This course provides an integrated understanding of Earth as a system. Topics include: a history of Earth's environment; systems theory; the biophysical processes that characterise the oceans, atmosphere and land surface; together with an introduction to the global water and carbon cycles. Lectures provide an essential scientific perspective on critical global change processes. Practical sessions offer hands-on experience with global information systems. A major field excursion introduces students to methods for environmental measurement and observation.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but will be assessed separately.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. use systems thinking to describe the physical and biophysical processes that define the Earth, and especially those processes that drive large-scale environmental change
2. explain how the previous changes in Earth's environmental conditions and on-going Earth system processes provide a basis for understanding human-environmental interactions and impacts
3. analyse to what extent humans can force global environmental change by deliberately or incidentally influencing the Earth system
4. describe how the atmosphere, the land and the oceans interact and the feedback mechanisms between the three

Assessment will be based on:

• Practical assignments (35%; LO 1-4)
• Semester field report (25%; LO 1-4)
• Theory exam (40%; LO 1-4)

65 hours of contact, comprising lectures, practicals, and field excursion

Skinner, B, Porter, S & Botkin, D (1999) The Blue Planet: an introduction to Earth System Science. Brisbane: Wiley.