EOS423: Advanced Sedimentology and Stratigraphy#
Advanced course
Using sedimentology, stratigraphy, and quantitative analysis to read how Earth change is preserved in rock.
EOS 423 is built around an authentic scientific workflow: students use lectures, readings, flipped-class discussion, and weekly computational assignments on sediment transport, cyclicity, and age models to test how tectonics, sea level, climate, and depositional processes are filtered into the stratigraphic record.
Course status
Archived course materials from Spring 2025.
In this course, we will explore how geologic and Earth surface processes, including tectonic, sea level and climate changes, are recorded and preserved in the stratigraphic record. Focus will be on modern and ancient case studies, with topics including basin analysis, cyclostratigraphy, process sedimentology and paleo-environmental reconstruction. Problem sets emphasize computational skills, including introductory time-series analysis, geospatial analysis and remote sensing.
The course will meet twice a week (M/Th) for lectures and on Fridays to work on the weekly assignment. You are encouraged to work together on all aspects of the weekly assignments, although copying or directly sharing code is not allowed. Each person must submit their own work (written answers, figures, etc.) and code used for all calculations. On Monday some weeks we will begin with a flipped classroom: I will randomly select at least two students to informally present their progress on the current weekly assignment. These presentations will serve as a jumping off point for the whole class to discuss and work through remaining challenges with help from the instructor. Any remaining time on Monday and all of Thursday will be used for lectures on new material, guided group discussions of assigned readings, or in class exams.
Course outline
Schedule, grading, and policies
Start here for the semester structure, evaluation, and course logistics.
Lectures
Slides and core concepts
Browse the lecture sequence and supporting materials for the term.
Labs
Applied work with real data
Work through lab assignments and guided exercises tied to the course topics.
Record of change
Process to preservation
Ask how surface processes and boundary conditions are filtered into the stratigraphic archive.
Methods
Quantitative sedimentology
Use introductory computational tools to analyze time, transport, and basin evolution problems.
Interpretation
Modern and ancient case studies
Move between theory, field examples, and stratigraphic datasets to sharpen geologic reasoning.