ENVS 23: The Physical and Chemical Environment

SYLLABUS

This course provides an overview of the physical and chemical environment of planet Earth.  Fundamental chemistry and physics is introduced and explained in the process of learning about Earth in a holistic way. The influence of human societies on the global environment is a focus of discussion.  Earth's many "spheres" are explored first: the lithosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the ecosphere. Then global cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and several other elements are studied in the context of basic sciences and societal issues.

Course Requirements

Each student is required to take one online quiz per week and to submit 12-18 in-class short summaries during the quarter.  In addition, there are in-class midterm and final exams. Overall evaluation is given based on each student's performance on quizzes, short summaries, midterm exam, and final exam. The percentage breakdowns are:
Online Quizzes
20%
Short Summaries
20%
Midterm Exam
25%
Fianl Exam
35%
Total:
100%
   
Grade
Total % range
Pass (A+)
97-100%
Pass (A)
93-96.9%
Pass (A-)
89-92.9%
Pass (B+)
85-88.9%
Pass (B)
81-84.9%
Pass (B-)
77-80.9%
Pass (C+)
73-76.9%
Pass (C)
69-72.9%
NP (D)
60-68.9%
NP (F)
0-59.9%

Required Texts:

1.  Fred T. Mackenzie. Our Changing Planet: an Introduction to Earth System Science and Global Environmental Change. Prentice Hall. Fourth edition, 2011. This book is available at the Bay Tree Bookstore.
 
 

Course Outline

1. INTRODUCTION

April 3 : Course Introduction
April 5: History of planet Earth and Gaia hypothesis

REQUIRED READINGS: Mackenzie Chapters 1 & 2.
SUGGESTED READINGS: James Lovelock. The Ages of Gaia: A Biography of Our Living Earth. Norton & Company, New York, 1995.


2. LITHOSPHERE

April 10: The First Law of Thermodynamics and Plate Tectonics

April 12: Soils

REQUIRED READINGS: Mackenzie Chapters 2 & 3.3. ATMOSPHERE AND HYDROSPHERE

April 17: The Atmosphere
April 19: The Hydrosphere and El Nino Sonthern Oscillation (ENSO)
April 24: Global climate change

REQUIRED READINGS: Mackenzie Chapters 4, 5, and 8.
SUGGESTED READINGS: (1) Mackenzie Chapters 13 & 14; (2) IPCC Climate Change 2013: Summary for Policy Makers (PDF) or from IPCC web page: http://www.ipcc.ch4. ECOSPHERE

April 26: Ecosystems and biomes
May 1: Agriculture, food production, and the environment; Midterm review

REQUIRED READINGS: (1) Mackenzie Chapters 6 & 10; (2) Botkin & Keller Chapter 12 May 3 : Midterm

5. BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

May 8: The carbon cycle
May 10: Human influence on the global carbon cycle

REQUIRED READINGS: (1) Mackenzie Chapter 7;
SUGGESTED READINGS: (1) IPCC Climate Change 2014: Technical Summary (IPCC web page: http://www.ipcc.ch)

May 15: The nitrogen cycle
May 17: Human influence on the nitrogen cycle

        REQUIRED READINGS: (1) Mackenzie Chapter 7; (2) Schlesinger Chapter 12
        SUGGESTED READINGS:  Issue in Ecology No. 1.

May 22: Phosphorus, sulfur and oxygen cycles
May 24: Acid deposition and acid-base reactions

REQUIRED READINGS: (1) Mackenzie Chapter 12; (2) Schlesinger Chapter 13
SUGGESTED READINGS: Issue in Ecology No. 3.

6. ENERGY RESOURCES AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

May 29: Fossil fuel and nuclear power
May 31: Alternative energy

REQUIRED READINGS: (1) Botkin & Keller Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20

7. CONCLUSION AND SYNTHESIS

June 5: Global change, human population, and sustainability

        REQUIRED READINGS: (1) Mackenzie Chapter 15; (2) The Tragedy of the Commons (PDF); (3) Demographic Transition (PDF)

June 7: Final review: Questions-Answers-Discussions


Please note: Final exam covers the entire course materials

FINAL EXAM IS ON June 12, Tuesday, 4:00 -7:00 p.m.