EARTH 002: GAIA -- THE EARTH SYSTEM

Updated Jan 24, 2012


SYLLABUS
Schedule is approximate and subject to revision
 
 WEEK
TOPIC
ASSIGNMENT
1 INTRODUCTION

 

IS THE EARTH A SPECIAL PLACE? SCIENCE AND DOGMA
2
THE EARTH IN SPACE AND THE TRIAL OF GALILEO REVIEW OF READING GRAPHS

THE AGE OF THE EARTH --LORD KELVIN'S BRILLIANT ERROR AGE OF THE EARTHMETHODS OF ENERGY TRANSFER
3
THE AGE OF THE EARTH --LORD KELVIN'S BRILLIANT ERROR INTRODUCTION TO THERMODYNAMICS
  THERMODYNAMICS
BASIC ATOMIC THEORY
4
INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMS ANALYSIS READING ON SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
5
INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMS ANALYSIS  
6
FLOW CHARTS, FEEDBACK AND INTUITION
FLOWCHARTS -- TRACING THE MOVEMENT OF MATTER AND ENERGY 
7
GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF FEEDBACK
INTERPRETING GRAPHS -- QUICK AND DIRTY ANALYSIS

GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF FEEDBACK, PART 2 
STABLE AND UNSTABLE SYSTEMS
8
THE ATMOSPHERE,
WHY OXYGEN AND NITROGEN IN OUR ATMOSPHERE?

MOLECULAR DESCRIPTION OF HEAT, TEMPERATURE, DENSITY, AND PRESSURE

EVIDENCE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

9
ENERGY SYSTEMATICS IN THE ATMOSPHERE  ENERGY SPECTRUM AND MOLECULAR ABSORPTION

GREENHOUSE EARTH  
10
ENERGY TRANSFER IN THE ATMOSPHERE CAUSES OF SEASONALITY

WINDS, TORNADOS AND HURRICANES
11
SURFACE CURRENTS IN THE OCEAN
12
OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE CO2 EXCHANGE 
SINKS AND RESERVOIRS

VERTICAL MOVEMENTS IN THE OCEAN VERTICAL STRUCTURE OF THE OCEAN
13
FEEDBACK IN THE ICE-CLIMATE SYSTEMATICS GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF ICE-TEMPERATURE FEEDBACK 

USING GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS TO LOOK FOR QUESTIONS  
14
MODELING HUMAN IMPACT
TROPICAL DEFORESTATION
TROPICAL FOREST - CLIMATE FEEDBACK
READ TO SECTION 3.1

MODELING HUMAN IMPACT (2) ENERGY POLICY
15
PROJECT PRESENTATIONS  









Additional pages: 
CARBON CYCLE

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