2022 Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Advanced Earth and Space Sciences K
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Kazumi Ozaki
- Class Format
- Lecture (HyFlex)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue (理学院 地球惑星科学系, 石川台2号館, 307室) / 5-6 Fri (理学院 地球惑星科学系, 石川台2号館, 307室)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A428
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
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.
Course description and aims
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
Keywords
Earth System Science, Biogeochemical cycles, Biogeochemistry, Earth history, Paleoclimatology, Paleoceanography
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course will draw upon lectures and readings, as well as discussions.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Study advice (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.
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.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Report (70%) and discussion (30%).
Related courses
- Earth System Science
- Biogeochemistry
- Atmospheric chemistry
- Ocean chemistry
- Biogeochemical cycle
Prerequisites
None
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
ozaki.k.ai[at]m.titech.ac.jp
03-5734-3721
Office hours
Monday 10:00-12:00 (or by email appointment) @214 Ishikawadai-2