Your introduction to planet Earth, inside and out. The origin of our universe, oceans, mountains, climate change, and mass extinctions: it’s all connected. Three field trips including a research cruise.
This multidisciplinary paper commences with an overview of our place on planet Earth, the solar system, and deep space. It then covers a vast number of topics by way of the unifying theme of Earth "spheres"; Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, and Biosphere. Topics such as climate and atmospheric/oceanic circulation, plate tectonics and associated hazards, weathering and erosion/deposition, past and present life, glaciers and ice sheets, and the impact of humans on the planet are covered. Students will finish the course with a holistic understanding of planet Earth, and a good feel for topics worth pursuing at more advanced levels.
| Paper title | Earth and Ocean Science |
|---|---|
| Paper code | EAOS111 |
| Subject | Earth and Ocean Science |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,141.35 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Schedule C
- Science
- Notes
- EAOS111 is required for students taking Geology as a major or minor subject, and is recommended for students wishing to enter Marine Science studies at a later stage.
- Contact
- More information link
- Teaching staff
Co-ordinator: Dr Christian Ohneiser
- Paper Structure
Lectures cover the following themes:
- Our place in space: humanity on earth, earth in the universe
- The geosphere: our dynamic earth
- Earth's surface: where the geosphere meets the hydrosphere
- The hydrosphere and the atmosphere: a tightly coupled system
- The cryosphere: Ice distribution, dynamics, and trends
- The biosphere: life on earth
- Teaching Arrangements
4 lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week.
Fieldwork: Two 1-day field trips (there is a choice of Saturday or Sunday) to North Otago and Taieri Plains.- Textbooks
- The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science 3rd Edition by Brian J Skinner & Barbara W Murck (2011), J Wiley & Sons Inc.
- Course outline
View the latest course syllabus here (previous syllabus indicative of content next time the paper is taught).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Critical thinking, Environmental
literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will:
- Understand and describe the processes that shape Earth's surface, interior and oceans
- Draw connections between the various components of the Earth system
- Apply concepts introduced in lectures and laboratories to field settings
- Understand the concept of geologic time in relation to physical and biological systems
- Understand the physical and biological controls on the distribution of Earth materials and make predictions based on this understanding
