Graduate courses in Environmental Earth System Science

(Same as BIO 274S, BIOHOPK 274, CEE 274S.) (Formerly GES 274S.) Four-week, intensive. The interplay between molecular, physiological, ecological, evolutionary, and geochemical processes that constitute, cause, and maintain microbial diversity. How to isolate key microorganisms driving marine biological and geochemical diversity, interpret culture-independent molecular characterization of microbial species, and predict causes and consequences. Laboratory component: what constitutes physiological and metabolic microbial diversity; how evolutionary and ecological processes diversify individual cells into physiologically heterogeneous populations; and the principles of interactions between individuals, their population, and other biological entities in a dynamically changing microbial ecosystem. Prerequisites: CEE 274A,B, or equivalents.

9-12 units, Sum (Spormann, A; Francis, C)

EESS 323. Stanford at Sea

(Same as BIOHOPK 182H, BIOHOPK 323H, EARTHSYS 323.) (Graduate students register for 323H.) Five weeks of marine science including oceanography, marine physiology, policy, maritime studies, conservation, and nautical science at Hopkins Marine Station, followed by five weeks at sea aboard a sailing research vessel in the Pacific Ocean. Shore component comprised of three multidisciplinary courses meeting daily and continuing aboard ship. Students develop an independent research project plan while ashore, and carry out the research at sea. In collaboration with the Sea Education Association of Woods Hole, MA. Only 6 units may count towards the Biology major.

16 units, Spr (Block, B; Dunbar, R; Micheli, F), alternate years, not given next year

EESS 158. Geomicrobiology

(Same as EESS 258.) How microorganisms shape the geochemistry of the Earth's crust including oceans, lakes, estuaries, subsurface environments, sediments, soils, mineral deposits, and rocks. Topics include mineral formation and dissolution; biogeochemical cycling of elements (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and metals); geochemical and mineralogical controls on microbial activity, diversity, and evolution; life in extreme environments; and the application of new techniques to geomicrobial systems. Recommended: introductory chemistry and microbiology such as CEE 274A.

3 units, not given this year

EESS 200. Professional Development in Geoscience Education

(Same as GES 200, GEOPHYS 203.) May be repeated for credit.

1 unit, Aut (Payne, J), Spr (Payne, J)

EESS 217. Tectonics, Topography, and Climate Change

(Formerly GES 287.) For upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. The links between tectonics and climate change with emphasis on the Cenozoic era. Focus is on terrestrial climate records and how they relate to large-scale tectonics of mountain belts. Topics include stable isotope geochemistry, geochronology, chemical weathering, stratigraphy of terrestrial rocks, paleofauna and flora, climate proxies and records, and Cenozoic tectonics. Guest speakers, student presentations.

3 units, not given this year

EESS 220. Physical Hydrogeology

(Same as CEE 260A.) (Formerly GES 230.) Theory of underground water occurrence and flow, analysis of field data and aquifer tests, geologic groundwater environments, solution of field problems, and groundwater modeling. Introduction to groundwater contaminant transport and unsaturated flow. Lab. Prerequisite: elementary calculus.

4 units, Aut (Gorelick, S; Walker, K)

EESS 221. Contaminant Hydrogeology

(Same as CEE 260C.) (Formerly GES 231.) For earth scientists and engineers. Environmental and water resource problems involving contaminated groundwater. The processes affecting contaminant migration through porous media including interactions between dissolved substances and solid media. Conceptual and quantitative treatment of advective-dispersive transport with reacting solutes. Predictive models of contaminant behavior controlled by local equilibrium and kinetics. Modern methods of contaminant transport simulation and optimal aquifer remediation. Prerequisite: GES 230 or CEE 260A or equivalent.

4 units, Spr (Gorelick, S)

EESS 234. Stable Isotopes in Biogeochemistry

(Same as EESS 134.) Light stable isotopes and their application to geological, ecological, and environmental problems. Isotopic systematics of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur; chemical and biogenic fractionation of light isotopes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and rocks and minerals.

3 units, Spr (Chamberlain, P)

EESS 240. Advanced Oceanography

For upper-division undergraduates and graduate students in the earth, biologic, and environmental sciences. Topical issues in marine science/oceanography. Topics vary each year following or anticipating research trends in oceanographic research. Focus is on links between the circulation and physics of the ocean with climate in the N. Pacific region, and marine ecologic responses. Participation by marine scientists from research groups and organizations including the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

3 units, Aut (Dunbar, R; Long, M)

EESS 242. Antarctic Marine Geology

For upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. Intermediate and advanced topics in marine geology and geophysics, focusing on examples from the Antarctic continental margin and adjacent Southern Ocean. Topics: glaciers, icebergs, and sea ice as geologic agents (glacial and glacial marine sedimentology, Southern Ocean current systems and deep ocean sedimentation), Antarctic biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy (continental margin evolution). Students interpret seismic lines and sediment core/well log data. Examples from a recent scientific drilling expedition to Prydz Bay, Antarctica. Up to two students may have an opportunity to study at sea in Antarctica during Winter Quarter.

3 units, alternate years, not given this year

EESS 243. Marine Biogeochemistry

(Same as EESS 143.) (Graduate students register for 243.) Processes that control the mean concentration and distribution of biologically utilized elements and compounds in the ocean. Processes at the air-sea interface, production of organic matter in the upper ocean, remineralization of organic matter in the water column, and processing of organic matter in the sediments. Cycles of carbon, oxygen, and nutrients; the role of the ocean carbon cycle in interannual to decadal variability, paleoclimatology, and the anthropogenic carbon budget.

3-4 units, Spr (Arrigo, K)

EESS 244. Marine Ecosystem Modeling

Practical background necessary to construct and implement a 2-dimensional (space and time) numerical model of a simple marine ecosystem. Computer programming, model design and parameterization, and model evaluation. Students develop and refine their own multi-component marine ecosystem model.

3 units, Spr (Arrigo, K)

EESS 245. Advanced Biological Oceanography

For upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. Themes vary annually but include topics such as marine bio-optics, marine ecological modeling, and phytoplankton primary production. Hands-on laboratory and computer activities, and field trips into local waters. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: familiarity with concepts presented in GEOPHYS 130/231 or equivalent. (Arrigo)

3-4 units, Aut (Arrigo, K)

EESS 250. Elkhorn Slough Microbiology

(Formerly GES 270.) The microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of Elkhorn Slough, an agriculturally-impacted coastal estuary draining into Monterey Bay. The diversity of microbial lifestyles associated with estuarine physical/chemical gradients, and the influence of microbial activity on the geochemistry of the Slough, including the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and metals. Labs and field work. Location: Hopkins Marine Station.

3 units, Sum (Staff)

EESS 256. Soil Chemistry

(Same as EESS 156.) (Graduate students register for 256.) Practical and quantitative treatment of soil processes affecting chemical reactivity, transformation, retention, and bioavailability. Principles of primary areas of soil chemistry: inorganic and organic soil components, complex equilibria in soil solutions, and adsorption phenomena at the solid-water interface. Processes and remediation of acid, saline, and wetland soils. Recommended: soil science and introductory chemistry and microbiology.

4 units, Win (Fendorf, S)

EESS 258. Geomicrobiology

(Same as EESS 158.) How microorganisms shape the geochemistry of the Earth's crust including oceans, lakes, estuaries, subsurface environments, sediments, soils, mineral deposits, and rocks. Topics include mineral formation and dissolution; biogeochemical cycling of elements (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and metals); geochemical and mineralogical controls on microbial activity, diversity, and evolution; life in extreme environments; and the application of new techniques to geomicrobial systems. Recommended: introductory chemistry and microbiology such as CEE 274A.

3 units, not given this year

EESS 259. Environmental Microbial Genomics

The application of molecular and environmental genomic approaches to the study of biogeochemically-important microorganisms in the environment without the need for cultivation. Emphasis is on genomic analysis of microorganisms by direct extraction and cloning of DNA from natural microbial assemblages. Topics include microbial energy generation and nutrient cycling, genome structure, gene function, physiology, phylogenetic and functional diversity, evolution, and population dynamics of uncultured communities.

1-3 units, Win (Francis, C)

EESS 263. Topics in Advanced Geostatistics

(Same as ENERGY 242.) Conditional expectation theory and projections in Hilbert spaces; parametric versus non-parametric geostatistics; Boolean, Gaussian, fractal, indicator, and annealing approaches to stochastic imaging; multiple point statistics inference and reproduction; neural net geostatistics; Bayesian methods for data integration; techniques for upscaling hydrodynamic properties. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: 240, advanced calculus, C++/Fortran.

3-4 units, not given this year

EESS 300. Earth Sciences Seminar

(Same as EARTHSYS 300, EEES 300, GES 300, GEOPHYS 300, IPER 300.) Required for incoming graduate students except coterms. Research questions, tools, and approaches of faculty members from all departments in the School of Earth Sciences. Goals are: to inform new graduate students about the school's range of scientific interests and expertise; and introduce them to each other across departments and research groups. Two faculty members present work at each meeting. May be repeated for credit.

1 unit, Aut (Harris, J)

EESS 301. Topics in Environmental Earth System Science

Current topics, issues, and research related to interactions that link the oceans, atmosphere, land surfaces and freshwater systems. May be repeated for credit.

1 unit, Aut (Fendorf, S), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff)

EESS 322A. Seminar in Hydrogeology

Current topics. May be repeated for credit. Autumn Quarter has open enrollment, For Winter Quarter, consent of instructor is required.

1 unit, not given this year

EESS 322B. Seminar in Hydrogeology

Current topics. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

1 unit, Win (Gorelick, S)

EESS 330. Advanced Topics in Hydrogeology

Topics: questioning classic explanations of physical processes; coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting heat and solute transport. May be repeated for credit.

1-2 units, Aut (Gorelick, S), Win (Gorelick, S), Spr (Gorelick, S)

EESS 342. Geostatistics

Classic results and current research. Topics based on interest and timeliness. May be repeated for credit.

1-2 units, Aut (Boucher, A)

EESS 342B. Geostatistics

Classic results and current research. Topics based on interest and timeliness. May be repeated for credit.

1-2 units, not given this year

EESS 342C. Geostatistics

Classic results and current research. Topics based on interest and timeliness. May be repeated for credit.

1-2 units, not given this year

EESS 385. Practical Experience in the Geosciences

On-the-job training, that may include summer internship, in applied aspects of the geosciences, and technical, organizational, and communication dimensions. Meets USCIS requirements for F-1 curricular practical training. May be repeated for credit.

1 unit, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff), Sum (Staff)

EESS 398. Current Topics in Ecosystem Modeling

1-2 units, not given this year

EESS 400. Graduate Research

May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

1-15 units, Aut (Staff), Win (Staff), Spr (Staff), Sum (Staff)

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Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09

Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09

Alphabetical Index

Bulletin Archive

Graduate courses in Environmental Earth System Science