Geology and Geophysics

Kline Geology Laboratory, 432.3124
M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Chair
Danny Rye

Director of Graduate Studies
Jacques Gauthier (203 KGL, dgs@geology.yale.edu)

Professors
David Bercovici, Robert Berner, Leo Buss, Michael Donoghue, Jacques Gauthier, Robert Gordon, Thomas Graedel, Leo Hickey, Shun-ichiro Karato, Jeffrey Park, Danny Rye, Adolf Seilacher (Adjunct), Brian Skinner, Ronald Smith, Karl Turekian, George Veronis, Elisabeth Vrba

Associate Professors
Jay Ague, Mark Brandon

Assistant Professors
Ruth Blake, David Evans, Peter Reiners, Steven Sherwood

Lecturer
Catherine Skinner

Fields of Study
Fields include geochemistry and petrology, geophysics, structural geology and tectonics, paleontology and paleoecology, and oceanography, meteorology, and climatology.

Special Admissions Requirements
The department welcomes applicants oriented toward the earth sciences who have a bachelor's or master's degree in such fields as biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, meteorology, or physics, as well as those trained in geological sciences. Scores from a pertinent GRE Subject Test are desirable but not required. The TOEFL exam is required for all applicants for whom English is a second language.

Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
There is no formal language requirement and no required curriculum. Students plan their course of study in consultation with their advisers to meet individual interests and needs, to lay the foundations for dissertation research, and to prepare for the general examinations which take place in January of the second year. At the end of the first year the faculty reviews the standing of each student. A student recommended for continuation in the Ph.D. program will be so notified. Some students may be encouraged at that time to pursue only the M.S. degree. At the end of the second year the faculty reviews each student's overall performance to determine whether he or she is qualified to continue for the Ph.D. degree. In order to qualify, a student must have met the Graduate School Honors requirement, maintained a better than passing record in the area of concentration, passed the oral and written general examinations, and presented a dissertation prospectus to the faculty. Remaining degree requirements include a dissertation review in the third year; the preparation and defense of the dissertation; and the submission of the dissertation to the Graduate School. The department requires that an additional copy, for which the student will be reimbursed, be deposited with the librarian of the Kline Geology Library.

Master's Degrees
M.Phil. See Graduate School requirements.

M.S. Awarded only to students who are not continuing for the Ph.D. Students are not admitted for this degree.

Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, PO Box 208109, New Haven CT 06520-8109; e-mail, dgs@geology.yale.edu.

Courses
[G&G 500bu, Mineral Deposits.]

G&G 501bu, Climate Dynamics. Steven Sherwood. Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30-10.20
An investigation of the earth's physical climate system. Topics include interaction among the following phenomena: atmospheric radiation; clouds and other atmospheric constituents; coupling between the atmosphere, the ocean, the land surface, and the cryosphere; atmospheric momentum, energy, and water-vapor budgets; convection; the general circulation.

[G&G 504bu, Minerals in the Biosphere: The Geochemistry of Human Health.]

G&G 505au, Geochemistry of Planetary Evolution. Karl Turekian. Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30-10.20
The processes and time-scales of the origin and history of the earth and solar system as inferred from the distribution of radioactive, radiogenic, and stable nuclides. The origins of the earth's structure, atmosphere, and hydrosphere, and the history of early life.

G&G 506bu, Chemical Cycles and the Global Environment. Robert Berner. Tues/Thurs 11.30-12.45
Application of basic chemical, biological, and geological principles to the study of the cycling of major elements of the atmosphere, rainwater, lakes, rivers, and the ocean and how humans have disrupted this cycling.

[G&G 510au, Active Tectonics.]

[G&G 511a, Stratigraphic Principles and Applications.]

G&G 512bu, Structural Geology and Tectonics. Mark Brandon. Tues/Thurs 11.30-12.45, Lab 2 htba
An introduction to the origin and structure of the lithosphere and continental and oceanic crust. Questions addressed include: what controls the solid versus fluid behavior of rocks during deformation; and what controls the character and motion of tectonic plates? Laboratory exercises and field trips.

G&G 513au, Invertebrate Paleontology: A Treasure House of Skeletal Reconstructions. Adolf Seilacher. Mon/Wed 11.30-12.45, Lab htba
Exploration of the basic constraints and potentials that controlled adaptive radiation in the evolution of the invertebrate skeleton. Open to juniors and seniors. General knowledge about animal phyla assumed.

G&G 515au, Paleobotany. Leo Hickey. Tues/Thurs 9-10.15, Lab Thursday 1.30-3.20
A detailed survey of the evolutionary history of plants through geological time, the origin and diversification of their major lineages and of plant communities, and the interactions of plants and their physical environment. Laboratory exercises involve fossil and modern plants and include a field trip to study an ancient plant community.

[G&G 520bu, Kinetics of Geochemical Processes.]

[G&G 521bu, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.]

G&G 522bu, Introduction to Meteorology and Climatology. Steven Sherwood. Tues/Thurs 11.30-12.45
The climatic system; survey of atmospheric behavior on timescales from days (i.e., weather) to decades (i.e., climate); formulation of mathematical equations describing weather and climate with selected applications to small- and large-scale phenomena.

[G&G 523bu, Theory of Climate.]

G&G 525bu, Geophysical Continuum Mechanics. David Bercovici. Tues/Thurs 9-10.15
Physics of continuous media with applications to geophysics and geology. Tensors; analysis of stress; motion and strain; conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; rheology; applications to seismology, tectonics, environmental science, and geophysical fluid dynamics.

G&G 526au, Introduction to Geophysics. David Bercovici. Tues/Thurs 10.30-11.45, 1 htba
An introduction to the physics of the solid earth; geodesy and gravity, geomagnetism, radioactive dating methods, elementary seismology, heat flow, plate tectonics, and mantle convection.

[G&G 530au, Large-Scale Atmospheric Motions I.]

[G&G 531bu, Large-Scale Atmospheric Motions II.]

G&G 535au, Physical Oceanography. George Veronis. Tues/Thurs 1-2.15
An introduction to ocean dynamics. Exploration of the physical mechanisms underlying the large-scale ocean circulation, the Gulf Stream, wind-driven waves, tides, coastal upwelling, and phenomena attributable to the earth's rotation.

[G&G 536b, Mesoscale Atmospheric Dynamics.]

G&G 540au, Geomicrobiology: Microbial Processes in the Geologic Environment. Ruth Blake. Tues/Thurs 1-2.15
Microbial processes in geologic environments; control through microbial metabolism of the geochemistry of natural waters, sediments, and soils, with emphasis on microbe-mineral interactions. Microbially mediated cycling and transport of metals.

G&G 550au, Paleontology and Evolutionary Theory. Elisabeth Vrba. Tues/Thurs 11.30-12.45
Current concepts in evolutionary and systematic theory with particular reference to how they apply to the fossil record. Emphasis on use of paleontological data to study evolutionary processes.

[G&G 555au, Ocean Circulation.]

G&G 556bu, Introduction to Seismology. Jeffrey Park. Mon/Wed/Fri 11.30-12.20
Earthquakes and seismic waves, P and S waves, surface waves, and free oscillations. Remote sensing of the earth's deep interior and faulting mechanisms.

[G&G 557a, Advanced Seismology.]

[G&G 559bu, Data Analysis in the Earth Sciences.]

[G&G 560au, Theory of Viscous Flow.]

[G&G 562bu, Observing the Earth from Space.]

[G&G 601a, Topics in Earth Science.]

[G&G 611a, Advanced Stratigraphy.]

[G&G 615a, Advanced Petrology.]

[G&G 618b, Petrology of Light Stable Isotopes.]

[G&G 621b, Geochemistry of Heavy and Radioactive Isotopes in Rock Systems.]

G&G 631a, Vertebrate Paleontology: Phylogeny of Vertebrates. Jacques Gauthier.
This seminar course offers a detailed look at current issues in the phylogeny, anatomy, and evolution of fossil and Recent reptiles. Introductory lectures provide a broad outline of reptile phylogeny. Participants should have a working knowledge of vertebrate anatomy as they are expected to read, analyze, and discuss relevant primary literature, lead discussions on selected papers in the field, and write a term paper.

[G&G 655a, Extraordinary Glimpses of Past Life.]

[G&G 657b, Marine and Surficial Geochemistry.]

G&G 660a, Diagenesis, Weathering, and Geochemical Cycles. Robert Berner.
A theoretical approach to earth surface chemical processes; modeling of geochemical cycles.

G&G 675b, Advanced Structural Geology. Mark Brandon.
A review of advanced methods in structural geology, including analysis of deformation in three dimensions, and microscale processes associated with deformation and fabric formation in rocks. Course includes practical exercises for measuring and interpreting strain and lattice preferred orientation in real geologic settings.

G&G 690a and b, Directed Research in Geology and Geophysics.
By arrangement with faculty.

In addition to the seminars noted below, others on special topics like evolution, invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology, statistical mechanics and spectroscopy, structural geology and tectonics, petrology, volcanology, and physics of oceans and atmospheres are offered according to student interest, by arrangement with departmental faculty. Seminars are often organized around the research interests of visiting faculty as well.

G&G 703a, Seminar in Systematics. Jacques Gauthier.

[G&G 705b, Advanced Seminar in Evolutionary Paleontology.]

G&G 740a or b, Sediment Seminar. Robert Berner.

G&G 742a or b, Seminar in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. Ronald Smith.

G&G 744a or b, Seminar in Mantle and Core Processes. David Bercovici, Shun-ichiro Karato, Jeffrey Park.
The seminar covers advanced topics concerning physical and chemical processes in the mantle and core of the earth and planets. Specific topic and hour will be arranged in consultation with enrolled graduate students.

G&G 746a or b, Seminar in Global Change. Karl Turekian.

G&G 753a, Seminar in Petrology. Jay Ague.
Tutorial courses, offered by arrangement with individual faculty, are offered as follows:

G&G 800a or b, Tutorial in Paleobiology.

G&G 810a or b, Tutorial in Structural Geology and Tectonics or Solid Earth Geophysics.

G&G 820a or b, Tutorial in Meteorology, Oceanography, or Fluid Dynamics.

G&G 830a or b, Tutorial in Geochemistry, Petrology, or Mineralogy.

G&G 840a or b, Tutorial in Sedimentology.

G&G 860a or b, Tutorial in Remote Sensing.

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