2024 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) - 3-4 Mon / 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A428
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 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 | Learn the feedback loop and the stability of the system |
| Class 3 | Energy balance model and climate stability | Understand the climate stability |
| Class 4 | Biogeochemical cycles | Understand biogeochemical cycles |
| Class 5 | Carbon cycle and climate stability | Understand the Walker feedback |
| Class 6 | Climate changes | Learn mechanisms responsible for climate changes |
| Class 7 | Astrobiology | Learn astrobiology |
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