Earth and Climate System - part 1

This course is an introduction to the Principles of the Earth and Climate System from a global perspective. It presents the composition, dynamics and interaction of Earth’s spheres: geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and anthroposphere; with a larger emphasis on the first two. The rock, water and carbon cycles will be examined with conceptual or simple models to illustrate some of these interactions. The contemporary Earth and Climate System will be related to its (geological and preindustrial) past and to the different possible futures. The course provides a comprehensive perspective that will be used in following semesters as a framework to guide the application of technology to the monitoring, exploration, use and preservation of Earth’s resources (geothermal, wind and solar energy, minerals, safe climate, clean air, soil and water). 

Specific topics include the origin of the Earth, geodynamics, elements, minerals and rocks, the rock cycle, geological time scales, the coupled evolution of Earth’s subsurface, surface and atmosphere, and an introduction to the present-day atmosphere, oceans and cryosphere, and the effects of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions on the climate.  Water transport over the surface and through the subsurface, rivers, lakes and oceans will be introduced (to be followed up in the following semester). The Climate System will be studied with a focus on natural and anthropogenic influences, the basics of the greenhouse gas effect and the effect of internal feedbacks, and an introduction to the models used to assess possible future climates.  Atmospheric topics include the vertical structure of the atmosphere, global energy balance, basic thermodynamics, and an introduction to global circulation (winds). Ocean topics include an introduction to spatial variations in temperature and salinity, basic processes for sea-ice and the wind-driven and thermohaline circulations (currents). For the carbon cycle, the long-term and present-day budgets will be discussed, including the sources and sinks of natural and anthropogenic carbon.