David William Leverington, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Geosciences

COURSES TAUGHT


GEOL 1303: Introduction to Physical Geology

This purpose of this course is to introduce the basic principles and terminology of physical geology. This course provides an introductory overview of the fundamental nature of rocks and minerals, as well as the physical and chemical processes that produce terrestrial landforms. This course is a Core Curriculum requirement for Geoscience majors and minors. There is a corresponding lab course (GEOL 1101) that complements but is completely separate from GEOL 1303.

Upon completion of this course:

1) students will have a general appreciation of the context of the Earth with respect to the rest of the Solar System.

2) students will understand the basic properties of Earth materials, as well as the elementary processes operating in the Earth’s interior and at the Earth’s surface.

3) students will understand the Earth as the product of complexly interacting physical and chemical processes that link together the planet’s geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.

4) students will understand the significance of plate tectonics as a unifying concept for understanding the history of the Earth, as well as for understanding many key characteristics of the planet.





GEOL 3301: Geomorphology

Geomorphology is the study of the origin and evolution of landforms located at the surfaces of the Earth and other solid bodies of the Solar System. The study of geomorphology involves investigation of the form and nature of landscape units, as well as the physical and chemical processes that produced them.

This is an introductory course in geomorphology. Topics covered include the nature of landforms produced by tectonic and volcanic processes, as well as landforms produced by fluvial, glacial, periglacial, coastal, and aeolian processes. The emphasis of this course is on terrestrial landforms and processes, but aspects of planetary geomorphology are also introduced.





GEOL 5341/4331: Digital Imagery in the Geosciences

Remote sensing is the gathering of information without actual physical contact with what is being observed. In the earth sciences, this usually involves the use of photography, electronic spectroscopy, or radar to detect and differentiate surface materials

Digital Imagery in the Geosciences is an introductory course in remote sensing. Emphasis is on general digital remote-sensing principles, including relevant aspects of the nature of electromagnetic radiation, the spectral-response curves of earth materials, and a review of remote-sensing sensors and orbiting platforms. Basic image-processing techniques are covered in this course, including image enhancement, image georeferencing, image classification, and spectral unmixing. Topics such as hyperspectral imaging (involving use of an ASD FieldSpec3 spectrometer), planetary remote sensing, and the use of remotely-sensed topography in the study of terrestrial surface processes are also introduced.

No previous experience in image processing is assumed, although students are expected to have basic skills in computer usage and math. The main software package used in this course is PCI Geomatica, although ArcGIS is also utilized and student access is available to packages such as ENVI/IDL. Registration for this course can be made at the undergraduate or graduate levels.




GEOL 5001: Problems in the Geosciences

This purpose of this course is to allow graduate students to acquire course credit for substantive independent research. Upon completion of this course, each student will normally have assembled a graduate-level review of the literature on one or more topics. Each student will also normally conduct an independent research project as an extension of the literature review. In the completion of this research project, the student will acquire new knowledge and skills related to the chosen research topic.