ESS 119 Introduction to Laboratories (1, max. 3)
Reviews research being performed in visited and independent research opportunities and possibilities. Includes weekly visits to labs in ESS and related fields. Credit/no-credit only.
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ESS 202 Earthquakes (5) I&S/NW
Earthquakes of the Pacific Northwest and around the world – their cause and relationship to plate tectonics; why, where, and when they occur. How earthquakes affect human life: shaping landscape, hazards. Laboratory explores physical processes associated with earthquakes. One field trip. Open to non-science majors.
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ESS 203 Glaciers and Global Change (5) I&S/NW
Explores how glaciers record climate change and human activities through bubbles of ancient air and trace impurities in the ice. Also reviews glaciers impact on societies through sea-level, coastlines, water supplies, and transportation routes. Open to non-science majors.
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ESS 306 Planetary Geology (5) NW
Up-to-date survey of geological features and processes on and within planets and their moons deduced from sampling, remote sensing, spacecraft imagery, and theory. Comparative discussion of volcanism, tectonics, surface processes, and thermal evolution. Examination of moon rocks and meteorites. Prerequisite: either ESS 101, ESS 105, ESS 210, ESS 211, or ESS 212.
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ESS 307 Diversity Outreach Program in Earth and Space Sciences (3-5) I&S/NW, DIV
Students will lead Earth and Space Sciences outreach events to underserved and underrepresented populations in the Northwest. Gain an understanding to the barriers to education and participate in events to remove some of these barriers . Prerequisite: either ASTR 101, ASTR 102, ASTR 150, BIOL 180, BIOL 240, CHEM 120, CHEM 142, CHEM 143, CHEM 145, ESS 101, ESS 102, ESS 211, ESS 212, ESS 213, ESS 472, PHYS 114, or PHYS 121.
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ESS 400 Field Geology (12) NW
Six weeks of geologic mapping in a variety of rock types in the Western United States. Enhances students’ knowledge of geologic phenomena and processes. Development of skills in mapping, field interpretation, and report writing. Students responsible for own living expenses while in the field. Prerequisite: ESS 211; ESS 212 ; ESS 213; one course selected from ESS 311, ESS 312, ESS 313, ESS 314, or ESS 316. Offered: S.
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ESS 403 Global Tectonics (5) NW
Introduction to large-scale plate tectonics processes and observations including motions on a sphere, polar-wander paths, plate-boundary seismicity, focal mechanisms, gravity, magnetics, and heat flow. Also includes observations and theories of plate deformation and continental dynamics with emphasis on Western North America. Prerequisite: PHYS 121; recommended: either MATH 126, MATH 136; PHYS 123; either ESS 311 or 314; a background in quantitative analysis using a computer based environment like MATLAB.
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ESS 414 Geophysics: Fluids (3) NW
Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics. An overview of fluids in geophysics with emphasis on the oceans. A nonrigorous development of the equations of motion with examples drawn from oceanography and solid earth geophysics. Prerequisite: either MATH 136, both MATH 207 and MATH 208, or both AMATH 351 and AMATH 352; and PHYS 322.
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ESS 415 Space and Plasmas (3) NW
Survey of various phenomena occurring in outer regions of Earth’s atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, and Van Allen radiation belts. Laboratory applications include plasma thrusters and fusion. Concepts include charged particles in magnetic fields, drift motion, plasma, magnetohydrodynamic waves. Prerequisite: PHYS 321; recommended: PHYS 322.
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ESS 441 Petrology and Petrography of Sedimentary Rocks (5) NW
Mineralogy, textures, and origin of sedimentary rocks, using petrographic microscope. Prerequisite: ESS 316.
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ESS 467 Seismic Exploration (3) NW E. Roland Saenger
Introduction to theory and practice of seismic exploration. Application of refraction and reflection techniques to geologic investigations, tectonics and mineral exploration. Practice in the interpretation of subsurface structure. Prerequisite: ESS 311 or ESS 314, or OCEAN 285 and OCEAN 310. Offered: jointly with OCEAN 412; Sp.
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ESS 471 Introduction to Space Physics (3) NW
Introduces several areas of space physics, the physical principles that apply therein, and the methods by which significant observations are made. Covers electromagnetic and plasma processes from the center of the sun to the surface of the earth. Prerequisite: PHYS 123.
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ESS 472 Rockets and Instrumentation (2-4, max. 12)
Students launch science payloads to high altitude using high power amateur rockets, providing design, fabrication, test, integration, and management experience; covers science motivation, engineering aspects, and delivery systems. Project may vary each year.
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ESS 495 NASA Science and Engineering Research Seminar (1, max. 4) NW
Review of current space science-related research. Emphasis varies, but topics may include planetary geology, astronomy, global change, aeronautical engineering, and remote sensing. Credit/no-credit only.
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ESS 503 Introduction to Solar Terrestrial Physics (3)
Introduces several areas of space physics, the physical principles that apply therein, and the methods by which significant observations are made. Covers electromagnetic and plasma processes from the center of the sun to the surface of the Earth. Prerequisite: PHYS 123.
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ESS 504 The Earth Surface (3)
Investigates the coupled tectonic and geomorphic processes that shape the surface of the Earth, creates the surface environment that sustains humanity and other life systems, and produces natural hazards. Introduces modern tolls, techniques, and theories applicable to analysis of this coupled dynamic system.
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ESS 514 Geophysics: Fluids (3)
Geophysical fluid dynamics. Fluids in geophysics with emphasis on the oceans. Development of the equations of motion with examples drawn from oceanography and solid earth geophysics. Includes advanced, research-oriented problems. Prerequisite: either PHYS 322; MATH 207; and MATH 208, or equivalent.
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ESS 515 Geophysics: Space (3)
Various phenomena occurring in outer regions of Earth’s atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, and Van Allen radiation belts. Laboratory applications include plasma thrusters and fusion. Concepts include charged particles in magnetic fields, drift motion, plasma, magnetohydrodynamic waves. Includes advanced, research-oriented problems. Prerequisite: PHYS 321 or equivalent; recommended: PHYS 322.
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ESS 529 Principles of Fluid Dynamics, Heat, and Mass Transfer in Earth Sciences (3)
Introduction to the quantitative treatment of transport phenomena with applications to mantle and magma convection, volcanic eruptions, landslides, porous flow, and reaction. Emphasis on the governing equations of fluid dynamics including porous and multiple flow, chaotic convection, mixing, heat transfer, rheology, analytical, numerical, and scaling solutions.
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ESS 544 Applied Tsunami Hazard Science (4)
Broad introductory overview of tsunami science and physical, social, and economic impacts of tsunami hazards. Designed for scientific, engineering, earth-science professionals, and graduate students interested in tsunami hazard assessment, mitigation, or warning. Prerequisite: MATH 126; PHYS 123; AMATH 301, or equivalents. Instructors: Gonzalez
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ESS 575 Advanced Rockets and Instrumentation (2-4, max. 12)
Students launch science payloads to high altitude using high power amateur rockets, providing design, fabrication, test, integration, and management experience; covers science motivation, engineering aspects, and delivery systems. Project may vary each year. Offered: AW.
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ESS 576 Space and Laboratory Plasma Physics (3)
Discussion of waves, equilibrium and stability, diffusion and resistivity, basic plasma kinetic theory, and wave-particle interactions. Prerequisite: ESS 415, or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Offered: jointly with A A 556; Sp, odd years.
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ESS 583 Origin of the Solar System (3)
Nebular and nonnebular theories of the solar system origin; collapse from the interstellar medium, grain growth in the solar nebula, formation of planetesimals and planets, early evolution of the planets and other possible planetary systems; physical and chemical evidence upon which the ideas concerning the origin of the solar system are based. Offered: jointly with ASTR 557.
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ESS 585 Climate Impacts on the Pacific Northwest (4) Mantua, Snover
Knowledge of past/future patterns of climate to improve Pacific Northwest resource management. Topics include the predictability of natural/human-caused climate changes; past societal reactions to climate impacts on water, fish, forest, and coastal resources; how climate and public policies interact to affect ecosystems and society. Offered: jointly with ATM S 585/ENVIR 585/SMEA 585; Sp.
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ESS 593 Climate Science Seminar (1) Mote
Focuses on how to communicate climate science to many different audiences through careful construction of figures and through written and oral communication. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: jointly with ATM S 593/OCEAN 593; W.
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