The Global Change-The Geologic Record

This course will examine the long-term record of global change as reflected in sedimentary rocks, fossil faunas and floras and low-temperature isotope geochemistry. Topics to be considered will include: major changes in biogeochemical cycling processes of carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulphur through geologic time; lithosphere-ocean-atmosphere interactions; sedimentary suites as paleoclimatic keys; siliciclastics, tillites, paleosols, carbonates, evaporites, laterites, phosphorites, coals; sedimentary processes related to global change: e.g. sea level changes, storm events, climate cycles; fossils as paleoclimatic keys: reefs and reef organisms, stromatolites, coralline fossils, shelly fossils, paleobotany and palynology; plate tectonic models and mountain-building as forcing mechanisms for climatic change, extraterrestrial forcing (e.g. Milankovic cycles, impacts, etc.). cr 3