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12.517 G(2) 309 Spring 2002
The theme for Spring 2002 will be
Pattern and Form in Geology and Geobiology.
This term we will discuss patterns in the physical and biological environment, with emphasis on interactions between the two. The class will be composed of pedagogical lectures and roundtable discussions of classical works and recent literature. Discussions will be focused on constructing quantitative theories to explain observed phenomena.
We will meet twice weekly. No background in earth science or ecology will be presumed; however mathematics at the level of 18.03 is essential.
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:30 in Rm. 54-313.
Instructor: Prof. Daniel Rothman
Tentative syllabus:
- I. Landscapes.
-
Scaling, universality, and geomorphology
(Dodds and Rothman, 2000)
-
Physics of channelization
(Smith and Bretherton, 1972;
Dunne, 1990)
-
Periodic drainage patterns
(Hovius, 1996)
-
Seepage erosion on Earth
(Laity and Malin, 1985)
-
Martian channels and water
(Aharonson et al., 2002)
-
Statistical topography
(Schorghofer and Rothman, 2001)
-
Seepage and runoff on Mars
(Malin and Edgett, 2000)
-
Martian slope streaks
(Aharonson, Khatiwala, and Schorghofer, 2002)
-
Hawaiian seepage
(Wentworth, 1928)
- II. Landscapes and life
-
Vegetation patterns: observations
(Valentin et al., 1999)
-
Vegetation patterns: theory
(von Hardenberg et al., 2001)
-
Spatial patterns in tropical forests
(Condit et al., 2000)
-
Species-area relations
(Plotkin et al., 2000)
-
Ecology on river networks
(Honnay et al., 2001)
-
Contact processes (Weitz)
- III. Origin and evolution of life
-
Billion-year old worms?
(Seilacher et al., 1998).
-
Earth's earliest fossils
(Schopf et al., 2002;
Brasier et al., 2002)
-
Clay patterns
(Cairns-Smith , 1985).
- IV. Biosphere-geosphere interactions
-
Cycles in biosphere-geosphere interactions
(Fischer, 1984).
-
Tectonic cycles
(Wilson, 1966;
Gurnis, 1988;
Zhang and Libchaber, 2000)