Earth Systems Science and Climate Change (210-0-01)

Instructors

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

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 1441: 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.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to...
a. define and describe the fundamental components of the Earth system (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere),
b. summarize the evolution climate and long-term Earth system changes over geologic time,
c. apply systems thinking to examples of the complex and dynamic interdependence of the major processes that connect Earth systems, and
d. assess how human activities are affecting the Earth system on both human and geologic timescales.

Teaching Method

Class is lecture-based, but class periods will also include discussions and exercises that require
thoughtful student participation. Students are expected to complete all assigned reading before class in
order to contribute to discussions and required in-class exercises. Lectures will highlight and expand
upon the most important topics in the assigned readings, but will not cover every topic covered in
readings; likewise, some topics covered in lecture will not be covered in readings. Exams will cover all of
the material from both lectures and readings. Therefore, success in this class requires both careful
reading of assigned materials AND alert attendance in class.

Evaluation Method

Evaluations will be a combination of assignments and in-class questions and closed-book exams.

Class Attributes

Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline
Natural Sciences Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: ANTI_REQ: Students may not enroll if they have previously completed EARTH 203-0 or ENVR_SCI 201-0.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required