148 courses with the subject EMES, 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.
Major geologic events: earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain formation, plate tectonics, and erosion. Landscape development by glaciers, streams and groundwater, ocean currents and waves, wind. Optional laboratory: EMES 101L. PX credit for EMES 101+101L. Course previously offered as GEOL 101.
Study of common minerals and rocks. Use of topographic and geologic maps to illustrate geologic processes. Two laboratory hours a week. Course previously offered as GEOL 101L.
Introduction to marine sciences emphasizing physical, chemical, biological, and geological phenomenon in oceanic and coastal environments. Human use of, and impact on, marine resources. Science majors should take EMES 401. Students may not receive credit for both EMES 103 and EMES 202. Course previously offered as GEOL 103/MASC 101.
Laboratory exercises aimed at investigating the marine environment including physical, chemical, and biological processes. Two laboratory hours per week. Students must also enroll in the EMES 103 lecture or have taken EMES 103 in a previous semester. Course previously offered as MASC 101L.
Natural hazards arise from a suite of dynamic processes that operate within the Earth and along its surface. How individuals and communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters is strongly influenced by our perception of the risk associated with these processes. This course investigates a range of natural hazards, using the popular media as a starting point for analyses and discussions of the causes of disasters.
This course will take a deep dive into Project Drawdown (https://drawdown.org), which seeks to quantify and rank contributions to global warming of diverse human activities and offer truly impactful solutions for climate change mitigation from direct atmospheric capture of CO2 to modifying food production practices and blue carbon sequestration. The class will explore the range of proposed climate change solutions and conduct a capstone-type project examining topics of relevance to NC in the Drawdown framework.
An undergraduate seminar course that is designed to be a participatory intellectual adventure on an advanced, emergent, and stimulating topic within a selected discipline in earth, marine and environmental sciences. Course previously offered as GEOL 190.
An undergraduate seminar course that is designed to be a participatory intellectual adventure on an advanced, emergent, and stimulating topic within a selected discipline in earth, marine and environmental sciences.
An introduction to the solid earth for students continuing in EMES and other sciences. Topics include synthesis of the elements, formation of the solar system and earth, plate tectonics, earth materials, internal energy, magnetism, geochemical cycles, and earth resources. Course previously offered as GEOL 200.
This course focuses on the biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape the surface of the earth. Major points of emphasis will include earth's climate, the global water cycle, geomorphic processes and the landforms they create, sedimentology and depositional environments, and elements of earth history recorded by earth surface processes. Course previously offered as GEOL 201.
Required preparation, major in a natural science or two courses in natural sciences. Studies origin of ocean basins, seawater chemistry and dynamics, biological communities, sedimentary record, and oceanographic history. Students lacking science background should see EMES 103. Students may not receive credit for both EMES 103 and EMES 202. Course previously offered as GEOL 403/MASC 401/EMES 401.
Introduction to the analysis, manipulation, presentation and interpretation of data, with a focus on Earth and marine sciences, environmental sciences, ecology, and geography.
This course will provide a basic introduction to microbiology and microbial ecology and evolution, covering topics such as cell structure, energetics, genomics, evolution and gene flow, ecological interactions, population and community dynamics, and biogeochemical cycling.
Natural processes and human impacts on estuarine systems using the Neuse River estuary as a case study. Course includes one week of intensive field work based at the Institute of Marine Sciences. A student may not receive credit for this course after receiving credit for ENEC 222. Course previously offered as MASC 220.
This course will provide a foundational introduction to the Blue Economy, which has been defined by the US Congress (2024) as: "the sustainable use of marine, lake, or other aquatic resources in support of economic development objectives". The connection between the ocean and economy will be defined though examination of ecological, social, and economic interactions that define the blue economy systems. Lectures will delve into diverse topics such as (but not limited to) trade routes/exploration, NC coastal development policy, wind farms, marine reserves, sustainable fishing, seafood farming, ecotourism, restoration, novel marine sensors, carbon crediting, and venture capital.
Permission required. Previous grade of B or higher in course that student will be teaching. Experience as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant includes preparations, demonstrations, assistance, and attendance at weekly meetings. Apprentices will not be involved in any aspects of grading. May be repeated for credit. Requires a learning contract.
An undergraduate seminar course that is designed to be a participatory intellectual adventure on an advanced, emergent, and stimulating topic within a selected discipline in earth, marine and environmental sciences.
Minerals in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic environments: their economic importance, properties, occurrence, and uses. Methods of identifying minerals, including use of physical and optical properties, and scanning electron microscopy. Course previously offered as GEOL 301.
This is a 1-credit lab focusing on minerals, the building blocks of rocks! Students will have the opportunity to conduct hand-sample and microscope work on rocks from sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic environments. Lab exercises will cover (physical, optical and scanning electron) methods of identifying minerals within a variety of rocks.
Introduction to the mechanical behavior and dynamic evolution of the earth's crust through the study of deformed rocks. Course previously offered as GEOL 302.
Introduction of principles involved in description and classification of sedimentary rocks and stratigraphic units as well as stratigraphic correlation. Students will be introduced to relationships of processes, depositional environments, and sedimentary facies. Course previously offered as GEOL 303.
Studies of the origin and evolution of igneous and metamorphic rocks, including microscopic, X-ray, and field methods; volcanology; plate-tectonic interpretation of rock sequences. Three lecture and three laboratory hours a week. Course previously offered as GEOL 304.
Required preparation, one introductory geology course numbered below EMES 202, except first-year seminar. Effects and probable effects of meteorite and asteroid impacts on earth and other planets: craters, new meteorites, and tektites; giant sea waves; reduction of species and extinction of organisms. Course previously offered as GEOL 204/GEOL 305.
This course investigates the history of Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system reconstructed from the geologic record. Students examine how interactions among the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere drive change through time. Emphasis is placed on analyzing scientific evidence, interpreting data, and evaluating competing explanations for major transitions in Earth and life history, including mass extinctions, climate change, and evolutionary radiations. Students apply scientific reasoning to reconstruct past environments and consider how insights from Earth history inform our understanding of contemporary environmental challenges. Pre- or co-requisites recommended: EMES 101, 200 or 201.
An exploration of the large-scale evolution of coastal environments, including relevance of geologic setting, wave and sediment transport processes, the evolution of beach and barrier island morphology, and issues of coastal environmental management. Course previously offered as GEOL 310/MASC 316.
This course presents an integrated view of our planet, how it evolved during the past, why it has changed (and continues to change), and what makes Earth a habitable planet. Course previously offered as MASC 314.
This course examines how the functioning of marine organisms and ecosystems is impacted by water motion. Hydrodynamic forces as applied to locomotion and disturbance. Advective and diffusive transport as applied to nutrient supply and acquisition, larval transport, phytoplankton dynamics. The role of ocean circulation in establishing environmental conditions and distributions of organisms. Covers processes from the microscale to the ocean basin scale.
Field trips to sites in coastal North Carolina and lab experiments that introduce students to water motion in the marine environment and its impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems. Reinforces concepts taught in EMES 320. Offered at the Institute of Marine Sciences as part of the Morehead City Field Site.
General introduction to the geologic evolution of North America through intensive study of a particular region. Includes mandatory Spring Break field trip. Course previously offered as GEOL 221/EMES 221.
This introductory course will cover two broad themes: the physical processes of the hydrologic cycle and how human use (and abuse) of freshwater resources can lead to major environmental problems. PX credit for ENEC/EMES 324 + 324L. PL credit for ENEC/EMES 324. Course previously offered as GEOL 324.
Students will conduct laboratory and field experiments to reinforce the topics covered in ENEC/GEOL 324. PX credit for ENEC/EMES 324 + 324L. Course previously offered as GEOL 324L.
Introduction to the physical principles that can be used to describe, understand and predict water motion in natural water bodies. Fluids at rest and in motion. Conservation of mass and momentum. Forces that drive and resist fluid motion. Energy conservation. Scaling and dimensional analysis. Principles developed in lectures will be applied to understand water motion in rivers and streams, lakes, and the ocean. Previously offered as EMES 460.
Gives students a foundation in population biology and the ecological processes that influence populations of economically important fish and shellfish. Students will gain practical quantitative skills including statistical analyses, model development, and data visualization. Familiarity with introductory statistics concepts is preferred but not necessary.
Topics and instructors vary from semester to semester. Course may be repeated. Course previously offered as GEOL 390/GEOL 390H. Permission of the department. Honors version available.
Directed readings with laboratory study on a selected topic. Course previously offered as MASC 395. Permission of a faculty research director.
Independent study under the supervision of a selected instructor. Learning contract required. May be repeated up to four times for a maximum of 12 credits. Course previously offered as GEOL 396. Permission of the instructor.
For graduate students and upper-level undergraduates. Descriptive oceanography, large-scale wind-driven and thermohaline circulations, ocean dynamics, regional and nearshore/estuarine physical processes, waves, tides. Three lectures per week. Course previously offered as GEOL 506/MASC 506.
Dive into the world of geochemistry, now enriched with data analytics and machine learning techniques. Engage with thermodynamics, kinetics, and isotope geochemistry through a contemporary lens. This course is a reimagined version tailored for the forward-thinking Earth, Marine and Environmental scientists. Previously offered as GEOL 405/MASC 455.
Introduction to the fundamentals of global geophysics: gravity, seismology, magnetism, heat, and plate tectonics. Both shallow and deep processes are considered. Emphasis is aimed at problem solving by applying concepts. Course previously offered as GEOL 406.
The course focuses on the use of shallow geophysical principles and techniques to address geological, archaeological, and environmental problems. The course will study the strengths and weaknesses of geophysical techniques in various geologic settings and how to collect and interpret field data for defined applications. Written reports and group projects will be required.
Principles of geological and related Earth systems sciences are applied to analyses of environmental phenomena. The link between the lithosphere and other environmental compartments is explored through case studies of environmental issues. Three lecture hours and one laboratory hour a week.
Principles of analysis of the ocean, coast, and estuarine environments and the processes that control these environments are applied to the analysis of environmental phenomena. Case studies of environmental issues. Three lecture hours and one laboratory hour a week.
Required preparation: any introductory geology course. This course develops the knowledge and skills teachers need to implement student-centered, inquiry-based earth science instruction at any level level by teaching instructional design and cognitive science and learning theories. Primary literature review and development of lesson modules will be complemented by classroom observations and teaching experiences in formal and informal settings. Course previously offered as GEOL 412.
This course explores the interdisciplinary study of inland waters, including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater. It examines the physical, chemical, and biological processes that shape freshwater ecosystems. Topics include lake formation, water movement, biogeochemical cycling, aquatic organisms, and food web dynamics. Students will analyze how these factors interact to influence water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. The course also addresses contemporary issues such as eutrophication, climate change impacts, and invasive species. Through lectures, data analysis exercises, and case studies, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of limnological principles and their application to water resource management and conservation.
This course explores principles and strategies for studying environmental phenomena, and presents methods for developing explanatory and predictive models of environmental systems, e.g., predator-prey, estuaries, greenhouse gases, and ecosystem material cycles.
The interplay among the fluxes of water, energy, and sediment through geologic time sculpt landscapes and drive environmental change. In both lectures and laboratory exercises, students will learn how simple physical principles applied to rivers and hillslopes allow us to understand the evolution of topography and mountain belts, predict hazards arising from floods, landslides and debris flows, and lead to sustainable management of natural resources such as soil. Previously offered as GEOL 417.
This course will explore mountain belts with a focus on the tectonic processes and climatic interactions that sculpt their deep structure and surface expression. We will discuss all components of mountain systems including fold-thrust belts, accretionary prisms, basins, and the magmatic arc. The course will largely follow the lifecycle of orogens, from subduction initiation, to Cordilleran orogenesis, collisional orogenesis, and ultimate orogenic collapse. An emphasis will be placed on techniques that are used to study different parts of the system. This course is designed for graduate students and upper-level undergraduates.
The application of geological principles and techniques to the solution of archaeological problems. Studies geological processes and deposits pertinent to archaeological sites, geologic framework of archaeology in the southeastern United States, and techniques of archaeological geology. Field trips to three or more sites; written reports required. Course previously offered as GEOL 421. Permission of the instructor.
Origin of the solar system: the nebular hypothesis. Evolution of the earth and its accretionary history. Earthquakes: plate tectonics and the interior of the earth. The earth's magnetic field. Mantle convection.
Introduction to geologic field methods. Includes making observations, mapping, identification of structures and features, and interpretation to solve basic geologic problems. Many field trips. Course previously offered as GEOL 425.
What are the linkages between rivers and global change? This course examines the hydrological, geological and biogeochemical processes that control material flux from land to the oceans via rivers. Course previously offered as MASC 432.
This course examines Earth's climate system across geologic time using an inquiry-driven approach. Students investigate how paleoclimate proxies, including isotopic, sedimentary, and biological records, are used to reconstruct past environmental conditions. The course incorporates analysis of paleoclimate datasets and primary scientific literature to evaluate mechanisms of climate change across multiple timescales. A semester-long research project guides students in developing questions, applying analytical methods, and synthesizing evidence. Emphasis is placed on data interpretation, uncertainty, and integration of multiple lines of evidence and provides a foundation for understanding Earth system processes and their relevance to contemporary climate change. Previously offered as GEOL432.
Study of wetland ecosystems with particular emphasis on hydrological functioning, the transition from terrestrial to aquatic systems, wetlands as filtration systems, and exchange between wetlands and other environments. Course previously offered as MASC 433.
Readings and discussions about processes in traditional "Blue Carbon" environments (marshes, sea grass beds, and mangroves) and an exploration of carbon burial in other coastal ecosystems such as floodplains and oyster reefs. Course previously offered as MASC 434. Permission of the instructor is required.
Water is an essential resource for all life, and the availability of clean water will become one of the most important socio-political and economic discussions over the coming decades. This course covers fundamentals of groundwater storage, subsurface flow, and contaminant transport, emphasizing the role of groundwater in the hydrologic cycle, the relation of groundwater flow to geologic structure, and the management of contaminated groundwater and drinking water resources. Course previously offered as GEOL 435.
Required preparation, one introductory geology course. Survey of processes affecting the compositions of streams, lakes, the ocean, and shallow ground waters. Course previously offered as GEOL 436.
Descriptive account of global seismology, earthquake distribution, and focal mechanics. Principles of geometrical optics and applications to imaging the earth's interior. Principles of seismic prospecting of hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs. Course previously offered as GEOL 440.
Survey of the ecological processes that structure marine communities in a range of coastal habitats. Course emphasizes experimental approaches to addressing basic and applied problems in marine systems. Course previously offered as MASC 440.
This course introduces students to the physiological, morphological, and behavioral factors employed by marine organisms to cope with their physical environment. Emphasis will be placed on the response of marine organisms to environmental factors such as seawater temperature, light, water salinity, ocean acidification, etc. Course previously offered as MASC 441.
Recommended preparation, BIOL 201 or 475. A survey of plants and animals that live in the sea: characteristics of marine habitats, organisms, and the ecosystems will be emphasized. Marine environment, the organisms involved, and the ecological systems that sustain them. Course previously offered as MASC 442.
This optional 1-credit lab consists of four virtual classes with a two-day visit to the Institute for Marine Sciences (IMS) to observe coastal habitats and organisms covered in the EMES 442 lecture. Each lab section is guided by an IMS faculty member to collect and analyze data from mudflats, salt marshes, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and sandy beaches. The collected data helps students understand seasonal and annual ecosystem changes. By integrating biodiversity data with temperature, water quality, salinity, and shoreline monitoring, students learn about the connections between coastal processes and habitat quality.
Seminar class focuses on the primary research literature. Physiology of marine microorganisms, microbial diversity and ecology of the marine environment, biogeochemical processes catalyzed by marine microorganisms. Course previously offered as MASC 443. Restricted to junior or senior science majors or graduate students, with permission of the instructor.
For junior and senior science majors or graduate students. Biology of marine photosynthetic protists and cyanobacteria. Phytoplankton evolution, biodiversity, structure, function, biogeochemical cycles and genomics. Harmful algal blooms, commercial products, and climate change. Three lecture/practical session hours per week. Course previously offered as MASC 444. Permission of the instructor.
Course material covers host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions found in marine ecosystems, including beneficial and parasitic relationships among viruses, microbes, marine animals, and humans. Limited to upper-level undergraduate science majors and graduate students. Course previously offered as MASC 446.
For junior and senior science majors and graduate students. Active learning class focused on sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of microbial genomes to identify their ecological function. Topics include sequencing technologies, genome assembly and analysis, command line, bioinformatic tools, and genes mediating microbial physiology and metabolism in natural ecosystems. Course previously offered as MASC 447. Permission of the instructor.
This course will provide a foundational introduction to key patterns and underlying concepts in coastal and estuarine community ecology. Leveraging the local environment, the class will primarily focus on the structure and community dynamics of important temperate coastal marine habitats such as salt marshes, oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, and beaches (although the ecological concepts are meant to be transferrable across diverse systems).
This is an experiential ichthyology course in which students will learn about fish taxonomy, evolution, physiology and ecology. The first half of the class will be lectures on these topics and the second half of the class students will work in the laboratory and conduct field work applying these concepts.
This laboratory class is intended to reinforce concepts taught in the hybrid EMES 449 Dive into Ichthyology offered at the Institute of Marine Sciences as part of the Morehead City Field Site in person and via Zoom at UNC-CH main campus. The lab class involves field trips to sites in coastal North Carolina to collect fishes using a variety of methods. Students will develop skills to identify fishes to Family and learn about the local fish species in NC. Students will also conduct hands-on experiments in the lab to introduce students to fish physiological concepts.
Principles of chemistry, biology, and geology are applied to analysis of the fate and transport of materials in environmental systems, with an emphasis on those materials that form the most significant cycles. Three lecture hours and one laboratory hour a week. Previously offered as GEOL 450/MASC 450.
This course surveys multiple dimensions of environmental microbiology, including methods and techniques for microbial genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, ecological and evolutionary microbiology, the roles of microbes in ecological systems, and current applications of and issues in environmental microbiology.
For graduate students; undergraduate students should take ENEC 222 or have permission of the instructor. Introduction to estuarine environments: geomorphology, physical circulation, nutrient loading, primary and secondary production, carbon and nitrogen cycling, benthic processes and sedimentation. Considers human impacts on coastal systems, emphasizing North Carolina estuaries. Course previously offered as MASC 470.
A cohesive examination of the human impacts on biological processes in estuarine ecosystems. Laboratory/recitation/field work is included and contributes two credit hours to the course. Taught at off-campus field station.
Recommended preparation, one introductory geology course. An integration of barrier island plant and animal ecology within the context of physical processes and geomorphological change. Emphasis on management and impact of human interference with natural processes. Course previously offered as MASC 472.
A rigorous combination of field work, lab work, and colorful, original contemporary writing on the natural world will help tell the story of our many, evolving North Carolina coasts. Combining marine science and the creative literary arts, this immersive course will explore issues of change over many eras. This combination of social, cultural, and scientific observation will lead to imaginatively constructed, well-written non-fiction reportage about one of North America's most productive, compelling, and challenging regions.
For undergraduate and graduate students. Investigates formation of ocean basins, plate tectonics, carbonate reefs and platforms, sediment transport from the land to deep-sea fans, glacial-marine geology, marine records of changes in sea level and climate, and the evolution of barrier islands, estuaries, and deltas. Course previously offered as EMES 503 and MASC 503/GEOL 503.
Required preparation, one relevant EMES or ENEC course or permission of the instructor. Focus is on applying geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing concepts and techniques to problems in geology, hydrology, oceanography, and related topics. Topics covered include vector and raster GIS, principles of cartography, and optical and radar remote sensing. The class involves a combination of lab-based learning and research-based investigation culminating in a final project. Three lecture hours per week. Course previously offered as GEOL 483/MASC 483.
Learn about the latest cutting-edge research in Earth and Marine Sciences from international experts. Read and discuss peer-reviewed literature, attend bimonthly seminars, and meet with the speakers to address questions and express ideas in a friendly, supportive setting. Course content changes every semester. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates should have taken at least one EMES course.
Field camp teaching the proper use of geology field tools and how to make a geologic map. Field interpretation of rocks and their deformation. Course previously offered as GEOL 485.
Field camp teaching advanced mapping skills necessary to interpret geologic history of complexly deformed rocks. Course previously offered as GEOL 486.
Directed readings, laboratory, and/or field study of earth, marine, and environmental science topics not covered in scheduled courses. Course previously offered as MASC 490.
Theory and practice of analytical methods in geochemistry including X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy; introduction to electronics. Course previously offered as GEOL 501. Permission of the instructor.
This course will focus on the processes of soil formation, erosion, and landform evolution with an emphasis on the interaction of geomorphic processes with surface hydrology and ecosystems. (EES) Course previously offered as GEOL 502.
Origin of magmas and evolution of igneous and metamorphic rocks, combined with petrographic study of selected sites. Course previously offered as GEOL 504.
Graduate students only; undergraduates must have permission of the instructor. Overview of chemical processes in the ocean. Topics include physical chemistry of seawater, major element cycles, hydrothermal vents, geochemical tracers, air-sea gas exchange, particle transport, sedimentary processes, and marine organic geochemistry. Three lecture and two recitation hours per week. Course previously offered as GEOL 505/MASC 505.
For undergraduate (juniors and seniors) and graduate students. Marine ecosystem processes pertaining to the structure, function, and ecological interactions of biological communities; management of biological resources; taxonomy and natural history of pelagic and benthic marine organisms. Three lecture and recitation hours per week. One mandatory weekend field trip. Course previously offered as MASC 504.
An introduction to methodologies and instrumentation for quantifying the movement of water in the earth system focusing on components of the hydrologic cycle. Course previously offered as GEOL 508.
Students will examine evidence that human activity has caused global warming, investigate scientists' ability to predict climate change, and discuss the political and social dimensions of global climate change. Course previously offered as MASC 51.
Introduction to the theory, methods, and applications of stable isotopes to environmental problems. Primary focus will be on the origin, natural abundance, and fractionation of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen isotopes. Course previously offered as GEOL 511.
This 3-credit seminar-style class for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students focuses on developing a deeper understanding of coastal environmental change as illuminated by the scientific literature, including topics such as climate change impacts; coupled human-natural coastal dynamics; feedbacks between biological and physical processes; carbon storage and flux; adaptive coastal management; and the role of science, policy and communication in coastal resilience. Course previously offered as ENEC 710/GEOL 710/MASC 730.
Introduction to modeling of populations, predators and prey, and food webs. Topics such as population regulation, competition, mutualisms, predator-prey interactions, feeding behavior, life history strategies, diversity, stability, community assemblages and food webs are discussed. Students will be introduced to basic modeling in R and food web modeling in the Ecopath with Ecosim software.
Modern theories of changing weather, severe weather events, oceanic hazards, interactions between the oceans and atmosphere, and changes that are linked to human activity. Course previously offered as MASC 52.
Introduction to quantitative analysis in earth and marine sciences: solid earth, atmospheres, oceans, geochemistry, and paleontology. Topics covered: univariate and multivariate statistics, testing, nonparametric methods, time series, spatial and cluster analysis, shapes. A required course for EMES graduate students. Course previously offered as GEOL 520.
The course deals with earth science problems related to extracting model parameters from data and field observations. Details of mathematical concepts, real world examples, and practical applications associated with noisy or incomplete data are covered. Key concepts include multivariate regression, model discretization, Tikhonov regularization, and Bayesian methods. Course previously offered as GEOL 525.
What explains the "pull of the poles"? This seminar combines a modern survey of polar oceanography with historical views of early polar explorations, as reported by the explorers themselves. Course previously offered as MASC 53.
Topography in actively deforming mountain ranges represents an interplay between tectonic processes that build and sustain elevation gradients, surface processes that are modulated by climate, and earth materials. This course provides an introduction to how these processes sculpt the topography of Earth's mountain ranges. Students will learn to read signatures of tectonic activity in the sediment efflux from active orogens, in the isotopic proxies of erosional denudation, and in the topography of actively deforming mountains.
This course provides an introduction to the physical processes, statistical methods, and analytical tools used to assess risks that arise from natural hazard events, with an emphasis on extreme precipitation (floods) and hurricanes. Students will examine the dynamics of extreme weather events and hydrologic hazards, learn modern approaches to extreme value analysis, and work with real-world datasets and industry tools to build models of financial risk. Some programming experience is helpful but not required. Previously offered as EMES 414/ENEC 514/GEOL 514.
This course provides an opportunity to explore changes in marine and closely linked terrestrial environments caused by the interactions of fascinating oceanographic processes. Introductory presentations and discussions will focus on published works of active marine scientists who combine disciplinary training with knowledge and skills from other fields. Course previously offered as MASC 55.
An introduction to the fossil record of plants, investigating how plants originated and changed through geological time to produce the modern flora. Both macrofossils and microfossils will be considered. Three lecture hours a week. Previously offered as GEOL 555.
The physical properties of fluids, kinematics, governing equations, viscous incompressible flow, vorticity dynamics, boundary layers, irrotational incompressible flow. Course previously offered as GEOL 560/MASC 560.
Three components: statistics and probability, time series analysis, and spatial data analysis. Harmonic analysis, nonparametric spectral estimation, filtering, objective analysis, empirical orthogonal functions. Course previously offered as MASC 561.
This class is an introduction to one of the state-of-the-art analytical techniques in geological and environmental research - the ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry). Students will have hands-on experiences with ICP-MS sample preparation and analysis, and they will design their own hypothesis-driven research projects to analyze major and trace elements in geological and environmental samples including water, rock, and soil. Course previously offered as GEOL 567.
This course explores the natural history of several inlets, impact of human intervention, and political/policy challenges faced; includes several group projects/presentations and a field trip to a coastal inlet.
The course combines geology, climatology, hydrology, and soil science to explore the evolution of the surface environment of the earth from the Archean to the present, including the great oxidation event and modern ocean anoxia. Students will read research papers and will be encouraged to question and debate course topics. Course previously offered as GEOL 580.
This seminar focuses on some of the most extreme microorganisms on the planet, microorganisms that thrive without oxygen, under high temperatures (e.g., in pressurized water above the boiling point), and under chemical stress factors (high sulfide and heavy metal concentrations) that were once thought to be incompatible with life. Course previously offered as MASC 59.
Discussion or lab-based consideration of topical issues in earth, marine, and environmental sciences. Course previously offered as GEOL 590.
Applications of continuum mechanics in the earth sciences, including stress, strain, elasticity, and viscous flow. Numerical solutions to problems in heterogeneous finite strain including finite element analysis. Course previously offered as GEOL 608.
Survey of isotopic studies in geology; geochronology, crustal evolution, heat flow, paleotemperatures, origin of ore deposits.
This course will provide a foundational introduction regarding the biology, ecology, and conservation science of sharks. Leveraging the local environment near UNC-CH's Institute of Marine Sciences (Morehead City, NC), the class will also focus heavily on field-based experiences demonstrating shark research methodologies and concepts related to the natural history of sharks, as well as the 'ecosystem roles' of sharks within coastal marine habitats.
Rivers and streams are everywhere. They have shaped societies for all of human history serving as both a critical resource and a force of destruction. Rivers provide food, water, transportation, and energy... as well as flood and droughts. We will dive into the science and history of rivers: How rivers flood and shape the earth and influence the evolution and destruction of civilizations, and in return, how people have changed rivers. This course will involve regular discussion, data literacy assignments, and student-driven research project.
This seminar will introduce students to state of the art analytical techniques, current theories, and their applications in various geological processes regarding the non-traditional stable isotopes (e.g., Li, Mg, Fe, Mo, and Cr). After introducing some basic principles and analytical techniques of these so called "non-traditional" stable isotopes, students will present and discuss recent literature in this arena. Course previously offered as GEOL 655.
This seminar explores acoustic waves in the Earth's environment including ambient biological, physical, and human communication with an emphasis on observation and laboratory analysis. Course previously offered as GEOL 68.
By permission of the department. For details, see Department degree requirements. Course previously offered as GEOL 691H.
For details, see Department degree requirements. Course previously offered as GEOL 692H.
This interdisciplinary course uses a team-based approach to investigate the processes that shape the cycling of essential elements and matter across diverse ecosystems, and how these cycles are influenced by natural gradients and human activities. This course prepares students to address complex environmental challenges through integrative, systems-based thinking.
Explore pioneering research in the Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (EMES) by reading peer-reviewed literature, meeting with department faculty, and attending seminars from outside speakers. Gain insights into the diverse research projects conducted by EMES' faculty and students, while embarking on immersive field trips across North Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Intended for first-year graduate students.
Science Communication provides guidance and instruction on how to prepare and deliver effective scientific communication including short proposal writing, oral and poster presentations and social media. A professional development course designed for graduate students in the Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences.
Stratigraphic, sedimentologic, geochemical, petrologic, and paleontologic principles will be summarized. Emphasis is placed on both the techniques used in sedimentary geology and on the characteristics and processes that distinguish sedimentary environments.
Continuation of EMES 703.
Application of thermodynamics, phase equilibria, thermobarometry, radiogenic and stable isotope geology, and geochemical modeling to the study of igneous and metamorphic rocks and crustal evolution.
Continuation of EMES 705.
This course provides a broad view of cutting-edge research across the geo- and marine sciences and develops proposal-writing skills. Proposals follow the NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships program guidelines and involve peer review and oral presentations. Students will hone their critical thinking and scientific writing skills. They will learn how to craft project objectives and working hypotheses, explain the significance of the problem, outline broader implications, and effectively design a research plan.
This seminar provides a hands-on introduction to active geologic and environmental processes in eastern California, including active volcanoes, earthquake-producing faults, and extreme climate change. Course previously offered as GEOL 72H.
Discussion of selected literature in the field of marine biology, ecology, and evolution.
Hands-on training, experience, and discussion of the application of molecular genetic tools to questions of ecology, evolution, systematics, and conservation.
An introduction to the theory and application of modeling biogeochemical processes in sediments. Diagenetic theory, numerical techniques, and examples of recently developed sediment models. Three lecture hours a week.
Discussions are centered on the most pressing issues of our time: environmental deterioration and construction of a sustainable (livable) world during and after the depletion of traditional energy resources. Course previously offered as GEOL 76.
Momentum equations in a rotating reference frame, vorticity, potential vorticity, circulation, the shallow water model, Rossby and Kelvin waves, the Ekman layer. Three lecture hours a week.
Multi-disciplinary survey of circulation, sediment and biological processes operative in estuaries, on the shelf and at the shelf break.
Volcanoes provide a breathable atmosphere, a habitable climate, and precious ores, but they have the potential to destroy civilization. This seminar will explore the uneasy coexistence of volcanoes and civilization. Course previously offered as GEOL 77.
Elliptic equation methods (finite differences, elements, integral equations); hyperbolic conservation law methods (Lax-Fiedrich, characteristics, entropy condition, shock tracking/capturing); spectral, pseudo-spectral methods; particle methods, fast summation, fast multipole/vortex methods.
Current models in science and technology: topics ranging from material science applications (e.g., flow of polymers and LCPs); geophysical applications (e.g., ocean circulation, quasi-geostrophic models, atmospheric vortices).
An investigation of the geologic evolution and function of coastal environments, the recent effects of coastal development and engineering, and an examination of existing coastal management strategies and the tensions between coastal development and the desire to preserve natural environments. Course previously offered as GEOL 79.
Experimental graduate level courses as offered by the Department.
Fundamental physical processes necessary for an understanding of plate tectonics; stress and strain in solids; elasticity and flexure; heat transfer; gravity; mantle rheology and convection.
Introduction to the theory, methods and applications of stable isotopes to low- and high-temperature problems. Primary focus will be on the origin, natural abundance, and fractionation of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen isotopes.
This seminar course is designed for graduate students keen on enhancing their quantitative and critical thinking skills in geochemistry. This seminar fosters a rigorous exploration of contemporary geochemical literature, intertwined with practical sessions on geochemical modeling and data analysis. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, collaborate on analytical challenges, and translate theoretical knowledge into actionable geochemical insights in this stimulating seminar.
All aspects of volcanism will be covered including seismology, geochemistry, deep structure, volcanic products and hazards. Readings of original papers will be stressed.
Develop explanatory and predictive models of the earth's climate. Introductory level and focused on modeling past climate with the hope of understanding its future. A thorough discussion of current global warming/climate change issues, including the science, history, and controversy, are the main topics of the last third of the course.
The goal of this seminar is to examine the Cretaceous to Eocene tectonics of the western United States to evaluate the putative flat slab processes responsible. Geologic research on the Laramide Orogeny predates plate tectonic theory, and the explosion of subsequent research warrants a reevaulation of existing theory.
Special topics course. Content will vary each semester. Course previously offered as GEOL 89.
Special topics courses in Marine Geology as offered by Department.
Special topics courses in Biological Oceanography as offered by Department.
Special topics courses in Physical Oceanography as offered by Department.
Special topics courses in Chemical Oceanography as offered by Department.
Special topics courses in Marine Sciences as offered by Department.
Acquaints early career graduate students with research techniques and assesses their propensity for research. Arranged by mutual agreement of student and faculty member.
Source: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 61
