GY 100 GEOLOGY OF ASIA

Course Overview

Introduction to Content: This is an overview of the rather vast geology of Asia. I have several purposes in mind in the presentation of this material. First, I will assume you have little or no background in geology. Thus, lectures for the first week will cover geologic topics pertinent to understanding Asia, particularly earthquakes, volcanoes, rocks and finally plate tectonics. I may run several brief labs to illustrate our discussion, but do not intend this coverage to equal that of the two-block introductory course. Second, we will examine the causes of the main geologic features of Asia within the framework of plate tectonics. We will look at the old cratons of mainland China and the separate pieces of India; then see how spreading of sea-floor elsewhere in the world impacts Asia (e.g., the splitting of India from African Gondwanaland preliminary to its crashing into Asia); then look at Asia as a function of collisions of plate (ocean-ocean in southeast Asian islands, ocean-continent for Japan-Taiwan and continent-continent for the Indian subcontinent). Third, we may address some of the environmental and energy issues in Asia within these lectures. These discussions will include Japan’s battle with pollution, the distribution of economic and energy resources (e.g. minerals, oil-gas, rain forests), problems with flooding, mass-wasting and desertification and your thoughts on how population and political considerations exacerbate these problems. I hope your ideas will be informed by your understanding of the basic geology of Asia.

Expectations: I expect you to be present at all class meetings, whether they consist of you actively listening or contributing. I assume each of you is at least curious about Asia and I hope some of you have personal knowledge that you will share with us. Please let me know if you have an experience of some aspect of Asia that you would be willing to present to us!

Grading: The grading will be based on two papers and two 1-hour tests. One paper, limited to three pages, will focus on a geologic hazard in Asia. It could be a detailed description of a singular event such as the eruption of Pinatubo in the Philippines, the major earthquakes in Tokyo (1923) or China (1975, 1976). The second paper should cover some aspect of the geology or environmental issues of some portion of Asia. It might cover the geological history of a region in more detail than we did in class or it might focus on an issue such as acid rain from coal-burning in China, forest devastation in Southeast Asia or the impact of sea-level rise… This paper needs to be started week one so you can order inter-library loans to supplement our “modest” library holdings. You will present a summary of your work to the class. I am happy to look over outlines, ideas, etc., as you put your paper together. You should use the writing center; I definitely am disturbed by poorly written documents.

The two tests will both be roughly one hour long. The first will be a straightforward test on vocabulary of geological principles. The second will be an in-class, closed-notes essay on the geological history of a country of your choice in Asia. You should prepare for it with readings in the library as well as review of lectures, but write it without notes.

Breakdown:	Test: Geology	20
	Test: Asia	25
	Paper: Hazard	20
	Final Paper	25
	Participation	10
		100

Course Name: You cannot get credit for a GY 100 class if you have already taken GY 130 (the two-block Intro). Either sign up for the PA 100 course or talk with me about options for going a little deeper if you need the science credit.