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Semester 1
The Dynamic Earth (GESC08003)
Subject
Geosciences
College
SCE
Credits
20
Normal Year Taken
1
Delivery Session Year
2023/2024
Pre-requisites
Course Summary
This foundational course presents a biography of planet Earth: when and how it formed, its structure and climate, how it has changed over time, how life originated and evolved in concert with climate and physical processes like plate tectonics, and what processes shape our modern world.
Course Description
The Earth is our home, and as far as we currently know, the only habitable planet. For over 4.5 billion years, Earth has experienced many changes due to physical processes from within and at the surface of the Earth. It has been the stage for the origin and diversification of life, from microbes to complex ecosystems including organisms such as dinosaurs and humans. Its dynamic interior and surface have built and destroyed mountains leading to the habitable continents, ocean basins and an atmosphere that can not only sustain life but control climate. This course is intended as a foundation course for all Earth scientists, as well as students from other disciplines like biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering who wish to understand how our planet operates. The course is taught through the concept of connectivity between the evolution of life, and the physical Earth over time, plate tectonics and the rock cycle, and climate and elemental cycles. It aims to convey the relevant spatial and temporal length scales involved in Earth processes. Through lectures, innovative hands-on practicals, museum visits and geological tours of Edinburgh, and a field trip, students will come to understand how the Earth works as an integrated system of physical processes, life, and climate, and appreciate how our modern world has emerged. Weeks 1-3 The evolution of Earth and life Weeks 4-6 Volcanoes, earthquakes and plate tectonics Weeks 7-9 Carbon and Climate Week 10 A holistic view of a changing Earth*Students who have previously taken Earth Dynamics should not take this course*
Assessment Information
Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%
Additional Assessment Information
Assessment will be: 40% continuous assessment weekly quizzes; 30% portfolio of practical work; 30% peer-assessed group poster or online presentation.
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