ANU - STUDYAT - The Blue Planet

Offered By:	Research School of Earth Sciences
Academic Career:	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject:	Earth and Marine Science
Offered in:	Second Semester, 2010
Unit Value:	6 units
Course Description:	This course provides an integrated understanding of Earth as a system. Topics include: a history of Earth's environment; systems theory; the biophysical processes that characterise the oceans, atmosphere and land surface; together with an introduction to the global water and carbon cycles. Lectures provide an essential scientific perspective on critical global change processes. Practical sessions offer hands-on experience with global information systems. A major field excursion introduces students to methods for environmental measurement and observation. Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but will be assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes:	On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to: 1. use systems thinking to describe the physical and biophysical processes that define the Earth, and especially those processes that drive large-scale environmental change 2. explain how the previous changes in Earth's environmental conditions and on-going Earth system processes provide a basis for understanding human-environmental interactions and impacts 3. analyse to what extent humans can force global environmental change by deliberately or incidentally influencing the Earth system 4. understand how the atmosphere, the land and the oceans interact and the feedback mechanisms between the three
Indicative Assessment:	Assessment will be based on: Practical assignments (35%; LO 1-4) Semester field report (25%; LO 1-4) Theory exam (40%; LO 1-4)
Workload:	65 hours of contact, comprising lectures, practicals, and field excursion
Course Classification(s):	TransitionalTransitional courses are designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds and learning achievements, which provide for the acquisition of generic skills; or an informed understanding of contemporary issues; or fundamental knowledge for transition to Advanced or Specialist courses.
Areas of Interest:	Earth and Marine Sciences
Prescribed Texts:	Skinner, B, Porter, S & Botkin, D (1999) The Blue Planet: an introduction to Earth System Science. Brisbane: Wiley.
Academic Contact:	Prof Brendan Mackey

The Blue Planet: an introduction to Earth system science EMSC6107 - Details