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EOSC 112 - The Fluid Earth: Atmosphere and Ocean

Course Description

Introduction to processes in ocean and atmosphere. Heat, current, winds, clouds, marine life, resources. Effects of coupling, climate change, pollution.


UBC Calendar

For a full listing of course offerings please see the UBC calendar description

Learning Goals

By the end of this course, students will be able to…

  1. DESCRIBE Earth as an integrated system consisting of interacting components driven by a continuous supply of energy
  2. EXPLAIN how interactions within the Earth system control climate on Earth.
  3. APPLY this knowledge to explain the long-term evolution of Earth’s environment and climate.
  4. APPLY this knowledge to explain shorter term climatic variability in the modern world.
  5. Critically EVALUATE public information on present global environmental changes and the effect of natural variability versus anthropogenic forcing.
  6. CONTRIBUTE TO informed social and political debates over global climate, and local environmental issues.

Instructors

Section 101: Roger Francois and Sara Harris
Section 201: Roger Francois and William Hsieh

EOSC112 is currently part of EOS-SEI, the EOS Science Education Initiative.

 

Textbook

The Earth System (2nd ed.): Kump, L.R., J.F. Kasting and R.G. Crane (2004), Pearson Prentice Hall, N.J. 419 pages.
(highly recommended but NOT required)

Course Content

EOSC 112 Vista website (CWL login required)

The Earth Course Assistance Centre is a free help service for all students in 1st year EOSC courses.

Lecture Topics


WeekTopic
1Introduction; The Systems Approach
2Global Energy Balance
3-4Atmospheric Structure and Vertical Winds
5-6Wind-Driven and Thermohaline Circulation
7Plate Tectonics
8-9The Biosphere: Classification, Ecosystems, Ecology, Oceanic Productivity
10The Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycles
11Origin and Evolution of Life; Long-term Climate Regulation
12Long-term Climate Variability
13Global Warming; Review

Labs

It is recommended to take the 1-credit laboratory course EOSC 111 concurrently with EOSC 112. However, it is not required to do so and one can register for EOSC 112 without taking EOSC 111.

Related Links

Undergrads in EOS
EOS Undergrad Program
Undergrad Brochure


Other 100's

EOSC 110
EOSC 111
EOSC 112
EOSC 114
EOSC 116


ECAC

The Earth Course Assistance Centre is where you can go for help on any topics related to first year EOSC courses EOSC 110-116.

See the ECAC's home page (with downloadable schedule).


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