used in climatology, operational weather forecasting, and selected meteorological research applications. Statistical characteristics of meteorological data, including probability distributions, correlation structures and their implications for statistical inference. Also covers operational forecasts derived from multiple regression models, including the MOS system; and forecast evaluation techniques.
Fundamentals of subsurface imaging by geophysical methods as used in resource exploration and environmental investigations. Covers seismic, gravity, magnetics, resistivity, geodetic and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) techniques. Field exercises will allow students to collect such data near campus that is of local or regional societal relevance, analyze it, and communicate the results.
EAS 4441Controversies in Global Climate Change Science and Policy1.5
Climate change is one of the most important and yet most difficult international problems to address. This course will introduce students to the interface between global climate change science and policy, with a focus on how science factors into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and how negotiations take place leading up to and at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP). Students will critically analyze contemporary climate change science and global environmental policy-making; develop and addresses pertinent research questions; engage with experts in the field and help them with policy-relevant research; and develop experience with communications and social media. The course will meet once a week and will involve lectures, discussions, and debates on important topics.
This course allows the students to attend the negotiations taking place at the at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of Cornell's delegation. The course will enable Cornell students to participate in global, engaged learning at the most significant annual meeting of the U.N. on climate change; and make a vital contribution to their academic studies and decisions about future work in international environmental affairs. Teams of students will work with partner organizations representing developing countries, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations to help them prepare for the COP.
Primarily a survey of natural phenomena of the atmosphere, with emphasis on their underlying physical principles. Topics include an introduction to atmospheric radiation processes, atmospheric optics and electricity, microphysical cloud processes, and principles of radar probing of the atmosphere.
Structure and dynamics of large-scale midlatitude weather systems, such as cyclones, anticyclones, and waves, with consideration of processes that contribute to temperature changes and precipitation. Lab sessions involve real-time weather forecasting and the application of a numerical model of the atmosphere to the study of selected large-scale midlatitude weather events.
This course applies principles of phase equilibrium and kinetics to igneous and metamorphic systems with the goal of interpreting processes that result in rock compositions and reconstructing the geological record. The course integrates field observations, mineralogy, geochemistry, and experimental work to elucidate the evolution of Earth’s crust and mantle, as well as other rocky bodies within the solar system.
Chemistry applied to understanding the Earth and the Solar System including its formation and evolution, and processes occurring on the Earth's surface and in its interior. The course covers thermodynamics and kinetics of geochemical processes, aquatic and environmental chemistry, geochronology, trace element and isotope geochemistry, paleoclimatology, and the carbon cycle and organic geochemistry.
Fundamentals of radiogenic, cosmogenic, and stable isotope geochemistry and application to a variety of Earth system problems including evolution of the crust and mantle, earth surface processes, climate, biosphere, global water, and elemental cycling. We will explore recent advances in the development of isotope tracers and instrument capabilities, evaluate model frameworks, and learn how to interpret isotope signatures in a variety of modern and paleo contexts.
Examines sources, effects, transport, measurement, and controls of air pollution. Discusses the basic principles in each area with an emphasis on their local, regional, and global impacts.
Volcanic rocks constitute a significant component of the surface of all the terrestrial planets. Volcanoes are the main location of mass and energy exchange between the external and internal parts of our planet, making volcanic processes key not only for the physical and chemical evolution of the planet, but also to the evolution of climate and life. This course incorporates the physics and chemistry of magmatic processes related to volcanic activity in several modules followed by exercises done in class and complemented by weekly assignments.
EAS 4700Advanced Weather Forecasting and Analysis3
Applied course focusing on weather forecasting and analysis techniques for various regions around the world. Lectures emphasize the application of student's knowledge of atmospheric dynamics, thermodynamics, and computer-data analysis to forecast the development and movement of multiscale weather systems. Students participate in weekly forecast discussions; write daily forecasts that include a synoptic discussion, quantitative precipitation forecasts, and severe weather outlook for the forecast region; and lead class discussion on assigned readings.
Fresh water has become a limited resource in many parts of the world. In arid and semi-arid regions, groundwater levels are declining at unsustainable levels. In several industrial areas, groundwater is contaminated and unsuitable as potable water. This course will address the sustainability and pollution of groundwater by first understanding the theory of saturated and unsaturated flow and contaminant transport under ideal conditions. Subsequently, we learn to simplify groundwater systems in complex subsurface environments to obtain practical solutions. At the end of the course, the learned material will be put in a broader context as they are affected by natural or human actions. Throughout the course, guest speakers will discuss topics of current interest related to water.
This course is a physics-based introduction to glacier and ice sheet dynamics, with applications in understanding the response of modern terrestrial ice sheets to a changing climate. Topics covered include ice-sheet mass balance, the material properties and rheology of ice and snow, temperature and heat transport, the basic equations of ice-sheet and ice-shelf flow, basal processes, ice-sheet hydrology, fracture and calving, and ice-atmosphere and ice-ocean interactions. The course also overviews methods of observing ice sheet processes and change, including geophysical methods and satellite and airborne remote sensing.
EAS 4740Quantitative Data Analysis for the Geosciences3
Geoscientists cannot perform controlled experiments, and they study processes that occur over time and distance scales that cannot fit into a laboratory, leading to unusual data analysis problems. This course first covers basic statistical methods for handling and treating noisy data of this sort, then parameter estimation from incomplete and noisy measurements, then basics of time series analysis. Examples include spatial, temporal, sequential and directional problems derived from climate science, seismology, sedimentology, structural geology, geochemistry and related fields.
Surveys the major groups of invertebrate organisms and their evolutionary histories, and the theoretical and practical principles of paleontology, from biostratigraphy to macroevolution. Intended to fill out the biological backgrounds of Earth and atmospheric science students concerning the nature and significance of the fossil record for their respective studies, and the paleontological backgrounds of biology students interested in ecology and evolution.
EAS 4800Atmospheric Chemistry: From Air Pollution to Global Change3
This course investigates the science of atmospheric chemistry as its relation to air pollution and global change. Students examine the chemistry and physics that determines atmospheric composition on local to global scales including the effects of biogeochemistry and atmospheric photochemistry.
This course presents an overview of observations and methods in seismology. Topics include techniques necessary for understanding elastic wave propagation in layered media and what these waves teach us about Earth's composition and structure. This course introduces concepts in earthquake and reflection seismology and seismic hazard.
An exploration of solution methods for inverse problems with examples taken from geophysics and related fields, with particular attention to making inferences from inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent physical data. Applications include medical and seismic tomography, earthquake location, image processing, and radio/radar imaging. Linear algebra (including condition numbers) and probability and statistics (including error analysis, Bayes theorem, Gibbs distribution, and Markov chains) are reviewed. Methods covered include nonlinear least-squares, maximum likelihood methods, and local and global optimization methods, including simulated annealing and genetic algorithms.
This course will examine the atmospheric processes responsible for inducing variations in tropical weather and climate on daily to interannual timescales. Computer lab visualization and numerical modeling exercises will deepen student understanding of tropical meteorology, develop programming proficiency, and enhance scientific writing skills.
Fundamentals of radar, antennas, and remote sensing. Exposes students to the principles underlying the analysis and design of antennas used for communication and for radar-related applications. Students also encounter both a mathematical and a practical description of how radars function, how their performance can be optimized for different applications, and how signals acquired by them can be processed. The objective is to familiarize students with a wide variety of radars rather than turn them into practicing radar engineers. Each topic is developed from basic principles so students with a wide variety of backgrounds are able to take the course. Emphasizes radar applications in geophysics, meteorology and atmospheric sciences, and astronomy and space sciences. Gives special attention to radar remote sensing of the Earth from spacecraft.
Introduction to the techniques and philosophy of research in the earth sciences and an opportunity for undergraduates to participate in current faculty research projects. Topics chosen in consultation with, and guided by, a faculty member. A short written report is required, and outstanding projects are prepared for publication.
Introduction to the techniques and philosophy of research in the earth sciences and an opportunity for undergraduates to participate in current faculty research projects. Topics chosen in consultation with, and guided by, a faculty member. A short written report is required, and outstanding projects are prepared for publication.
EAS 4940Special Topics in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences1-8
The department teaches trial courses under this number. Offerings vary by semester and are advertised by the department before the beginning of the semester.
EAS 4980Teaching Experience in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences1-4
The student assists in teaching an EAS course appropriate to his or her previous training. The student meets with a discussion or laboratory section, prepares course materials, grades assignments, and regularly discusses course objectives and teaching techniques with the faculty member in charge of the course.
EAS 5010Fundamentals of Energy and Mineral Resources3
The sustainable development of humanity requires natural resources for the basics of life and for increasing global standards of living. Minerals and energy are critical for human existence now and for future generations, and so new resources must be discovered, developed efficiently, and kept in the circular economy through reuse and recycling. Discovery means fully understanding the Earth, including the geological processes that concentrate resources in the subsurface and the surficial conditions that may challenge resource extraction. Realistic estimates needed for future consumption include changing global demand and new technologies. Finally, we need to be aware of the social and political dimensions of mineral and energy resource management that regulate and control aspects of resource-related social development.
Life activities alter the physical and chemical environment of Earth's surface and are altered by that environment, while physical and chemical processes transform rock, transfer material, and create new rocks that record Earth's environmental history. The interactions over very long times constitute a coevolution of Earth and Life. Course uses modern systems and ancient systems to illustrate principles, methods of reconstructing deep history, and the context of natural change inherent to life and earth.
The department seminar course is for graduate students and advanced undergraduates with weekly research talks on topics in earth and atmospheric sciences.
Quantitative study of the deformation, heat transport, and melting processes that have shaped the evolution of the solid Earth. Familiar physical and chemical principles and concepts are applied to the study of plate tectonics, fluid dynamics, mantle convection, melting, and mountain building.
Discusses processes that determine climate and contribute to its change, including atmospheric radiation, ocean circulation, and atmospheric dynamics. Investigates contemporary climate change issues and discusses them in the context of natural variability of the system.
Materials of the solid Earth (minerals, rocks) record the formation and evolution of our planet and the solar systems. This course will prepare students to identify minerals, understand their significance as a record of fundamental processes for our planet, and other rocky worlds in the solar system. This course will introduce geochemical concepts that include: element formation in the solar nebula, thermodynamic and kinetic properties that control the formation and chemical diversity of minerals, the mineral and rock record of deep Earth and surface processes. The lectures will be complemented by labs where students will learn to identify minerals using crystallography and polarized microscopy techniques. The labs will also include an introduction to modern analytical methods such as Raman and infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, with hands-on projects where the students will collect and interpret their own data.
EAS 5280Intro to Climate and Atmospheric Data Science1
The five-day Climate and Atmospheric Data Science (CADS) short course offers an intensive, hands-on introduction to modern tools and methods in climate and atmospheric analysis. Hosted in Cornell’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, the course combines lectures, labs, and individualized mentorship to build practical expertise. Students begin with foundational meteorological observations, progress through remote sensing, reanalysis, and forecasting systems, and finish with climate modeling and downscaling techniques. Each afternoon includes guided project work, culminating in a 24-hour hackathon and final presentations. An optional field trip provides direct engagement with field measurements, reinforcing connections between theory, data, and real-world applications
Atmospheric processes at the micro to meso scale. Topics include the surface energy balance, atmosphere-surface exchange of energy and mass, boundary-layer meteorology, flow in complex (and simple) terrain, and deliberate and inadvertent climate modification. A series of exercises will be used to illustrate theoretical concepts using examples from agricultural applications and the renewable energy sector.
EAS 5350Statistical Methods in Meteorology and Climatology3
Statistical methods used in climatology, operational weather forecasting, and selected meteorological research applications. Statistical characteristics of meteorological data, including probability distributions, correlation structures and their implications for statistical inference. Also covers operational forecasts derived from multiple regression models, including the MOS system; and forecast evaluation techniques.
Introduction to the basic equations and techniques used to understand motion in the atmosphere, with an emphasis on the space and time scales typical of storm systems (the synoptic scale). Derives the governing equations of atmospheric flow from first principles and applies them to mid-latitude meteorology. Topics include balanced flow, atmospheric waves, vorticity, and baroclinic instability. Students taking this course at the graduate level (EAS 5420) will have to complete additional questions on the biweekly problem sets and on the prelim and final exams.
This course allows the students to attend the negotiations taking place at the at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of Cornell's delegation. The course will enable Cornell students to participate in global, engaged learning at the most significant annual meeting of the U.N. on climate change; and make a vital contribution to their academic studies and decisions about future work in international environmental affairs. Teams of students will work with partner organizations representing developing countries, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations to help them prepare for the COP.
Fundamentals of subsurface imaging by geophysical methods as used in oil exploration and environmental investigations. Covers seismic reflection, refraction, gravity, magnetics, resistivity, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) techniques.
EAS 5555Theory and Practice of Earth System Modeling3
This class will present an introductory overview of the common methodological approaches used today for numerical weather prediction and global climate modeling. Technical skills and in-depth understanding of the approaches will be emphasized through short weekly reading assignments and programming activities. An historical perspective on weather and climate modeling will be covered as well in the scope of this course because it helps put state-of-the-art numerical modeling in an appropriate context. Final projects will include running a weather or climate model on the National Center for Atmospheric Research's Cheyenne supercomputer, or other supercomputing facilities if students have access to other resources they would like to use. Cloud computing based solutions to numerical weather and climate modeling will also be covered.
EAS 5740Quantitative Data Analysis for the Geosciences3
Geoscientists cannot perform controlled experiments, and they study processes that occur over time and distance scales that cannot fit into a laboratory, leading to unusual data analysis problems. This course first covers basic statistical methods for handling and treating noisy data of this sort, then parameter estimation from incomplete and noisy measurements, then basics of time series analysis. Examples include spatial, temporal, sequential and directional problems derived from climate science, seismology, sedimentology, structural geology, geochemistry and related fields.
This course will provide an overview of fundamental physical processes that govern the structure and behavior of atmospheres in the solar system and beyond. Topics covered will include the basic principles of atmospheric statics, radiative transfer, dynamics, cloud physics, and chemistry to understand the diverse range of observable atmospheres. These topics will be explored through review of relevant physical processes and research in solar system and exoplanetary science. This course is geared toward graduate students with a solid background in relevant math and physics coursework.
This course explores remote sensing techniques for studying solar system surfaces and the geomorphic processes shaping them. Topics include orbital dynamics / tides, impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, and erosion, with an emphasis on terrestrial field sites as planetary analogs. Students will also learn about surface morphology, planetary weathering, and fundamental field and remote sensing methods. Covered remote sensing techniques include visible, infrared, and radar-based imaging and topographic analysis. An optional 1-credit field trip is available (See ASTRO 6580).
Topics include plasma state; motion of charged particles in fields; drift-orbit theory; coulomb scattering, collisions; ambipolar diffusion; elementary transport theory; two-fluid and hydromagnetic equations; plasma oscillations and waves, CMA diagram; hydromagnetic stability; and elementary applications to space physics, plasma technology, and controlled fusion.
An exploration of solution methods for inverse problems with examples taken from geophysics and related fields, with particular attention to making inferences from inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent physical data. Applications include medical and seismic tomography, earthquake location, image processing, and radio/radar imaging. Linear algebra (including condition numbers) and probability and statistics (including error analysis, Bayes theorem, Gibbs distribution, and Markov chains) are reviewed. Methods covered include nonlinear least-squares, maximum likelihood methods, and local and global optimization methods, including simulated annealing and genetic algorithms.
Covers global tectonics and the deep structure of the solid Earth as revealed by investigations of earthquakes, earthquake waves, the Earth's gravitational and magnetic fields, and heat flow. Students are highly encouraged to have either the math/phys prerequisites OR an introductory geologic sciences course before taking this class.
Fundamentals of radar, antennas, and remote sensing. Exposes students to the principles underlying the analysis and design of antennas used for communication and for radar-related applications. Students also encounter both a mathematical and a practical description of how radars function, how their performance can be optimized for different applications, and how signals acquired by them can be processed. The objective is to familiarize students with a wide variety of radars rather than turn them into practicing radar engineers. Each topic is developed from basic principles so students with a wide variety of backgrounds are able to take the course. Emphasizes radar applications in geophysics, meteorology and atmospheric sciences, and astronomy and space sciences. Gives special attention to radar remote sensing of the Earth from spacecraft.
This course focuses on relationships between fluids and geologic processes. A strong focus will be on feedbacks between fluid conditions and elastic and permanent deformation within rocks and sediments. Considerable attention is given to the science of safe and successful drilling operations. Topics of discussion include applications to earthquakes, volcanoes, seafloor vents, and well drilling. Graduate students and advanced undergraduates are welcome to enroll, particularly those who have taken hydrogeology and/or structural geology / mechanics. The course will involve quantitative problem solving, reading fundamental papers, analytical solutions, simple matlab or python scripting, and a final report where students will apply the skills and understanding developed in the course to a problem related to their research or field of interest.
Fundamentals of subsurface imaging by geophysical methods as used in resource exploration and environmental investigations. Covers seismic, gravity, magnetics, resistivity, geodetic and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) techniques. Field exercises will allow students to collect such data near campus that is of local or regional societal relevance, analyze it, and communicate the results.
Advanced topics in atmospheric dynamics such as quasigeostrophic theory and diagnosis, atmospheric waves, wave instability, mesoscale processes, general circulation of the atmosphere, and the middle atmosphere.
The goal of the course is to teach participants the basic skills needed to work independently to acquire, analyze and visualize data sets derived from a variety of satellite sensors that provide global estimates of phytoplankton abundance, sea surface temperature ocean wind speeds, and geostrophic currents. An important feature of the course is to develop good Python programming skills that are needed to effectively analyze and visualize satellite data to answer important oceanographic questions. Background lectures will cover the fundamentals of bio-optics, phytoplankton pigment algorithms and, to a lesser extent, the underlying physical principals leading to the measurement of sea surface temperature, ocean wind speed and geostrophic currents. The 3-credit class is taught in an intensive format for 9 weeks with 150 minutes of lecture time and 4hr and 50min of computer lab time each week.
Chemistry applied to understanding the Earth and the Solar System including its formation and evolution, and processes occurring on the Earth's surface and in its interior. The course covers thermodynamics and kinetics of geochemical processes, aquatic and environmental chemistry, geochronology, trace element and isotope geochemistry, paleoclimatology, and the carbon cycle and organic geochemistry.
Fundamentals of radiogenic, cosmogenic, and stable isotope geochemistry and application to a variety of Earth system problems including evolution of the crust and mantle, earth surface processes, climate, biosphere, global water, and elemental cycling. We will explore recent advances in the development of isotope tracers and instrument capabilities, evaluate model frameworks, and learn how to interpret isotope signatures in a variety of modern and paleo contexts.
Volcanic rocks constitute a significant component of the surface of all the terrestrial planets. Volcanoes are the main location of mass and energy exchange between the external and internal parts of our planet, making volcanic processes key not only for the physical and chemical evolution of the planet, but also to the evolution of climate and life. This course incorporates the physics and chemistry of magmatic processes related to volcanic activity in several modules followed by exercises done in class and complemented by weekly assignments.
Fresh water has become a limited resource in many parts of the world. n arid and semi-arid regions, groundwater levels are declining at unsustainable levels. In several industrial areas, groundwater is contaminated and unsuitable as potable water. This course will address the sustainability and pollution of groundwater by first understanding the theory of saturated and unsaturated flow and contaminant transport under ideal conditions. Subsequently, we learn to simplify groundwater systems in complex subsurface environments to obtain practical solutions. At the end of the course, the learned material will be put in a broader context as they are affected by natural or human actions. Throughout the course, guest speakers will discuss topics of current interest related to water.
EAS 6755Finite Element Method: Theory and Applications in Mechanics and Multiphysics3
This class is an intermediate-level course on the linear Finite Element Method (FEM) for graduate engineering students. The students will learn to: set up the strong formulation of mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, and coupled problems, write the variational formulation, discretize the weak form in space and time, choose a resolution algorithm, write an input file for a FEM software, and interpret numerical results. Applications will focus on climate change and energy. First, one-dimensional problems will be solved for one dependent variable, e.g., elongation, fluid flow, heat transfer. Second, hydro-mechanical equations for two-phase porous media will be introduced and applied to consolidation problems. Next, 2D space discretization and numerical integration will be explained and applied through simulation and analysis of problems of plane elasticity and seepage. The course will conclude with the modeling unsaturated porous media with applications to geological storage, evapo-transpiration, and subsidence.
EAS 6800Atmospheric Chemistry: From Air Pollution to Global Change3
This course investigates the science of atmospheric chemistry as its relation to air pollution and global change. Students examine the chemistry and physics that determines atmospheric composition on local to global scales including the effects of biogeochemistry and atmospheric photochemistry.
This course presents an overview of observations and methods in seismology. Topics include techniques necessary for understanding elastic wave propagation in layered media and what these waves teach us about Earth's composition and structure. This course introduces concepts in earthquake and reflection seismology and seismic hazard.
This course will examine the atmospheric processes responsible for inducing variations in tropical weather and climate on daily to interannual timescales. Computer lab visualization and numerical modeling exercises will deepen student understanding of tropical meteorology, develop programming proficiency, and enhance scientific writing skills.
EAS 6920Special Topics in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences1-6
Study of topics in earth and atmospheric science that are more specialized or different from other courses. Special topics depend on staff and student interests.
EAS 7310Advanced Topics in Geodetic Monitoring and Modeling1-3
Advanced work on original investigations in geodetic monitoring and modeling. Topics change from semester to semester. Contact the instructor for more information.
EAS 7570Current Research in Petrology and Geochemistry1-3
Advanced work on original investigations in petrology and geochemistry. Topics change from semester to semester. Contact the instructor for more information.
EAS 7710Advanced Topics in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy1-3
Advanced readings on specific themes in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and sedimentary basins. Topics change from semester to semester and will be chosen in consultation between student and instructor.
Analysis and interpretation of real-time geophysical data focusing on interesting and significant events that happen during the semester, emphasizing seismogram interpretation of large earthquakes.
Seminar course for graduate students in geological sciences with topics in tectonics, seismology, petrology, and similar disciplines. Emphasis on mountain belts, but other topics entertained.
