A ten-day, field course (Wed Sep 10 through Fri Sep 19, 2008) to investigate earthquakes, volcanoes and related geologic, geomorphic, and hydrologic processes in the beautiful and dramatic Owens Valley, Sierra Nevada, Mammoth Mountain, and Mono Lake area. Earth-science problems and processes are approached through hands-on, problem-solving, data-gathering, and field-based studies using the natural landscape as an outdoor classroom. Satisfies both the Area C, Science, Mathematics and Technology and Writing General Education Requirements. Every day is spent outside and includes 1-2 hours of hiking; lodging is at UC research stations in the shadows of the majestic Sierra Nevada and White Mountains. This class focuses on understanding Earth processes in the field. It is a wonderful class and you will learn a lot!

Employers tell us that the three most important things they look for in recent graduates are the ability to think, interpret data, and communicate. This class will help you develop those skills.

Professor Dr. Bradley Hacker hacker@geol.ucsb.edu Webb 2120, (805) 893-7952. Office hours: anytime. I am usually here from 7:30 until 17:30 every weekday. Please come and talk to me when you want help--I do care about your education. Note, however, that I conduct field research during the summer, and so am at UCSB erratically during that time. Teaching Assistants Jen McGrawjlmcgraw@umail.ucsb.edu Joseph Goode jgoode@crustal.ucsb.edu

Location Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Lab. Course Fees: Approximately $600-$700; includes all room & board, transportation, and class materials. We have to BARC you for half of the cost ($300) before the end of Spring quarter to reserve your space in the dorm/lodge.

Class Meetings Are in the field (see below) from Wed Sep 10 through Fri Sep 19. The class is physically rigorous, with 1-4 hr hiking each day, and one all-day hike. There is no backpacking; we will be back in the dorm/lodge every night and we will carry no more than daypacks during the day. Lectures There are lectures most evenings.

Class Projects Climate change, glacial responses, and glacial deposits Active faulting and seismic hazards Stream dynamics and discharge Volcanoes, volcanic hazards, volcanic processes Hydrology, lakes and water supply Evolution of life Plate tectonics and deformation of Earth Subduction zones and magma generation Metamorphism, natural resources and ore deposits

Exams There are no exams. Textbook None, but you may enjoy Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley by R.P. Sharp and A.F. Glazner. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0878423621/

Grading Letter grades will be assigned according to total points earned: Field notebook: 15%. Laboratory workbook: 45%. Writing assignments: 25%. Class participation: 15%. The course syllabus and reading material will be distributed in the field.

Logistics; Read carefully All your equipment (see list below) must be packed in a few easily handleable bags and brought to the Webb Hall loading dock (south side, toward the ocean) one hour before departure: 8:00 AM Wednesday Sep 10. If you want to bring your stuff a day or two early, you can store it in the "Tectonic Workroom", which is the room immediately to your right when you enter Webb Hall from the loading dock. We will leave for the field from the Department loading dock at 9:00 AM Wednesday Sep 10 at the latest. It is about a 5-6 hour drive to our Bishop; we will stop a couple of times at sites of geologic interest on the drive north. Bring a lunch to eat on this first day. We will return to campus by the evening of Sep 19. We will be staying in University of California Research Stations. Valuables (like computers) can be secured there during the day while we are in the field. Each day we will have breakfast early, make a portable lunch, spend the entire day in the field, and spend most of the evening working, including discussing topics in preparation for the next day. At our field station at Convict Lake near Mammoth, the temperature averages a high of 71 F and a low of 37 F that time of year. At our field station in Bishop, the temperature averages a high of 87 F and a low of 47 F that time of year; record highs and lows are 112 F (1995) and 26 F (1986). It is often windy, such that the wind chill is about 10 F lower; this means that at night it can feel like it is near freezing. There is a 20% probability that it will rain 1" while we are there.

Things you will need to pack and bring to class 'Camp' Equipment (we stay in a dorm/lodge) sleeping bag (a liner/sheet is optional) special foods (e.g., a few Clif bars just in case) casual shoes camera etc. flashlight or headlamp toiletries soap, shampoo, towel Helpful optional accessories calculator laptop computer USB drive/memory stick/jump drive Field Equipment daypack warm clothing (T may drop below freezing) shorts and light shirts (T may get very hot) sunglasses sunscreen water bottles or camelback hat hiking boots (well broken in) clipboard clips/rubber bands/tape to hold paper down in the field notebook pencils, erasers colored pencils: yellow, red, green, blue, purple, orange, brown protractor see-through plastic metric ruler geology hammer (optional) geology handlens (optional; we will bring some)