ES473/573 Environmental Geology


Class Syllabus (Adobe Acrobat Format)

Spring 2010 Syllabus

2009-2010 Finals Schedule

Bulletin Board **Check Here for Class News and Events**

Final 2010 grades are posted. Good teamwork everyone, have a great summer!

Click Here for Final Grade Sheet - Updated June 14, 2010



Spring 2010 Course Materials

The class notes are organized according to their order of occurrence throughout the term. They are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) Format. Acrobat Reader is invoked as a plug-in within the web browser environment. It is available on most machines at WOU. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free by returning to Taylor's Home Page

Exam study guides will be included as the term progresses. Please check future postings as exam time approaches

Links to Week 1 Activities
Class Notes: Introduction to Environmental Geology

  • Introductory Video Exercise

  • Reading 1 - Special Paper 32 Mitigating Geologic Hazards in Oregon (DOGAMI, 1999)
  • Reading 2 - Overview of Medical Geology (Bowman et al., 2003)

  • Example Article Summary

    Links to Week 2 Activities
  • Introduction to Earthquakes and Seismology
  • Earthquakes and Seismology Video Exercise
  • Overview of Earthquake Hazards in Oregon
  • Summary Notes - Wang (2000) Presentation on Oregon Seismic Hazards

    Summary Questions: Goldfinger et al., 2008, Linkage Between Cascadia Earthquakes and San Andreas Seismicity
  • Class Reading: Goldfinger et al., 2008, Linkage Between Cascadia Earthquakes and San Andreas Seismicity

    Seismic Hazards Lab Exercise
  • Seismic Hazards Lab Figures (Exercise 6)
  • Seismic Hazards Lab Figure 2.17 (Ex. 6)

  • Primer on Determining Earthquake Recurrence Intervals

    Slide Show: Tectonics Overview
    Slide Show: Seismic Hazards

    Links to Week 3 Activities
  • Volcanic Hazards of the Pacific Northwest
  • Volcanic Hazards of Mt. Hood, Oregon
  • Volcanic Hazards Lab Exercise
  • Volcanic Hazards Lab Figures (Exercise 4)

    Slide Show: Volcanic Hazards

    Links to Week 4 Activities
    Association of Engineering and Environmental Geologist Handbook

    Click Here for 2010 AEG Student Night - Poster Titles and Abstracts

  • Mass Wasting and Landslide Hazards
  • Case Study: Co-Seismic Landslides in Japan
  • Overview of Rapidly Moving Landlides and Debris Flows in Oregon

    Landslide Hazards Lab Exercise
  • Landslide Hazards Lab Figures
  • Refresher on Reading Topo Maps and Drawing Profiles

    Slide Show: Mass Wasting Hazards

    Links to Week 5 Activities
    LIDAR Seminar Summary Notes: OSU, April 28, 2009 (Faux-Watershed Sciences)
  • Overview of LIDAR Topographic Survey Methods (Hill et al., 2000)
  • LIDAR Mapping Fact Sheet
  • LIDAR Applications for Ecosystem Studies (Lefsky et al., 2002)
  • LIDAR Applications for Landslide Analysis (Glenn et al., 2006)
  • LIDAR Applications for Landslide Analysis Under Forest Cover (Eekhaut et al., 2006)

  • Slide Show: Introduction to LIDAR Mapping Technology

  • Oregon LIDAR Consortium Status Maps (May 2009)

    Overview of Flood Hazards
  • Slide Show: Rivers and Flood Hazards
  • Animation: Hydrologic Cycle Animation (NASA)

    Links to Week 6 Activities
    Midterm Portfolio Instructions - Due Thurs. May 6
    Midterm Study Guide Updated 4/29/10
    Spring 2009 Showcase Abstracts (Final Document Submitted May 4, 2009)

  • Introduction to Landfill Technology
  • Overview of Landfill Terms / Concepts
  • Figures to Accompany Landfill Notes

    Links to Week 7 Activities
    Introduction to Groundwater

  • Groundwater Video Summary Questions
  • Figures to Accompany Groundwater Notes
  • Drilling / Field Techniques

    Slide Show: Introduction to Groundwater

    Lab Exercise: Groundwater Flow Problem Set


    Links to Week 8 Activities
    Field Guide to Environmental Geology of Monmouth-Independence Area
    Field Guide to Regional Hydrogeology of Mid-Willamette Valley

    Independence Public Works - Field Trip Summary Notes

  • Slide Show: Regional Hydrogeology of Willamette Valley

    Links to Week 9 Activities
    Spring 2010 Showcase Abstracts - Medical Geology

    Coffin Butte Landfill Field Guide

  • Coffin Butte Field Trip Summary Notes (2000)
  • Coffin Butte Field Trip Summary Notes (2001)
  • Coffin Butte Field Trip Summary Notes (2010)


    Links to Week 10 Activities
    Showcase Abstracts - Medical Geology - Poster Review Process (June 1, 2010)
  • Spring 2010 Showcase Abstracts - Medical Geology

    Summary Reading - Hydrogeologic Framework of Southern Willamette Valley
    Summary Reading - Environmental Setting of Willamette Valley
    Summary Reading - Groundwater Quality in Southern Willamette Valley

    Review Questions - Hydrogeology of the Willamette Valley (MS word *.doc)

    Lab Exericise: Geology, Planning, and Landfill Design
  • Lab Figures - Geology, Planning, and Landfill Design

    Reading: Ground Water Remediation Techniques (background material for final hour of lecture last week)


    ES473 2010 Academic Showcase Project - Medical Geology Theme Session

    Showcase Abstracts - Medical Geology Theme Session

    Medical Geology Poster Links
  • 1. Session Overview (Taylor)
  • 2. Medical Geology: Introduction and Overview of an Emerging Discipline (Dana)
  • 3. Medical Geology: Example Applications and Research Directives (Devenberg)
  • 4. Earth Materials at the Foundation: Geological Factors that Effect Human Health (Berg)
  • 5. Water Quality and Public Health (Marshall)
  • 6. Biogeochemical Cycling and Interactions: Implications for Human Health (Clarno)
  • 7. Anthropogenic Factors and Human Health (DesJardin)
  • 8. Applied Geochemistry as a Tool in Medical Geology (Dziekan)
  • 9. Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis: A 21st Century Tool for Epidemiology and Public Health Management (Vreeland)
  • 10. Regional Medical Geology: Global Health Trends and Geographic Case Studies (Marquez)
  • 11. Health Effects from Volcanic Eruptions (Friscia)
  • 12. The Effects of Global Dust Flux on Human Health (Bulen)
  • 13. Radon: A Deadly Carcinogen in the Geologic Environment (Osborn)
  • 14. The Problem with Geogenic Arsenic and Global Health Effects (Keller)
  • 15. Arsenic Occurrence and Health Risks in Aquifer Systems of Western Oregon (Blanchard)
  • 16. Geochemical Controls on Selenium Occurrence in the Environment: Dietary Balancing Between Deficiency and Toxicity (Morris)
  • 17. Geologic Occurrence of Mercury and Iodine: Health Concerns in the 21st Century (Ten Clay)
  • 18. Impacts of Mineral Resource Extraction: The Effects of Coal and Asbestos Residues on Human Health (McCallister)
  • 19. Bedrock Composition, Soil Chemistry and Animal Health: Global Case Studies in Applied Medical Geology (Johnson)
  • 20. Geophagy: The Effects of Soil Ingestion on Human Diet and Health (Robinson)

    Student Assignments and Reading List - Updated April 22, 2010 1:00 PM

    Link to Downloadable Medical Geology Project Papers and Readings



    ES473/573 Class Archives

    Link to ES473 Class Note Archive

    Link to ES473 Academic Showcase Archives


    Class Slide Shows

    Tectonics Overview
    Seismic Hazards
    Volcanic Hazards
    Hydrologic Cycle / Global Water Budget
  • Hydrologic Cycle Animation (NASA)
    Rivers and Flood Hazards
    Mass Wasting Hazards

    Introduction to LIDAR Mapping Technology

    Introduction to Groundwater
    Water Pollution Overview
    Regional Hydrogeology of Willamette Valley
    Overview of Groundwater Contamination and Remediation
    Case Study: Regional Controls Nitrate Contamination in the Willamette Aquifer
    Case Studies: Groundwater Contamination and Remediation in the Willamette Valley

    Field Trip Guides

  • Field Guide to Geology and Geomorphology of the Mid-Willamette Valley
  • Field Guide to Environmental Geology of Monmouth-Independence Area
  • Coffin Butte Landfill Field Guide


    Poster Project Resources

    Click Here for WOU Earth Science Howling Wolf Logo (rt-click; save as; *.pptx powerpoint file)

    General Resources and Project Guides

    Guide to Writing Scientific Abstracts

    Guide to Preparing Abstracts
    Guide to Preparing Scientific Posters
    Reference Citation Method (use for all text/graphics)

    Powerpoint poster template (Portrait 32 x 40 inches) - rt-click-saveas-save to your folder
    Powerpoint poster template (Landscape 40 x 32 inches) - rt-click-saveas-save to your folder
  • Alternative Poster Template (Research Poster 32 x 48 A.ppt)
  • Alternative Poster Template (Research Poster 32 x 40 B.ppt)
  • Alternative Poster Template (Research Poster 32 x 40 C.ppt)
  • Alternative Poster Template (Research Poster 32 x 40 F.ppt)
  • Alternative Poster Template (Research Poster 40 x 32 D.ppt)
  • Alternative Poster Template (Research Poster 40 x 32 A.ppt)

    Poster Scoring Guide for Peer Reviews


    Class and Lab Exercises

    Introductory Video Exercise

    Unit Conversion Tables

    Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geology

    Introduction to Engineering Geology Problem Set
  • Background Reading: Problems in Rock Properties

    Slope Stability Problem Set
  • Background Reading: Slope Stability

    Flood Hazards Lab
  • Surface Water Equation List
  • Surface Water Data (Excel)

    Introduction to Surfer Software Package Groundwater Flow Problem Set

    Mountain Fir Part A - Well Log Interpretation

    Mountain Fir Part B - Site Project Click here to join a global climate model experiment!

    Luckiamute Watershed Assessment Assignment

    Lab Manual Exercises

  • Refresher on Reading Topo Maps and Drawing Profiles

  • Volcanic Hazards
  • Volcanic Hazards Lab Figures (Exercise 4)

  • Mt. St. Helens Case Study

    Seismic Hazards
  • Seismic Hazards Lab Figures (Exercise 6)

  • Loma Prieta Case Study

    Landslide Hazards
  • Landslide Hazards Lab Figures
  • Refresher on Reading Topo Maps and Drawing Profiles

  • Ground Water Introduction
  • Ground Water Contamination
  • Water Quality
  • Geology and Planning - Landfill Design

    Surface Water Hydrology Techniques

  • Beeson, 1968, Comparison of Flood Frequency Methods Used by Federal Agencies

  • Tips and Guidelines for Conducting Streamflow Analysis

  • Overview of Flood Frequency Analysis

  • Overview of Annual Streamflow Analysis
  • Tutorial on Annual Streamflow Anlysis
  • Annual Tutorial Data (*.xls)

  • Tutorial on Daily Streamflow Analysis
  • Tutorial on Instantaneous Streamflow Analysis
  • Instantaneous Tutorial Data (*.xls)

  • Overview of Flow Duration Analysis
  • Tutorial on Flow Duration Analysis
  • Flow Duration Tutorial Data (*.xls)


    Lab / Quiz Answer Keys

    Intro to Quantitative Methods Key
    Intro to Rock Properties Lab Key

    Slope Stability / Mass Wasting Lab Key
    Groundwater Flow Problems Key
    Well Log Exercise Key
    Mountain Fir Project Key


    Writing and Presentation Guides

    Guidelines for Geowriting (New Spring 2009!)

    General Guide to Technical Writing for Earth Science Students
    A General Template for Compiling a Lab Exercise Portfolio
    Example Article Summary
    Guide to Preparing Scientific Posters

    Spring 2006 Writing Assignments and Due Dates

    Study Guides

    Midterm Study Guide Updated 4/30/10

    Final Exam Study Guide - Final Tues. June 8, 12-2 PM

    Final Lab Portfolio Checklist - June 3, 2010