ES 160: Concepts of Environmental Science

Westminster College

Spring 2013

• Instructor
  • Dr. Douglas Armstead
  • Hoyt 124
  • 724-946-7201 or x7201
  • armstedn@westminster.edu
  
  
• Lecture
  • Hoyt 116
  • Tuesday & Thursday
  • 7:40-9:10 a.m.
  • Course Syllabus
  • Tentative Schedule
  
  
• Lab
  • Hoyt 206
  • Tuesday
  • 2:00-5:00 p.m.
  • Laboratories
  
  
• Text
  • Authors: W.P. Cunningham and M.A. Cunningham
  • Title: Principles of Environmental Science, Inquiry & Applications
  • Edition: 7th
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
  
  
• Homework
• Homework Solutions
  (requires my.westminster access)
• Research Project
• Events
  • Events (including regional events).
  Course Supplementals
  • Environmental Programs at Westminster College.
  • Weather and Climate
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases reports on the panel's analysis and predictions for climate change. The Summary for policymakers and technical summary is a substantial review of the panel's findings and interactive maps of the predictions allow you to see what is predicted.
  • Carbon Dioxode and Methane are two potent greenhouse gasses. These graphs show how strongly infrared light is absorbed by Carbon Dioxide and methane compared to dry air which is 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen. Wavelegths larger than 0.7 micrometers correspond to infrared light.
  • Pennsylvania Soils and Native Plants
  • The Pennystone Project is a good resource for information about Pennsylvania's native plants, the soils they live in, and the geology that makes them the way they are.
  • Energy
  • The closest Coal fired electrical plant to Westminster College is the New Castle plant owned by Genon of Houston TX which sells electricity to the PJM power grid and is locate near New Castle, PA. It takes coal from Oxford mining
  • The closest Nuclear power plant is the Beaver Valley Power Station with units 1 and units 2 on the Ohio river in Shippingport PA (~35miles east of Pittsburgh PA) which is also the site of the first commercial nuclear powerplant in the US.
  • The closest Hydroelectric plant to Westminster College is at the Kinzua Dam on Allegheny river just upstream from Warren Pa.
  • The closest solar power collection system to Westminster College is the demonstration facility on campus at the Westminster College Field Station. Check out its recent output.
  • Human Populations
  • CIA World Factbook
  • Pollution
  • The U.S. EPA toxic release inventory explorer is a good resource for information about the toxins that are released at times and in places you are interested in.
  • The Pennsylvania DEP maps the locations of mines, wells, and pollution emitters. Works best with Internet Explorer and only gives information when zoomed in.
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette series on Air pollution. Of particular note is the map of community death rates compared to national averages for lung cancer, heart disease and respitory problems leading to death.