This course is intended for graduate students who are interested in learning about Earth System Science. The course will cover the basic concept and goals of Earth System Science and the techniques used in Earth System Science. We will also explore the history of the Earth as an example of a habitable planet and will consider how the coupled evolution of Earth's environment and life can be understood in the framework of the biogeochemical cycles. There are no specific prerequisites for taking the course, but a basic knowledge of geochemistry and/or geology is helpful.
Students will learn the following skills from taking this course:
・Be able to understand the basic concept and goals of Earth System Science
・Be able to recognize the sequence of and interrelationships between major events in the history of the Earth and life
・Be able to recognize the major techniques employed by theoretical studies of biogeochemical cycles
Earth System Science, Biogeochemical cycles, Biogeochemistry, Earth history, Paleoclimatology, Paleoceanography
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The course will draw upon lectures and readings, as well as discussions.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction to Earth System Science | Understand the basic concept of Earth System Science |
Class 2 | Techniques of System Science 1 | Explain the feedback loop and the stability of the system |
Class 3 | Techniques of System Science 2 | Understand the basic behavior of the box model |
Class 4 | Techniques of System Science 3 | Understand the non-linear feedback system |
Class 5 | Energy balance model and climate stability | Explain the Daisy world |
Class 6 | Biogeochemical cycles 1 | Understand the oxygen cycle and its controlling factors |
Class 7 | Biogeochemical cycles 2 | Explain the global carbon cycle |
Class 8 | Biogeochemical cycles 3 | Explain phosphorus and nitrogen cycles |
Class 9 | Earth system evolution 1 | Explain the climate evolution throughout the Earth's history |
Class 10 | Earth system evolution 2 | Explain the oxygen evolution throughout the Earth's history |
Class 11 | Earth system evolution 3 | Explain the coupled evolution of life and the atmosphere |
Class 12 | Numerical models of Earth System Science 1 | Understand the basic techniques employed in the biogeochemical models |
Class 13 | Numerical models of Earth System Science 2 | Explain the mechanism-driven model and data-driven model |
Class 14 | Evolution of habitable planets | Explain the current status of exoplanet research and future directions of Earth System Science |
Class 15 | Lecture summary | Lecture summary |
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.
None
Lenton (2016): Earth System Science: A very short introduction, Oxford University Press; ISBN 978-0-19-871887-1.
Kump et al. (2014): The Earth System, Pearson Education Limited; ISBN 10: 1-292-02163-2.
Report (70%) and discussion (30%).
None
ozaki.k.ai[at]m.titech.ac.jp
03-5734-3721
Monday 10:00-12:00 (or by email appointment) @214 Ishikawadai-2