Earth System (2500203) – Course 2025/26 PDF
Contents
Topic 1. Viewing Earth as a system (0.5 h). Components of the Earth System. Global matter transfer and introduction to global biogeochemical cycles. Energy on Earth: energy sources, transfer and global energy balance. Basic comparison with the global dynamics of other planetary bodies in the Solar System. - Topic 2. The geosphere (2.5 h). Composition and structure of the lithosphere and crust. Crustal large morpho-tectonics units. Volcanism and seismicity. Internal geodynamics and plate tectonics. The internal cycle of rocks and lithosphere formation. - Topic 3. The atmosphere (3 h). Composition and stratification of the atmosphere. Global atmospheric circulation. Atmospheric dynamics. Regional and local winds. - Topic 4. The continental hydrosphere (2 h). The water cycle on the continents. Water balance. River floods. Water uses. Management of water resources. - Topic 5. The ocean (4 h). The oceanic hydrosphere. Chemical composition and physical porperties of the oceanic waters. Structure of the oceans. Ocean circulation: surface currents and deep currents, termohaline circulation and the Global Conveyor Belt. - Topic 6. The cryosphere (2 h). definition and components. Ice properties. Glacial ice formation. Glaciers: type and movement. Ice balance at the glaciers. Permafrost. The cryosphere at the recent past.
Specific Objectives
- Provide a first global view of the dynamics of our planet and its subsystems. Show the basic differences with the dynamics of other planets in the Solar System. Understanding the basic thermal dynamics of planets. Learn to calculate energy balance on a global scale and at different heights. - Understanding the composition, structure, formation and movements on a global scale of the lithosphere subsystem, the mantle and the core of the Earth. - Knowledge and understanding of the composition, structure and global circulation in the subsystem atmosphere. - Knowledge and understanding of the continental branch of the hydrosphere subsystem. Water cycle in emerging areas and related geomorphological processes. Understanding of a basic water balance. - Knowledge and understanding of the oceanic branch of the hydrosphere subsystem. Composition, structure and global circulation in the oceans. - Knowledge and understanding of the cryosphere and their importance in climate.
Related Activities
Practice 1. Earth global energy budget (2 h). Assessment of 1) the thermal energy and the effective temperatura of the planets of the Solar System; 2) the energy budget of Earth at three levels of the atmosfere. Practice 2. The atmosphere and their interaction with the ocean. (2 h) Practice 3. Hydrological budget of fluvial basins. (2 h) Practice 4. Stationaty mass balance: mass balance of the ocean. (2 h) Session for solving practices 1 to 4.(2 h) First mini-exam on the problem sessions. (0.75 h) Workshop prior to the first partial exam. (2h) Workshop to solve the first partial exam. (1h)
Dedication
14h Large group + 5h 45m Medium group + 8h Laboratory classes + 41h 38m Self Study- Topic 7. The climate (2 h). Radiative balance. Main factors, components and processes of the climate system. Forcings, feedbacks and system responses. Effect of the ocean, of terrestrial morphology on the climate. Atmosphere-cryosphere interaction. Climatic zones. Types of climates Climatic oscillations. - Topic 8. External geodynamics on the continents (3 h). Introduction to external geodynamics. Weathering. Pedogenic soils and their importance. Erosion, transport and sedimentation in continental environments. - Topic 9. The coasts (2 h). Coastal dynamics. Processes of erosion, transport and sedimentation. Sediment balance on the beaches. Estuaries and deltas. Contribution of sediments to marine basins. Coastal water resources. Contribution of groundwater. - Topic 10. The seafloors (2 hours). Seafloor topography. Currents of the continental shelf. Erosion, transport and sedimentation in the sea floors.Oceanic hydrothermalism.
Specific Objectives
- Identify the main characteristics of the climate system. - Characterize the transfer of mass and energy between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere (fluid and solid), the solid surface of the Earth and the biosphere. - Understand the climatic zonation of the planet and its relationship with the orbital parameters of the Earth. - Understanding a type of extreme hydrometeorologic event and their consequences. - Identify and characterize the external geodynamics of the Earth (interaction with the lithosphere of other subsystems of the Earth). - Identify soils and, in particular, the pedogenic soils such as the skin of the solid Earth. - Identify landforms and the domain of different geomorfological processes with a free visual tool. - Identify shallow coastal and marine areas as those with the greatest joint interaction between the subsystems of our planet.
Related Activities
- Problem session 5. 3D recognition of landforms: glacial, slope, torrential,fluvial and coastal landforms. (2 hours) - Problem solving workshop for session 5. (0,5h) - Real case 1: Volcanism and climate. (2 hours)
Dedication
9h Large group + 2h 30m Medium group + 2h Laboratory classes + 20h 15m Self Study- Topic 11. Global biogeochemical cycles (5 h). Generalities, water cycle and rock cycle. The carbon cycles: external cycle, internal cycle and global cycle. The methane cycle. The iron cycle. The sulfur cycle. The oxygen cycle. Topic 12. History and evolution of the Earth (2 h). Interactions on a global scale of the Earth system. Climate changes and paleogeography during the Anthropocene and Holocene. Climatic evolution during the Quaternary. Paleogeography and climate of the Earth during its history. Causes of climate changes.
Specific Objectives
- Understand the concept of a biogeochemical cycle on a global scale. - Characterize the main biogeochemical cycles, their interdependence and their relationships with the interaction of the Earth's subsystems. - Know and understand the temporal evolution of the Earth on a geological scale and, particularly, in the last 2.6 million years, as example of the global changes in the system and of the interactions between the subsystems of our planet. - Know and understand natural climate changes, their causes and their consequences. - Inform and discuss the influence of climate on history.
Related Activities
- Problem session 6. Stationary mass balance: the pre-industrial carbon cycle. (2 hours) - Problem session 7. Non-stationary mass balance: the present carbon cycle. (2 hours) - Real case 2: Sea level changes: causes and consequences. (2 hours) - Real case 3: Climate changes and the history of civilizations. (1 hours) - Second mini-exam on problem sessions (0.75 h) - Workshop prior to the second partial exam. (2 h) - Workshop on resolution of the second partial exam. (1 h)
Dedication
7h Large group + 7h 45m Medium group + 4h Laboratory classes + 28h 8m Self Study