Required Text: Geosystems (4th ed., 2000) by R. W. Christopherson

Course Goal: To examine the interplay among climate, hydrology, vegetation distribution, soil processes, and biogeochemical cycles in diverse landscapes. Emphasis on physical, chemical, and biological processes shaping ecosystems.

Prerequisites: High school algebra and biology or chemistry.

Requirements: You are responsible for all of the material covered in the assigned readings, hand-outs, weekly discussions, and lecture material.

Exam Schedule: The midterm is scheduled for February 12 from 2:10-3:00 pm. The comprehensive final exam is scheduled for March 19 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Both exams will be given in 212 Veihmeyer Hall.

Exam Format: The comprehensive final exam will emphasize the material covered since the midterm. The exams are closed book.

Last Day to Drop: Thursday, January 18, 2001. This course has a 10-day drop deadline.

Problem Sets: All problem sets (PS) must be submitted in hardcopy form to the ERS60 ‘bin’ in 151 Hoagland Hall by 5:00 p.m. on the days indicated in the following schedule. You may discuss the concepts of the problems with others, but the problems must be solved on your own. Late problem sets will NOT be accepted.

Writing Assignments: The writing assignments (WA) are due in the ERS60 ‘bin’ in 151 Hoagland Hall by 5:00 p.m. on the days indicated in the following schedule. These essays must be submitted as a double-spaced hard copy (not hand-written), maximum of 500 words (approx. 2 pages). The WA must include information from one of the assigned readings (you choose) for discussion section, any discussion during lectures or discussion sections for the week, and at least two other references. Note: The course text and World Wide Web can be used in addition to, but not in lieu of, your two references. We also require a one-page outline of your paper, including your thesis statement and supporting references, DUE ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WA IS DUE in the ERS 60 bin in 151 Hoagland Hall. Although students are encouraged to discuss assigned readings, every student must submit an individual essay. The assignment must be written in your own words. Late writing assignments will NOT be accepted.

Your paper should be well-written (spell-checked, logically-structured, coherent, concise, and include proper citations), critical, and imaginative. The format should include an introduction to the topic, indicating a rationale for why you are writing about the chosen topic, and a thesis statement, wherein you state the point of view you will evaluate (either support or reject). The main body of the paper should contain facts (data) and some assessment of those data (e.g., not enough data, contradictory data, invalid assumptions). Finally, summarize with an evaluation of how the data you discussed lead you to support or reject your thesis.

Your essay should make some progress toward explaining questions such as, (i) "Why should anyone in the Central Valley care about X?" , where X could be El Niño, desertification, or thermal erosion of permafrost, or (ii) "What assumptions were made in developing models of Y?", where Y is nitrogen cycling, erosion potential, or acid rain, or (iii) "How good are the data used to test the hypothesis Z?" , where Z is that runoff increases after clear cutting, that animal habitat is lost with loss of old-growth forest, or that soil organic matter decreases with conventional agriculture.

Direct quotes must be enclosed in quotation marks and have an author-date citation.

References must be properly cited in your paper. In the text, you MUST use the following style:

Backsoon and Seeyah (1998) showed that water flows uphill. More recent work has shown that you can lead a horse to water and you can make it drink (Backsoon 1999). Finally, it remains unclear if it is the heat or the humidity (Backsoon et al. 1999), but whatever the cause, the Aggie women hoopsters had some tough luck against Sonoma State (Davis Enterprise 2001).

In the "References" section at the end of the paper, you MUST use the following format for citations:

Journal articles:

Backsoon, I.L.B, and Seeyah, B.I. 1998. El Niño or El Noñsense? Journal of Cosmetology 1:115-119.

Backsoon, I.L.B. 1999. The facts behind clichés. 2nd ed. Bemidji State University Press, Bemidji, MN.

Backsoon, I.L.B., Verisi, X.O., and Enopi, L.M. 1999. Heat or humidity? Sacramento Bee. 2 January, p. A2.