2025 (Current Year) 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 / Yasuhito Sekine
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A338
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 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
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 brief quizzes in each class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is Earth System Science? | Historical background and basic concept of the Earth System Science |
| Class 2 | Basics of system science (1): Feedback loop and dynamic equilibrium | The basics of system science. |
| Class 3 | Basics of systems science (2): Daisyworld | Daisy world |
| Class 4 | Climate stability | Energy balance model |
| Class 5 | Carbon cycle | Global carbon cycle |
| Class 6 | Walker feedback | Climate stability and the carbon cycle |
| Class 7 | Climatic variations | Drivers of climate variations |
| Class 8 | Stability of atmospheric O2 levels | Stability of atmospheric O2 levels |
| Class 9 | Energy flow in the Earth system | Heat convection |
| Class 10 | Residence time | Box model |
| Class 11 | Earth System Modeling I | Secular evolution of the Earth system |
| Class 12 | Earth System Modeling II | Secular evolution of the Earth system |
| Class 13 | Comparison with Earth's history I | Geologic records and isotopic compositions |
| Class 14 | Comparison with Earth's history II | Geologic records and isotopic compositions |
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 in classes (30%) and a final report (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.