Catalog Description: The goals of this introductory Earth System Science course are to achieve a scientific understanding of important problems in global environmental change and to learn how to analyze a complex system using scientific methods. Earth System Science is an interdisciplinary field that describes the cycling of energy and matter between the different spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and lithosphere) of the earth system. Under the overarching themes of human-induced climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and biodiversity loss, we will explore key concepts of solar radiation, plate tectonics, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and the history of life on Earth.
Units: 4.0
Prerequisites: None
Formats:
Fall and/or Spring:15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 5 hours of laboratory per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture and 4 hours of laboratory per week
Grading Basis: Letter
Final Exam Status: Final exam required