EA1101: Earth and Planetary System Science

School School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Department Code EARTH
Module Code EA1101
External Subject Code F640
Number of Credits 20
Level L4
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Alan Channing
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2015/6

Outline Description of Module

This is a Year 1 course designed to provide a research-led, holistic view of the Earth. In the holistic approach, the Earth is studied as a whole and is viewed as a system of interacting parts. In this module students will gain knowledge and understanding of the individual parts of the system and their interrelationships in terms of natural cycles, feedbacks and interconnected processes. Based on material delivered in up to 40 lectures and up to eight hours of practicals, plus extensive background reading,  students will also learn to synthesize information from diverse sources and develop their written communication skills.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Knowledge:

  1. The interrelationship between the solid Earth, biosphere, surface processes, oceans, atmosphere, climate and global change.
  2. Properties of planet Earth compared with other planetary bodies and the reasons for divergent evolution
  3. Plate tectonics and its role in Earth System Science.
  4. The concept of geologic time and the evolution of the Earth in terms of this perspective

Understanding:

  1. Earth formation and its effect on the evolution of the planet
  2. The structure and composition of the Earth and its effect on the surface environment
  3. The process of plate tectonics and its environmental effects
  4. The land-system approach to land-form evolution
  5. The composition, structure and history of the oceans and the role of the oceans in global change
  6. Global change and its geological and anthropogenic context

How the module will be delivered

  • Up to 40 lectures and up to eight hours of practicals.
  • Extensive background reading and computer-based learning.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Written communication: based on synthesis and analysis from personal observation and literature sources.

How the module will be assessed

This module is assessed by 100% examination.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam - Autumn Semester 100 Earth And Planetary System Science 3

Syllabus content

The syllabus focuses on processes involved in the Earth system and their interrelationships. It synthesises, for example, aspects of geology, physical geography, oceanography, climatology, meteorology and comparative planetology. The lecture and guided study programme integrates these aspects.

  • The Earth system including, for example:

Major realms of Planet Earth.  Formation of Earth. Time. Compositional and rheological structure of Earth. Earth gravity, magnetism and thermal characteristics. Plate tectonics.

  • The Ocean system including, for example:

The ocean system and the Earth system. Ocean composition and structure. Ocean currents.   Thermohaline circulation (THC). Sea level change. Tides. Palaeoceanography and palaeogeography.

  • The Atmosphere system including, for example:

The atmospheric system and the Earth system. Atmosphere composition, evolution and structure. General circulation.

  • The Land system including, for example:

The land system and the Earth system. Uplift and erosion. Isostasy, plate tectonics and landforms.  Glacial landforms. The fluvial system.  The world`s denudational plainlands.

  • The Climate system including, for example:

Climate and the Earth system. Earth orbital dynamics and climate change. Minor cycles in the climate system. Plate tectonics and climate effects. Structure and evolution of Sun. Solar irradiation, sunspots and climate. Oceans and atmosphere and climate. Anthropogenic effects and global change.

  • Planetary Systems including, for example:

The Earth system in planetary context.  Origin and nature of meteorites. Meteorite craters and the age of planetary surfaces. Planetary accretion.  Nucleosynthesis.  Origin of the chemical elements. Stellar evolution. H-R diagrams. Properties of the terrestrial planets. Comparative evolution of the Earth and planetary systems.

Essential Reading and Resource List

  • The Blue Planet by Skinner & Porter
  • Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology by Tarbuck & Lutgens
  • Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World by Jonathon Lunine
  • Earth: by Press and Siever
  • Research Papers:
    • as assigned by lecturer – and updated periodically as deemed necessary by lecturer
  • Computer-based learning:
  • Learning Central
  • Lecture notes (Adobe Acrobat pdf format)
  • Lecture presentations (POWERPOINT (ppt) presentations)

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