ESCI 1085 - Natural Disasters Laboratory

Credits: 1
Hours/Week: Lecture None Lab 2
Course Description: This course explores the physical processes, origins, and the human and economic impacts resulting from natural disasters. This lab examines earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, severe weather, climate change, floods, wildfires, and other natural catastrophic events. Course activities include the analysis of data and information from government agencies and universities involved in the study of these phenomena.
MnTC Goals
3 Natural Science, 10 People/Environment

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: ESCI 1080  or concurrently enrolled

Major Content

1. Geographic location and natural disasters
2. Determining earthquake location and magnitude
3. Sun angles and solar radiation
4. Severe weather and weather mapping
5. Hurricane tracking
6. Climate change
7. Acid precipitation across the nation
8. Topographic map interpretation
9. Regional floods
10. Plate tectonics and volcanic hazards
11. Worldwide earthquake activity and distribution
12. Mega disasters
    1. Tsunami
    2. Impact from space

1. model the scientific method.

2. utilize topographic maps and profiles in the study of natural hazards.  

3. identify regions on Earth where disasters occur with greatest frequency.

4. evaluate the likelihood of natural disasters based on scientific data including seismological and volcanic records, ground elevation data, and flood records.

5. develop evacuation and mitigation plans based on risk from natural disasters.

6. explain weather-hazard potential based on changes in solar radiation for a given latitude.

7. describe climate trends and patterns based on analysis of long-term data records.

8. analyze weather variables and changes based on weather map data.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
03. 01. Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories. 03. 02. Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students’ laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty. 03. 03. Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing. 03. 04. Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
10. 01. Explain the basic structure and function of various natural ecosystems and of human adaptive strategies within those systems. 10. 03. Describe the basic institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, religious) that are evolving to deal with environmental and natural resource challenges. 10. 04. Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions. 10. 05. Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems.

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