Course overview
This course studies the fundamental geological and biological processes comprising the Earth System. It focuses on the interactions between the biosphere and the geosphere as the Earth System evolved, and on how those processes can be deciphered through the analysis and interpretation of sedimentary archives. The course will highlight the approaches used to interpret those archives, particularly the geochemical and physical techniques used to quantitatively constrain past climate and biogeochemical cycles, and those used to determine the age and rate of sedimentary deposits. The application of these techniques will be illustrated alongside a narrative of some of the key transitions in Earth's history, including the origins of the atmosphere, ocean and life, carbon cycle fluctuations through time, the expansion and demise of global ice ages and the role of humans in the modern Earth system. With a strong focus upon critical analysis and debate, the course will provide a scientific grounding relevant to a variety of contemporary issues, including resources, climate change and sustainability.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of how the sediments and landscapes of the Earth develop as dynamic systems, and how they relate to the concepts of geological time and space
- demonstrate an understanding of the key sedimentological and geochemical techniques used to decipher Earth system processes through time;
- demonstrate an ability to manipulate and interpret geochemical data derived from sedimentary geological materials
- demonstrate knowledge of how environmental change has operated on geological timescales to produce the conditions on Earth capable of supporting life
- apply basic mathematics to quantify Earth system processes
- apply information from sediments to interpret past environments from field observations, geologic and geochemical information
- understand the relationship between the geological record and the record of time preserved in sedimentary successions
- critically debate a key issue in Earth Systems History, both verbally and through a written report.