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2023　Introduction to History of the Earth

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Academic unit or major
Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Instructor(s)
Ishikawa Akira  Ozaki Kazumi 
Class Format
Lecture    (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon5-6(I3-107(I311))  Thr5-6(I3-107(I311))  
Group
-
Course number
EPS.A203
Credits
2
Academic year
2023
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2023/3/20
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course will examine the history of the Earth and life. In the chapter "Hadean", origin of the planet and the formation of the atmosphere and ocean will be examined. In the chapter "Archean", record of Earth's early biological activities and basics of geology and tectonics will be examined. In the chapter "Proterozoic" onset of oxygenic photosynthesis, redox evolution, and continental growth will be examined. In the chapter "Phanerozoic", appearance of metazoan, mass extinction and climate change will be examined.

Student learning outcomes

Understand the history of the Earth from the planet formation to present. Learn basic concepts of various geosciences for decoding Earth's history. Understand what is the evidence for several key hypothesis. Also, this course will provide information for choosing further specific research field in geosciences.

Keywords

History of the Earth and Life

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Student should submit attendance report every time as well as final report at the end of this course.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction: Geologic Time Scale Understand phenomena occurred in various geologic time scale.
Class 2 Planet Formation and Differentiation Understand how the Earth formed and differentiated
Class 3 The Oldest Rock Records Understand the initial state of the Earth
Class 4 Formation of Archean Craton Understand how to decode geological records on the Archean rocks
Class 5 Continental Growth and Orogeny 1 Understand basics of igneous processes and its relation to plate tectonics
Class 6 Continental Growth and Orogeny 2 Understand basics of metamorphcic processes and concept of orogney
Class 7 Hotspot and Mantle plume Understand mantle dynamics of Earth's interior
Class 8 Evolution of Earth's atmosphere and ocean Understand how the atmosphere and ocean evolved
Class 9 Great Oxidation Event Learn how the atmosphere and ocean were oxygenated
Class 10 Snowball Earth Learn climatic upheavals in the geological past
Class 11 Co-evolution of Life and Environment Learn the relationships between life and the environment
Class 12 Mass Extinction Events Learn "Big Five" mass extinction events in the Phanerozoic
Class 13 Anthropocene and Future prediction Understand the causes of climate change
Class 14 Astrobiology Learn the concept of Astrobiology

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Geochemistry, Sadao Matsuo
History of life and Earth, Shigenori Maruyama, Yukio Isozaki

Assessment criteria and methods

Student performance will be assessed by attendance report or small test every time (50%) and by final report (50%).

Related courses

  • EPS.A334 ： Biogeoscience
  • EPS.A202 ： Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • EPS.A201 ： Introduction to Material Sciences of Earth and Planet

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None

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