Course overview
Students will study the fundamental geological and biological processes comprising the earth system, focusing on interactions and evolution through geological time, with implications for the ongoing and human-induced global change and operation of the earth system and climate.
This course will provide students with advanced knowledge and skills to analyse and interpret fundamental and applied concepts in Earth Systems Science, including interactions between Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, lithosphere and life. Importantly, the course will use the geological record to understand how earth system processes operate at timescales from years to millions of years. The course will introduce advanced techniques in sedimentology, geochemistry and earth system modelling, including discovery-based learning using current scientific approaches. Ultimately, the course aims to educate students on the context of climate and environmental change in order to better understand Earth’s future.
- Modern Earth system
- Origins of Earth systems
- Evolution of Earth’s climate and carbon cycle
- Past to future: forcing and feedbacks in the Earth System
Course learning outcomes
- Identify past environmental and climate change events from geological/sedimentary records
- Explain processes shaping the long-term evolution of the Earth System, climate and atmospheric CO2 levels
- Explain feedbacks within the Earth System, relevant to ocean and atmosphere chemistry
- Understand future climate and environmental challenges in the context of the geological past
- Demonstrate practical skills to reconstruct paleo-environment from sedimentary archives
- Demonstrate practical and analytical skills to manipulate data and model global bio-geochemical cycles
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct during field- and/or labwork, working effectively and responsibly in team environments
Availability
Class details
Adelaide City Campus East
Group 1
Class number 63078
Section WS01
Size 45
Available 33
Class number 60607
Section FW01
Size 45
Available 33
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