2023 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth System Science
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Kazumi Ozaki
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- 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, 318室) / 5-6 Fri (理学院 地球惑星科学系, 石川台2号館, 318室)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A338
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is intended for undergraduate 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.
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, Biogeochemistry, Earth history, Astrobiology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
- Basic understanding about Earth System Science
Class flow
Students will be required to answer a brief quiz after each class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is Earth System Science? | Learn the historical background and philosophy behind the Earth System Science |
| Class 2 | Basics of system science (1): Feedback system | Learn the basics of system science. |
| Class 3 | Basics of system science (2): Dynamic equilibrium | Understand the dynamic equilibrium. |
| Class 4 | Basics of systems science (3): Daisyworld | Learn the Daisyworld. |
| Class 5 | Earth's energy budget | Understand the Earth's energy flow and budget. |
| Class 6 | Climate stability | Understand the energy balance model. |
| Class 7 | Biogeochemical cycles (1): Carbon cycling | Learn the reservoir sizes and fluxes of carbon on Earth's surface environments |
| Class 8 | Biogeochemical cycles (2): Walker feedback | Understand the climate stability based on the global carbon cycle |
| Class 9 | Biogeochemical cycles (3): Climate stability based on the carbon cycling | Understand the secular evolution of the atmospheric CO2 level |
| Class 10 | Biogeochemical cycles: Climatic variations | Learn the drivers of climate. |
| Class 11 | Biogeochemical cycles: Oxygen cycle | Learn the reservoirs and fluxes of oxygen on Earth's surface environments |
| Class 12 | Biogeochemical cycles: Stability of atmospheric O2 levels | Understand the stability of atmospheric O2 levels |
| Class 13 | Biogeochemical cycles and Earth's history | Learn the relationship between biogeochemical cycles and Earth's history |
| Class 14 | Exo-Earth System Science | Learn the basic of Exo-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.
Textbook(s)
Not specified. Lecture materials will be distributed in the class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Not specified. Reference books will be introduced as appropriate.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grades will be based on quizzes after each class (30%) and a final exam (70%).
Related courses
- EPS.A334 ： Biogeoscience
- EPS.A203 ： Introduction to History of the Earth
Prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites for taking the course, but a basic knowledge of geochemistry and/or geology is helpful.