Earth Sciences courses

Active hydrothermal systems are dynamic and of vital significance to national energy requirements. In addition, their fossil equivalents are often important sites for ore deposition. This course overviews the geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical features of hydrothermal systems with an emphasis on exploration and development of active systems for geothermal energy, and fossil systems for mineral resources.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: this course runs as a field course during the mid-semester break
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOLOGY 703
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course coordinator:  Kathleen Campbell

Contemporary methods used to identify and assess natural hazards, techniques used for the probabilistic forecasting, spatial representation and communication of hazards. How the relationship between hazard information, risk mitigation and emergency management is addressed. There will be a strong focus on the use of case studies.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: one 2-hour class each week, plus a 2-day field course during the mid-semester break and a 4-hour workshop in week 8
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOLOGY 705
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences, Environmental Science and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Jan Lindsay

New Zealand is an ideal location in which to investigate the interplay between tectonics and geomorphic processes. This will be demonstrated by combining relevant case studies and field practice whereby students will develop skills in report writing and handling of some of the data, literature and tools necessary to conduct field research in active tectonics and landform generation.

Format: One 2-hour class each week, plus a 4-day field course (dates to be confirmed)
Points: 15
Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOG 743, GEOLOGY 713, 773
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences and Geography programmes

*This course is not offered in 2018.

Understanding why, how and where earthquakes occur from identification of their source parameters to consideration of their effects (ground shaking, fault rupture and crustal stress changes). Topics include seismic style, earthquake size and source parameters, recurrence interval, conditions for failure, and earthquakes as agents for crustal fluid redistribution.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 2-hour class each week, plus a 4-day field course, Friday 1 – Monday 4 April
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOLOGY 712, 714
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course coordinator: Jennifer Eccles

Provides a broad overview of applications of geochemistry across multiple disciplines. In addition, this course will help determine the suitability of different analytical techniques to different problems while providing practical experience in collecting and evaluating geochemical data. Subject areas are wide-reaching and include, geology, environmental science, biology, archaeology, and forensic sciences. Prerequisite: No formal prerequisites but knowledge of introductory chemistry will be assumed.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 2-hour lecture and one 2-hour laboratory each week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOLOGY 720
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences and Environmental Science programmes
Course coordinator: Michael Rowe

Examines key issues in environmental change with an emphasis on the South West Pacific during the Quaternary. Methods applied to reconstruct and constrain the timing of environmental change are explored, including glacial geomorphology, environmental isotopes, micro- and macro-fossil remains such as pollen, diatoms and wood, and relevant geochronologic techniques.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 2-hour class each week, plus a 4-day field course, Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 May
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOG 732
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences and Geography programmes
Course Coordinator: Paul Augustinus

Understanding how and why volcanoes erupt from magma processes in mantle to eruption at the surface. All tectonic settings and explosive and effusive processes are examined. Volcanic hazards and resource exploration in volcanic terrain is also covered.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: one 2-hour class each week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Restriction: GEOLOGY 752
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course Coordinator:  Philip Shane

An integrated account of aspects of advanced sedimentology from sediment source to sink. Critical examination of recent and ongoing, pure and applied research into the dynamics of sedimentary environments and their recognition in the ancient record.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: One hour class each week, plus two half-day fieldtrips in the weekend of 17-18 September
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisite, but knowledge of sedimentology and sedimentary processes at the level covered in EARTHSCI 202 or 262 will be assumed
Restriction: GEOLOGY 754
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course Coordinator:  Lorna Strachan
 

A field-based course which provides hands-on experience in outcrop mapping, geomorphic mapping, and simple field testing of rocks and soils for geotechnical purposes.

This course is taught in: Summer School, City Campus (SS C)

Format: The course runs from 22 January to 9 February. It is taught as a non-residential field course, with field work from 22 January to 2 February.
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework - entirely based on the field mapping assignments
Prerequisites: EARTHSCI 372 or GEOLOGY 372
Restriction: GEOLOGY 701
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course coordinator: Nicholas Richards
 

Advanced engineering geology focused on engineering practice. Interpretation of in-situ testing and laboratory test data (including groundwater) for the derivation of design parameters for input into numerical modeling software. The topics covered include, but are not limited to, design and analysis of site investigation, advanced core logging, slope stability analysis, rock fall assessment, introduction to numerical modeling, liquefaction and seismic hazard assessment for engineering design.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour class plus a 2-hour laboratory each week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: EARTHSCI 372, GEOLOGY 372 or equivalent
Restriction: GEOLOGY 771
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course coordinator: Martin Brook 

Examination of groundwater processes, use and management.

*This course is not offered in 2018.

An advanced field-based course in geological and earth surface processes. This will be held at a field station in New Zealand. Students will be exposed to terrains and techniques that build on their undergraduate field studies. Students will undertake semi-independent fieldwork such as terrain and geologic mapping, and reconstruct a 500 million history of New Zealand.

This course is taught in: Summer School, City Campus (SS C)

Format: One week residential field course
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisite, but an understanding equivalent to EARTHSCI 301 or 330 will be assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences programme
Course coordinator: Joel Baker

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

To complete this course, students must enrol in EARTHSCI 789 A and B, or EARTHSCI 789.

Points: 30

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

To complete this course, students must enrol in EARTHSCI 789 A and B, or EARTHSCI 789.

Points: 15

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

To complete this course, students must enrol in EARTHSCI 789 A and B, or EARTHSCI 789.

Points: 15

An exploration of the character and causes of past, present, and future climate change. Content includes examination of how and where climate is (or is not) currently changing, and uncertainties associated with future projections. The temporal focus will be on the Holocene and the Anthropocene, through to the end of the 21st century. A human society context will feature throughout.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour class per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework and 50% examination
Prerequisite: none
Course coordinator: Anthony Fowler  

Project-based course in which the students analyse surface seismic data to develop a geologic model with professional software. Students perform a step-by-step seismic processing flow, followed by a 3D seismic volume interpretation to develop a conceptual basin model. Two laboratory hours per week are scheduled contact hours, but students will conduct the bulk of the project at their own pace.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour class each week
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: EARTHSCI 361 or GEOLOGY 361 or GEOPHYS 361 or equivalent
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences and Geophysics programmes
Course coordinator: Ludmila Adam