![]() ![]() On completion of this module, students will acquire a solid grasp of chemical principles upon which to build their chemistry skills relevant to Earth Materials and Practical Geochemistry and Data Analysis in later years. The lectures will run in parallel with assessed laboratory practical sessions designed to consolidate the application of the chemical concepts to natural substances/processes. The course assumes very little chemistry and starts from first principles (fundamental building blocks of matter) to chemical reactions and what drives them. Geoff Bromiley) is a basic introduction to the foundations of chemistry that underpins our fundamental understanding of natural chemical reactions. They will be able to assess the degree to which recent climate change is exceptional compared to previous times, and will understand the significance and reliability of future predictions based on climate model results. From this module students will be able to recall the main timescales on which climate change occurs, and will be able to account for these scales of change with reference to current understanding on the topic. Natural processes including those related to tectonic activity, weathering of rocks, changes in solar output, changes in the Earth¿s orbit around the sun, and natural auto-oscillations, in the climate system (such as El Niño Southern Oscillation) are considered, as well as Anthropogenic processes of climate change related to changing greenhouse gas and aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere. This leads to the concept of the climate system a complex coupled system where components may interact to either enhance or reduce any initial change in climate. The emphasis is on identifying the main processes that control climate variability and change on these different time-scales, and on using examples from Earth history to illustrate how these processes may interact. Alex Thomas) introduces the concept of global climate change across a spectrum of time-scales from many millions of years to inter-annual variations. After covering this module, students will be able to recall the main features of the evolution of the planet and life on earth. ![]() Significant events in earth history are considered, including the origin of life, geochemical evolution of the atmosphere, and mass extinctions. The roles of the atmosphere and geosphere on changes in the biosphere are discussed, emphasising the driving mechanisms (internal and external forcing) for change. ![]() The first part (4 weeks by Dr Stephen Brusatte) will present the evolution of the Earth in general and of life in particular. The course will consist of four main components: Chemists will benefit from an application of basic chemical principles to complex natural systems, while the course also provides an important background for those interested in temporal phenomena e.g. This course should also be of general interest to Biology students by providing a thorough basis for understanding the geological aspects of global environmental change, and in particular, the evolution of life in this context. These together form the characteristics of the environment in which we live. The interactions between geology, chemistry, physics and biology affecting the origin and evolution of life, Earth surface processes, and the climate history of the planet are studied. This course is intended as a foundation course for all Earth Science students with emphasis on processes that operate at the global scale. Undergraduate Course: Evolution of the Living Earth (EASC08023) Course Outline School DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science
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