Each quarter is devoted to current topics in the field of Earth System Science. Topics addressed vary each quarter. For this course, topics discussed include: climate change, biodiversity, demographics, transportation and urban systems, cost-benefit analysis, negative impacts on the environment, environmental policy, and sustainability.
This course introduces Earth System Science, which, at its core, involves viewing Earth’s environment in a holistic fashion. Topics covered in the course include: the origin and evolution of the Earth, its atmosphere, and oceans, from the perspective of biogeochemical cycles, energy use, and human impacts on the Earth system.