GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES 575T

Paleoseismology

 

MH 212

R 6:00-9:50 PM

 

CLASS SYLLABUS AND OUTLINE

DR. FOSTER                                                                                                                FALL 2006

Office hours: TR 1:00-2:00 PM; R 3:00-5:00 PM or by appointment

Office: MH 204;x7096; Cell 714 749-3635

jfoster@fullerton.edu

Textbook:  McCalpin,  “Paleoseismology”.

 

 

 

Class time  6-9:50

ü       6:00-7:15                       Lecture

ü       7:30-8:00                       Discussion

ü       8:15-9:50                       Lab, Problem Solving, Individual Presentations

 

My objectives in this graduate course are to expose the student to significant literature about paleoseismology as well as to develop a level of sophistication in analyzing and mapping faults and fault related geology and relating that to the magnitude and severity of earthquakes.  Field trips are a very important part and every effort should be made to go on the trips.  We will analyze aerial photographs and both topographic and geologic maps, assess reports by local consultants and study in detail some of the recent literature about faulting and paleoseismology.  The student should be able to independently investigate, assess data from various sources and draw conclusions about the investigation, hazards and mechanics of earthquakes when the course is completed. 

 

Lectures

 

Students are expected to have read the material in the book or the paper under discussion prior to lecture and be able to ask questions and respond to questions during the lecture and discussion periods. 

 

Reading assignments will be given during the semester and you are expected to read the book.

 

Weekly Objectives and Significant Dates

 


Date

 

Topic

Reading

R - 8/24

Introduction to the class; Class objectives; Discussion of Paleoseismology.; Plate Tectonics

McCalpin Ch 1; Appendix 1

 

R – 8/31

Field Studies to determine activity of faulting

McCalpin Ch 2

Gilbert, G.K. (1886); Taylor and Cluff (1973); McGill and Sieh (1991).

R – 9/7

Soil Stratigraphic Principles applied to Paleoseismology

Ponti (1985); Tinsley and Fumal (1985);  Shlemon (1985)

R – 9/14

Methods and Techniques for dating young sediment

McFadden and Tinsley (1985); Owen et.al. (2006);  Pierce (1986); McCalpin Appendix B

R – 9/21

 Extensional Tectonic Environments

McCalpin Ch 3;  Bull (1996); Machette et.al. (1992)

SAT 9/23

Field trip to Cucamonga Fault/San Andreas Fault

Exercise in the field

R – 9/28

Extensional Tectonic Environments

McCalpin and Berry (1996); student research.

R – 10/5

Volcanic Environments

McCalpin Ch 4;  Smith et.al. (1996)

R – 10/12

Compressional Tectonic Environments

McCalpin Ch 5; Atwater et.al. (1995)

R – 10/19

Compressional Tectonic Environments

Student Research

R – 10/26

Strike slip Tectonic Environments

McCalpin Ch 6; Sieh (1978); Rockwell et.al. (1986)

R – 11/2

No Class-Professor out of town

 

R – 11/9

Strike Slip Tectonic Environments

Fumal et.al. (1993); student research

SAT-SUN

11/12-13

Weekend Field Trip to Southern San Andreas Fault and Laguna Salada, B.C.

Rockwell (1995)

Mapping and exercises

R – 11/16

Liquefaction-Induced Features

McCalpin Ch 7;  Saucier (1989)

R – 11/23

Thanksgiving Break

 

R – 11/30

Landslides

McCalpin Ch 8;  Jibson and Keefer (1993)

R – 12/7

Seismic Hazard Assessment

McCalpin Ch. 9; Ziony and Yerkes (1985)

R – 12/14

7:30-9:20 Final  (Presentations as needed)

 

 

Grading:

Class Participation (attendance and interaction)    100 points

one paper                                                          200 points

one presentation                                                50 points                                  

problem solving, Field Trips and Exercises           250 points

 

Grades will be determined based on participation in class and on field trips, discussions of assigned readings, a take-home exam and a project report and presentation.

Grading will be by percent of score possible and will be +/- in accordance with UPS 300.020 with an A+ for greater than 96%; an A for 93-96%; A- for 89 to 92%;/B+ for 87 to 88%; B for 82 to 86%; B- for 79 to 81%; C+ for 77 to 78%; C for 72 to 76%; C- for 69 to 71% and so forth.

 

The presentation will be for 20 minutes with a 10 minute question and answer.  Must be a powerpoint presentation.  Grading will focus on thoroughness, response to questions and performance.

 

 

Field Trips

 

We will take one Saturday Field Trip and one overnight field trip as shown above.