GEO 120 - The Earth and Life Through Time

Course Units: 1

(Spring; Gillikin) An investigation of Earth’s dynamic history and evolutionary changes over the past 4.5 billion years. Topics include the geologic evidence for the evolution of life, for major changes in the nature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, and for major mountain building events that have affected the continents as well as the evolutionary development of plant and animal life as recorded in the geologic record. Specific topics include the origin of life, mass extinctions of dinosaurs and other organisms, paleoclimate, and the geologic history of New York State. The link between geology, chemical cycles and life is highlighted, as is the relation of past biogeochemical changes to current global environmental change. May require a weekend field trip. Prerequisite(s): Preference given to first and second year students. Corequisite(s): GEO 120L CC: SCLB