Earth System History (203-0-01)

Instructors

Daniel Horton
847/467-6185
Tech F289/F290
Office Hours: By appointment

Meeting Info

Technological Institute F285: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This introductory course will cover Earth systems: atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere, and their interactions at local and global scales. With an emphasis on systems thinking, we will learn 1) how physical, chemical, and biological processes formed and modify the Earth's surface and climate; 2) the history of those processes and their regulation of global climate over the lifetime of our planet; and 3) how human activity now impacts these systems. Topics include Earth's energy sources and how they drive processes from plate tectonics to global wind patterns, the co-evolution of life with Earth's surface atmosphere, and environmental issues such as water resources and climate change. This is a required course for both Environmental Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences students.

Registration Requirements

Please complete the waitlist form in order to be considered for a spot in the course: https://bit.ly/EarthSystems-Fall2025

PRE-REGISTRATION: All Earth & Environmental Sciences majors/minors

REGULAR REGISTRATION: Pre-requisite: Students must have completed at least three units of Math, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Environmental Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences, or Biological Sciences.

Class Notes

Class Attributes

Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline
Natural Sciences Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for EARTH majors & minors and ENVR_SCI majors.