Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability
University of California, Irvine 

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE 10
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

First of three required core courses for the new Global Sustainability minor. An introduction to the physical environment, emphasizing the evolution, structure, composition, and motion of the solid earth, oceans, and atmosphere. The course will also consider human impacts on biogechemical cycles and climate. The course involves a paper, a mid-term and final exam.

Instructor: William S. Reeburgh, Earth System Science, 205 Physical Sciences Research Facility, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92717-3100. E-mail reeburgh@uci.edu, Office (714) 824-2986; Department (714) 824-8794; Fax (714) 824-3256.

Text book: B. J. Skinner and S. C. Porter, "The Blue Planet", Wiley, 1994.

Lecture: T, Th 9:30 - 10:50, Engineering Instruction Facility 128 (EIF 128 )

Discussion: W 10:00-10:50, Steinhaus Hall 134 (SH134). Intended to answer questions, discuss problem sets. Special sessions may be announced during term for extra lectures.

Grading: Grading will be based on midterm (25%), homework (15%), a short, 2-4 page paper (10%), and final exam (50%)

Schedule:

Week 1 - Topic Focus: Earth Origin - READING: Part1, Part 2

October 1 - Origin of elements and evolution of solar system

October 3 - Origin, age and structure of planet Earth

Week 2 - Topic Focus: Plate tectonics and the shaping of modern continents

October 8 - Continental drift

October 10 - Igneous activity and mountain building

Week 3 - Topic Focus: The Oceans - READING: Part 3

October 15 - Origin and composition of seawater, surface and deep circulation

October 17 - Ocean circulation, distribution of primary production, sediment imprint

HOMEWORK 1 DUE

Week 4 - Topic Focus: Hydrologic cycle

October 22 - Distribution and movement of water, weathering and soil formation

October 24 - Desertification and soil losses

Week 5 - Topic Focus: The Atmosphere - READING: Part 4

October 29 - Structure and composition, circulation and weather

HOMEWORK 2 DUE

October 31 - Introduction to tropospheric, stratospheric chemistry

Week 6 - Topic Focus: Radiation and paleoclimates

November 5 - MID-TERM EXAM

November 7 - Radiation budget, albedo, greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide - climate connection

HOMEWORK 3 DUE, CHOOSE PAPER TOPIC

Week 7 - Topic Focus: Ozone, greenhouse gases and photosynthesis

November 12 - Ozone depletion, greenhouse gas increases, consequences

November 14 - Photosynthesis and food production

Week 8 - Topic Focus: Biosphere and biogeochemical cycles READING: Part 5, Part 6

November 19 - Carbon cycle, oxygen cycle

HOMEWORK 4 DUE

November 21 - Nitrogen cycle, sulfur cycle

Week 9 -

November 26 - Photosynthesis and food production

November 28 - Thanksgiving Recess - no class

Week 10 - Human effects on biogeochemical cycles

December 3 - Forms of energy and interconversion, fossil fuel reserves

PAPERS DUE

December 5 - Effects of present and projected fossil fuel consumption on atmospheric composition

December 6 - Classes end

December 12 - FINAL EXAM - 8:00 - 10:00 EIF 128