Module GEOL3231: EARTH SYSTEM AND CLIMATE

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL3231: EARTH SYSTEM AND CLIMATE

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To relate the history of global glaciations in the context of the interconnectivity between different components of the Earth System.

Content

• Cycles of climate change: evidence and explanations.
• Understanding present and past climates: moving heat around, forcing functions and feedback, the evidence.
• Understanding the cryosphere - how ice sheets work.
• Milankovitch pacemaker.
• Evidence for rapid climate change.
• Climate change on geological timescales.
• The Monterey Event.
• The rock record and ancient glaciations.

Learning Outcomes

• To describe with reference to boundary and threshold conditions the processes governing present and past climates.
• To describe how cryosphere and carbon dynamics influence global climate.
• To critically evaluate the geological proxies for climate change.
• To critically evaluate current hypotheses for rapid climate change.
• To critically evaluate the value of solid Earth and general circulation models in climate simulation, hypothesis generation and testing.
• Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in geological principles, terms, definitions and classifications.
• Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in the Earth systems science.

• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to analyse, evaluate/interpret geological data.

• Evaluate performance.
• Identify and work towards targets for personal, academic and career development.
• Receive, respond to and critically evaluate a variety of information and data sources.
• Communicate effectively in written and graphical form.
• Prepare, process and interpret data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Use the internet critically in communication and an information source.
• Identify individual and collective goals.
• Recognise and respect the views of other team members.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is delivered through a series of flexible 3-hour class meetings which will include lecture, discussion and practical exercises, supported by handouts, directed reading and web and computer-based assignments.
• The discussions and exercises form an important component of the module encouraging learning and experience of tackling and solving problems individually in class, on DUO and in groups.
• Guidance on preparation, key and exam skills are provided.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Tutorial. DUO quizzes.