The natural physical environment; the landscape; rocks and minerals, rivers and oceans; volcanism, earthquakes, and other processes inside the Earth; effects of human use of the Earth and its resources. Field trip. (Cross-listed as SUST 101) DP
The natural physical environment; the landscape; rocks and minerals, rivers and oceans; volcanism, earthquakes, and other processes inside the Earth; effects of human use of the Earth and its resources. Field trip.
(1 3-hr Lab) Hands-on study of minerals, rocks, and topographic maps. Examine volcanism, hydrology, coastal processes and hazards, geologic time and earthquakes. Field trips to investigate landslides, beaches and O‘ahu geology. A-F only.
Introductory mathematical approaches to quantifying key aspects of global and environmental change. Includes data analysis, graphical representation and modeling of population growth, greenhouse gas emissions and fate, sustainable resource utilization, and sea level change. A-F only. (Spring only) (Cross-listed as SUST 113)
Hawaiian geology and geologic processes: origin of Hawaiian islands, volcanism, rocks and minerals, landforms, stream and coastal processes, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis, groundwater, geologic and environmental hazards. Field trip.
Lecture with field trips covering the manner in which geological conditions, resources, and events have affected past and present circum-Pacific societies.
An illustrated voyage through the Solar System based on recent scientific results. The class highlights the origin, evolution, and current knowledge of the eight planets, their moons, asteroids, comets, and one star, the Sun. Field trip. (Cross-listed as ASTR 150)
Prepares students to make decisions such as where to build/buy a house, sustainable use of natural resources, and what environmental actions relevant to society and Earth’s ecosystem are appropriate on a local and global scale. A-F only. (Cross-listed as SUST 116)
Explore the wonders of the Solar System through hands-on experience of science. Will study satellite images, evaluate planetary surface observations, analyze data of objects in our Solar System, conduct experiments, and communicate their findings. Repeatable one time. A-F only.
Examines the origin and classification of volcanoes, volcanic eruptions, and volcanic deposits. Includes the history of volcanic studies, myths, and legends. Emphasis on volcanic eruptions, eruptive products, volcanic hazards, and risk management. (Spring only)
Introductory course covering the causes of, and effects from, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, landslides, rockfalls, and other natural geologic phenomena. Open to non-majors. Field trips. (Alt. years)
Examines how natural hazards have affected the course of human culture and societies from pre-history to the present in Hawai‘i/Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. A-F only. (Spring only)
Introduction to pre-calculus math and physics applied to Earth and environmental science. Students work on real-world problems and engage in participatory learning. Preparatory for classes in calculus and physics. Pre: MATH 134, 161, or MATH assessment exam (with score required for MATH 140). (Fall only) (Cross-listed as ATMO 150 and OCN 150)
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Structure, composition and evolution of Earth; processes responsible for formation, deformation and transformation of rocks; plate tectonics. Emphasis on quantitative methods, problem solving and critical thinking to geology. Laboratory and field trips required.
Lower division reading and research in any area of ERTH under the direction of a faculty member. Repeatable four times or up to six credits. CR/NC only.
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Origin and age of the solar system and earth: interior of the earth; plate tectonics and records of biological evolution and past environments. Pre: 101L and one of 101, 103, 104, 106, or 130; or consent. 101L may be taken concurrently. ERTH and GEOL majors only. Consent required for all non-majors.
Introduction to the science of climate change focusing on Earth’s past, present and future, specifically, the causes, consequences, and record of past changes; future projections, mitigation, and adaptation. Appropriate for both science and non-science majors. Pre: 101 or 103 or 104 or 106 or 111 or 130 or ATMO 101 or GES 102, or consent. (Fall only)
(2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Introduction to solving scientific problems by computer programming. Overview of the MatLab programming language and environment. Emphasis placed on good style, logical reasoning, and applied mathematics. Pre: MATH 241 (or concurrent).
Volcanic eruptions and their consequences. Includes models for volcanic eruptions including explosive eruptions and lava flows, monitoring of active volcanoes, evaluation and impacts of volcanic hazards, and mitigation of volcanic risk. Field trips. Normally fall. ERTH and GEOL majors or consent. Pre: (200 or 201) with a minimum grade of B+ or consent
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Introduction to the chemistry, crystalline structure, geologic occurrence, and physical properties of minerals. Development of critical thinking and writing skills. Pre: 200 or 201 and (CHEM 162/162L or CHEM 171/171L). or consent.
(2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Survey of composition, classification, and occurrence of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Hand-specimen identification and optical petrography of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Development of critical thinking and writing skills. Pre: 301 or consent.
Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Dynamic behavior of Earth’s surface, physical processes driving geohazards, and the risks pposed to society. Theory, practical techniques, and data visualization to measure, analyze, and interpret hazards and implications. Pre: MATH 215 or MATH 241 or MATH 251A, and PHYS 151 or PHYS 170; or consent.
Methods used in geological investigations in the field. Eight hours on Saturday in the field. Pre: 333; or consent. (Spring only)
Physical properties of water, geological aspects of surface water and ground water occurrence, surface water and groundwater resources, use, and problems. Pre: 200 or 201, or consent. (Spring only)
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Modern and past terrestrial and oceanic processes and environments that form sediments and sedimentary rocks, and their interpretation in Earth history. Incorporates properties, principles and applications of sedimentology, sedimentary petrology, geochemistry and stratigraphy. Repeatable one time. Pre: 200 or 201 or consent, and 333 or consent. (Spring only)
Advanced mathematical methods with emphasis on application to the earth and ocean sciences and engineering. Topics include linear algebra, vector calculus, ordinary differential equations, and numerical methods. Pre: MATH 242 or consent. (Cross-listed as OCN 312)
Mechanics of lithosphere deformation related to plate convergence, rifting and strike-slip faulting, and the evolution of mountain belts. Use of theory and skillbuilding techniques to measure, describe, analyze, and interpret structures on Earth. A-F only. Pre: 200 or 201; and 250; and MATH 241 or MATH 251A; and PHYS 170. (Fall only)
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Essentials of geophysics: application of physics understanding Earth, planetary, and solar dynamics. Topics include heat flow, gravity, geodesy, electromagnetism, seismology. Applications to core and mantle dynamics, plate tectonics, volcanoes, hydrology, environmental concerns, and archaeology. Pre: 250, 303, 313, MATH 242, and PHYS 272, PHYS 272L; or consent.
Theory and applications of chemical principles and chemical analysis to Earth, ocean and environmental sciences; chemistry of hydrosphere-geosphere-biosphere system, origin/ differentiation of Earth/Solar system, volcanic processes, natural radioactivity, organic/inorganic chemistry. Pre: 200 or 201, and MATH 241 or MATH 251A, and CHEM 162 (or concurrent); or consent. (Fall only)
(2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Lecture and lab that covers formation, occurrence, and identification of common minerals, rocks, and geologic structures. Lab work will include study of hand-samples, thin-sections, and field experiences. A-F only. Pre: 200 or 201. (Fall only)
Experiential approach to earth science; students serve as interns to field professionals; responsibilities include supervised field work. Open to undergraduate SOEST majors. Repeatable one time. CR/NC only. Pre: junior/senior standing and consent.
Research experience for Earth Science undergraduates. Under the guidance of a mentor, the student will conduct research and write a report on the background, methods, data, interpretations, and conclusions of the work. Repeatable one time only. Earth Sciences majors only. Junior standing or higher. CR/NC only.
Directed reading in earth sciences. Repeatable up to six credits. Junior/ Senior standing only. Pre: consent.
Scientific study of the materials that make up the Earth. Properties of minerals on micro- and macro-scales; their properties and behavior. Pre: 302 and PHYS 272, or consent. (Alt. years)
Consists of lectures, discussions, and field trips on the geologic processes and geologic history of the Hawaiian islands, with emphasis on writing communication. Pre: 302 and 303; or consent.
Essential techniques for remote compositional analysis of planets; understanding spectroscopy, mineralogy, and geochemistry of planetary surfaces. Comparative studies of fundamental planetary science phenomena. Planetary surface science discoveries. Sustainability of planetary environments. Repeatable one time. Pre: (101 or 105 or 107 or ASTR 150; and CHEM 161; and MATH 241 and 242 and PHYS 272) with a minimum grade of C+; or consent.
Evaluates ethical practice of geoscience as it relates to studies of natural disasters that result from geological and meteorological phenomena and the means that earth scientists interact with the laymen. Pre: 101, 103, 104, or 170. (Once a year)
Lecture and discussion on the origin, distribution and exploitation of fossil fuels, renewable energy resources and ore deposits. Coverage and detail will depend partly on student interest and background. Pre: consent.
Gain professional training and practical experience giving scientific presentations emphasizing Earth and planetary sciences, including analysis of associated ethical issues. Grading is distributed 60/40 between three oral communication assignments and related ethics content. Pre: 200 or 201 or consent
Exploratory data analysis, error propagation, probability theory and statistics, curve fitting, regression, sequence and spectral analysis, multivariate analysis, and analysis of directional data. Pre: 250 and MATH 242 (or concurrent) or consent.
Global and local aspects of climate change and paleoclimate; beach and reef processes and response to climate change; management of coastal environments; field study local sites. Repeatable one time. Junior standing or higher, or consent. (Cross-listed as SUST
427)
Sediments, structure, geophysics, geochemistry, history of ocean basins and margins. Pre: 200 and 302 or consent. (Cross-listed as OCN 423)
Theory and applications of contaminant/pollutant distribution in the hydrosphere-geosphere-biosphere-atmosphere system, remediation methods, prevention, industrial/agricultural best practices. Topics include aqueous geochemistry, organic, inorganic, gas phase, and ecosystem impacts of environmental contaminants. Pre: CHEM 161 and CHEM 162, or consent. (Spring only) (Cross-listed as SUST 425)
(2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Quantitative geometrical analysis techniques of plate tectonics theory; instantaneous and finite rotation poles; triple-junction analysis; plate boundary stresses. Pre: 200 or consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 444)
Earthquakes and crustal deformation through modern seismological and geodetic observations; elastic properties of rocks, seismic waves, causes, detection, and location of earthquakes; crustal motions of the earthquake cycle; tsunami generation, liquefaction, and planetary observations. Pre: MATH 241 and PHYS 170, or consent. (Alt. years)
Solutions of geotechnical problems by geologists and engineers through recognition, characterization, evaluation, and assessment of geologic processes that impact people, engineering structures, and engineering operations. Group format. ERTH, GEOL, and CEE majors only. Junior standing and higher. Pre: consent. (Spring only)
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Occurrence, characteristics, movement, quality, development, and contamination of water in the Earth’s crust.
(3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Combined lecture-lab on the concepts behind, geologic uses for, and techniques of satellite and airborne remote sensing. Lab work will consist of computer image processing. Field trips. Open to non-majors. Pre: 200 or 201 or consent. (Alt. years: Spring)
Combined lecture/lab covering the collection, analysis and use of geospatially registered field data. Pre: (200 or 201) or equivalent. (Fall only)
Comparative geology of the terrestrial planets (moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth); impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, geomorphology, weathering; manned and unmanned space exploration. Pre: any 100-level ERTH course.
Introduction to the basics of the geology and spectroscopy of our Moon. A-F only. Senior standing or higher. Pre: 101. (Fall only)
Exploration of the origin and evolution of our solar system. Understanding the composition of the universe and its constituents (planets, asteroids, stars, comets, and meteorites). A-F only. Pre: 101 or 103 or 104 or 106 or 130 and CHEM 161 and PHYS 170. (Alt. years: spring)
Directed research in which the student carries out a scientific project of small to moderate scope with one or more chosen advisors. The student must complete a document in the style of a scientific journal article. Repeatable one time. Pre: consent.
Designed for in-service school professionals to learn new approaches and concepts in the fields of earth and planetary sciences. Repeatable for credit. Credits earned in these courses cannot be applied for graduate degrees.
Least-square approximation of functions by orthogonal series; potential, wave heat flow equations; boundary value problems; Bessel Hankel functions, spherical harmonics, potential theory, plane waves, spherical waves; emphasis on geophysics application. Pre: MATH 244 or MATH 253A, PHYS 400, or consent.
Explosive volcanic eruptions: from causes to consequences. Review of current physical volcanology including ascent and fragmentation of magma, transport and deposition processes in pyroclastic eruptions, volcanic crisis management and volcanic eruption scenarios. Seven-day field trip. A-F only. Pre: 300 or consent.
Derivation of phase diagrams from basic thermodynamics principles. Equilibria of natural silicate systems. Crystal chemistry, kinetics, diffusion, etc., Applied to igneous and metamorphic petrology. Pre: 302, 325, and CHEM 351 (or concurrent); or consent. (Alt. years)
(2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Petrogenesis of the oceanic lithosphere, including mantle processes and rocks from mid-ocean ridges, seamounts, oceanic hotspots, back-arc basins, and intra-oceanic arcs. Pre: 302 or consent. (Alt. years)
Combined lecture/ discussion focusing on the scientific understanding of the forces and processes underlying natural hazards; and human attempts to respond to these through mitigation and and planning. Pre: PLAN 670 or consent. (Once a year) (Cross-listed as PLAN 671)
Effusion eruptions: from eruption to final flow form. Includes: rheology, effusion rate, heat loss, and field measurements, followed by inflation, flow forms, lava lakes, domes, flow hazard and modeling. Field trips to Kilauea and Makapuu. A-F only. Pre: 300 or consent. (Alt. years)
Discussion of active areas of volcanism and new publications on volcanology. Repeatable four times. Pre: 300 (or concurrent) or consent.
Seminar exploring different aspects of submarine effusive and explosive volcanism, hydrothermal activity, and volcano-hosted ecosystems. Repeatable one time. A-F only. Pre: 300 or consent. (Alt.years: fall)
Principles of radiogenic and stable isotope, and trace element geochemistry as applied to igneous petrology, mantle dynamics, plate tectonics, and terrestrial evolution. Pre: 302 and 325. (Alt. years)
For ERTH graduate students who lead, under faculty supervision, a scheduled class in Geology and Geophysics. The instructor will define the student’s responsibilities when offering ERTH 609, and these responsibilities must be met for a passing grade. As the consent to take the class must also be granted by the department chair, the chair will also review the responsibilities required by the instructor. ERTH graduate students only. CR/NC only. Pre: consent of instructor and department chair.
Seminar in which students present a 15- to 20-minute talk on their research or a related topic. Meets once a week with two to three talks per meeting. Graduate students are required to register for this course once per year. Repeatable eight times.
Lecture presenting a rapid-paced survey of earth sciences for graduate students. Includes origin of the Solar System, tectonics, volcanology, whole-earth composition, phase transformations, petrology (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary), historical geology, and hydrology. Saturday field trips. (Fall only)
Exploratory data analysis, error propagation, probability theory and statistics, curve fitting, regression, sequence and spectral analysis, multivariate analysis, and analysis of directional data. Credit earned only one time for either 413 or 613. Pre: 250 and MATH 242 (or concurrent), or consent. (Fall only)
Shipboard and land-based projects. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.
Literate programming with R, RStudio, and R Markdown for data analysis and research. Introduction to Matlab for rapid modeling. Emphasis on the preparation of research papers for scholarly publication in the Earth and environmental sciences. Pre: competence in basic differential and integral calculus. (Fall only)
Designed for students who have collected data and want to know how to publish their work in a scientific journal. Covers the essential parts of paper preparation and submission. ERTH students only. A-F only. Pre: consent. (Alt. years: fall)
Will cover the full hydrogeophysical workflow including theory, acquisition design, field data acquisition, data processing, data inversion, and hydrogeological interpretation. Methods include ambient seismic, 3D electrical resistivity tomography and induced
polarization, and self-potential. Pre: consent. (Summer only)
Geological history and geologic framework of the Hawaiian shoreline. Modern climate change, paleoclimate, focus on sea level change. Modern coastal management and problems in the coastal environment. Coastal planning. Repeatable one time, credit earned one time. (Spring only) (Cross-listed as SUST 627)
Combined lecture-lab on the principles of geochemical analysis by electron microprobe and X-ray fluorescence. Hands-on experience with the electron microprobe. Required to operate the UH electron microprobe. Pre: 301 or consent.
Theory and applications of contaminant/pollutant distribution in the hydrosphere-geosphere-biosphere-atmosphere system and remediation methods. Topics include aqueous geochemistry, organic, inorganic, gas phase and isotope chemistry of environmental contaminants. Pre: 325 or consent. (Spring only)
Finite difference, finite element, and other modeling techniques applied to geological and geophysical problems. Physical modeling of heat flow, molecular diffusion, solidification and melting, deformation, fluid flow, wave propagation, and other phenomena. Repeatable one time. A-F only. (Once a year)
Continuum mechanics in geophysics, as applied to the deformation of Earth materials (elastic, viscous, viscoelastic, and plastic deformations) and seismic wave propagation (body waves, surface waves, anisotropy, and attenuation). Pre: (with a minimum grade of B-) for PHYS 170, PHYS 272, and MATH 307 or ERTH 312 (or equivalent). (Fall only)
Fundamental theory and practical applications of the use of gravity, magnetics, and heat conduction to probing the structure of the Earth; heat transfer via mantle convection is a major control on Earth’s internal structure. Pre: (with a minimum grade of B-) for PHYS 170, PHYS 272, and MATH 307 or ERTH 312 (or equivalent). (Spring only)
Elasticity, wave equations, body waves, surface waves, free oscillations, seismometry, seismogram interpretation, tectonics, inversion, source theory, and waveform modeling. Pre: 600 or consent.
Global view of the planet and how it functions as an integrated unit. Biogeochemical processes, dynamics, and cycles, and analysis of natural and human-induced environmental change. Chemical history of ocean-atmospheric-sediment system and co-evolution of the biota. Repeatable one time. Pre: BS in environmentally related science or one year of chemistry, physics, and calculus; or consent. (Cross-listed as OCN 638)
Stable isotope geochemistry applied to questions of biogeochemical cycling in the oceans, sediment diagenesis, paleoceanography, environmental geochemistry and ecology. Pre: 325 or consent. (Alt. years)
Geochemistry at the land-ocean interface: coastal hydrology, subterranean estuaries and coastal mixing and their importance in governing the distribution of selected radiotracers, trace metals and nutrients. Combined lecture-lab with field trips and group projects. Pre: CHEM 162, and MATH 241 or MATH 251A; or consent. (Alt. years)
(2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Environment of deposition and subsequent diagenesis of modern and ancient sediments. Petrogenesis of siliciclastic, carbonate and orthochemical rocks. Sedimentology, sedimentary petrography and geochemistry. Repeatable one time. Pre: consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 641)
Changes in the chemical composition of meteorites, bulk Earth, Earth’s mantle and crust, sedimentary rocks, hydrosphere and biosphere, and underlying principles. Pre: consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 642)
Geochemical thermodynamics and kinetics and their use in interpreting the origin of sediments, sedimentary rocks, and natural waters over a range of pressure-temperature conditions. Pre: CHEM 171, or CHEM 161 and CHEM 162; PHYS 152; and MATH 242 or MATH 252A; and consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 644)
Magnetic fields of Earth, planets, stars, and galaxies; dynamo theories; paleomagnetism; terrestrial and lunar rock magnetism; planetary, regional, and local geomagnetic sounding. Pre: consent. (Alt. years)
Principles of groundwater chemistry; chemical evolution in natural groundwater flow systems; sources of contamination; mass transport processes; hydrochemical behavior of contaminants. Pre: 455.
Introduction to the finite-difference method; steady-state and transient groundwater flow in saturated and unsaturated media; applications to groundwater recharge and aquifer evaluation. A-F only. Pre: CEE 627 or consent. (Cross-listed as CEE 623)
Formation of astrobiologically important molecules and their precursors in the interstellar medium and in our solar system: first principles and latest trends. Pre: consent. (Fall only) (Cross-listed as ASTR 657 and CHEM 657)
Comparative geology of terrestrial planets (moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth); impact cratering, volcanism, geomorphology; remote sensing; manned and unmanned space exploration. Pre: 601, ASTR 630; or consent. (Alt. years)
Formation and evolution of planets as astrophysical objects, geologic bodies, and abodes of life; current understanding from studies of the Solar System, star formation, meteorites, exoplanets; theory of formation and dynamics; atmospheres, oceans, habitability, biosignatures. Pre: 325 or CHEM 351 (or equivalent); or consent. (Alt. years)
Spectroscopic, radar, thermal, and other methods for remote sensing applied to geologic problems; instrumental design and data analysis. (B) planets; (C) volcanoes. Pre: 666 or consent.
Evolution of ocean basins, margins, foldbelts, and platforms, from plate tectonics and regional syntheses of structure, petrology, geophysics, and stratigraphy. Repeatable eight times. (Alt. years)
Mineralogical and compositional characteristics of extraterrestrial matter and the implications for the origin and history of the solar system. The subject is treated in two full-semester courses: (B) meteorites; (C) petrology of the Moon and Mars. Pre: consent.
Study of the paleoceanographic and paleoclimate evolution of the Earth’s oceans, atmosphere and biosphere. Repeatable one time. Pre: consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 674)
Introduction to the Generic Mapping Tools (GMT). Processing of scientific data and the automated preparation of maps and illustrations using GMT on UNIX workstations, with introduction to UNIX and the C shell environment.
Time- and frequency analysis, filtering, factor and cluster analysis, interpolation, quantitative map analysis, and introduction to wavelets and fractals. Pre: 413 or consent.
Linear and nonlinear techniques for model selection, parameter estimation, simulation and forecasting, from Bayesian principles with particular attention to large data sets and sparse noisy data. Pre: 600 or 691. (Alt. years)
Repeatable unlimited times. CR/NC only. Pre: consent.
Repeatable unlimited times.
Interpretation of geophysical and laboratory data to understand elastic and anelastic properties, composition, phase relationships, temperature distribution in the Earth. Pre: consent. (Alt. years)
Lecture on elasticity theory, fracture mechanics and boundary element modeling, with application to faults and fractures in the Earth. Pre: consent.
Content to be announced. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.
Content to be announced. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.
Seminar to improve student awareness of trends and practices in geoscience professions, and develop ability to prepare, deliver, and evaluate a professional scientific presentation. Targets abstract writing, oral presentation, and technical criticism. Repeatable two times. A-F only. (Spring only)
Practical hands-on professional experience, typically with a local company or agency, and involving a final written report and an oral presentation. A grade of credit is assigned when the internship presentations are satisfactorily completed. Repeatable up to six credits. MGEO majors only. CR/NC only.
Repeatable unlimited times.