Course Description & General Information

Ge151: Spring 2011

Course Description

Review of processes responsible for the formation and modification of the surfaces of the terrestrial planets, and the surface histories so recorded. Topics covered: Exogenic surface processes, especially those associated with impacts, erosion, and atmospheric modification of surfaces by wind and water. Endogenic modification of surfaces by tectonics and volcanism. Regional scale crustal processes. Surface histories of Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars. Remote sensing techniques of exploring terrestrial planetary surfaces.

Meeting Time and Place:

Lectures will take place on Tuesday and Thursday 1-2:30 PM, in 251 Arms. Additionally, there will be lab meetings.

Website:

Reading will be required from handouts and from the website http://www.gps.caltech.edu/classes/ge151/

TEXTBOOK:

Substantial portions of Planetary Sciences by de Pater and Lissauer will be covered.

Homework:

Five assignments will be handed out as follow up to lectures and reading.

Labs:

There will be five labs during the course. Check the course assignments for details. They will be due two weeks from the handout date.

field trip:

A field trip will take place on the weekend TBD.

Research Paper:

A term paper on an interesting research topic is required. The topic of the paper should be submitted for approval, and the final paper turned in by the last day of exam period. An oral presentation of the research paper is also required on the last week of classes. Consultation with the professor about the topic is strongly advised.

Final Examination:

There will be no final. The research paper takes its place in terms of grading. All work must be turned in before end of finals week.

Individual Work Policy:

Each student is to perform his or her own work. If you are stumped, oral discussion of the assignment among students is permitted.

Grading:

Final letter grade composed of
30% homework, 30% labs, 20% written report, 10% class participation and 10% oral report.
No Pass/Fail.

Email List:

Instructor: Prof. Oded Aharonson (oa -AT- gps.caltech.edu)
TA: Meg Rosenburg (megr -AT- gps.caltech.edu)
Please e-mail TA to be put on a list to receive course announcements.

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