Syracuse University Department of Earth Sciences

EAR 203, 2017

Syracuse University Department of Earth Sciences

EAR 203: EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE

SYLLABUS

Instructor:Ms. Ziegler

Office: Room 212

Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:45-3:45, or by appointment

Contact information:

Course Description

Earth System Science (EAR 203) illustrates the interconnectedness of biologic, hydrologic, atmospheric, and geologic processes in shaping our planet. This approach to geology reflects a more integrated view toward the study of Earth. In today’s world, with increasing global population, the threat of global warming, and a growing demand for raw materials and energy, a basic understanding of the Earth system is more important than ever.

Introduction and Learning Goals

Students taking this course will learn how the basic elements of the Earth interact through various linkages and feedbacks that operate over timescales from a few years to millions of years. The major goal of this course is to supply students with a basic, yet comprehensive, view of the Earth system necessary for evaluating information and making decisions about relevant environmental, geological, resource, and related issues.

Objectives

At the end of Earth System Science, a student should have a fundamental understanding of how the Earth operates from the core to the edge of the atmospherein space and time. In addition, students will understand how thebasic elements of the Earth function and interact through various linkages andfeedbacks that operate at a global scale over timescales of minutes to millionsof years. Specifically, students will:

1.Gain an understanding of:

a.Global change over different time scales

b.Systems approach to understanding the Earth

c.Global energy balance and Earth’s greenhouse

d.Atmosphere circulation

e.Oceanic circulation

f.Continental landforms

g.Nutrient cycling

h.The origin of Earth and life

i.Long-term climate regulation

j.Global change over the last 2.5 billion years

2.Gain a deep understanding of the scientific method

a.Develop pertinent questions

b.Gather relevant data (or find it from reliable sources)

c.Construct interpretations

d.Formulate strategies for the development and testing of hypotheses

3.Apply mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills to solve:

a.qualitative,

b.quantitative,

c.spatial, and

d.analytic problems;

4.Apply basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry to earth science concepts;

5.Use basic statistical concepts to draw both inferences and conclusions from data;

6.Identify implications and consequences of drawn conclusions;

7.Measure, compare, order, scale, locate, and code (meaning encode, describe, or communicate) data accurately;

8.Do scientific research and report and display the results of this research;

9.Understand these issues in terms of the modern political and social context; and

10.Learn to think critically in order to solve problems.

Prerequisite Skills

Earth System Science (EAR 203) is recommended for students who wish to pursue a major or minor program in environmental or earth science, whether from the physical, biological or engineering perspective. It is also appropriate for students with a strong science background who plan to major in a non-science discipline and seek a course that will fulfill general education requirements. While it is desirable, no prior Earth Science course/instruction is required. A general, basic understanding of math and algebra, including an understanding of decimals, exponents, logarithms, quadratics, and algebraic equations, is essential to success in this course (calculus is not required). You should not be taking remedial algebra concurrently with this course. Basic understanding of physical, chemical and biological processes and principles are likewise highly desirable, but not absolutely required.

In-Class Materials

The material covered in class is illustrative rather than exhaustive. You should read the material in the text assigned before the class. In class, alternate ways of understanding the material will often be presented. The examinations, however, will cover both the assigned text and in-class materials (whether or not they are specifically covered in class).

Textbooks, Workbooks, and Lab Manuals

Kump, L.R., Kastings, J.F., & Crane, R.G. (2009). The Earth System, (3rd Ed). New York: Pearson. ISBN 0321597796

Other Mandatory Course Materials

Other reading materials supplementing the textbook will occasionally be handed out in class and/or uploaded my Faculty Page. You are responsible formaking sure you get this additional material independent of how theyare distributed.

Class Requirements

1.Each EAR 203 student will obtain a 2-3” three-ring binder with dividers. The binder will contain a reference, a chapter, and a laboratory section. Reference materials (papers, handouts, notes, and so forth) will go in the reference section. All class handouts, assignments, homework, and worksheets will go in the chapter section. The laboratory section will contain all laboratory reports. This syllabus should be the first page in the binder. The student is responsible for indexing the notebooks by chapter and assignment. Binders will be checked at least once each semester for a homework grade. Keep all material in the binder for the entire year. These binders will provide a basis for evaluation, specifically in terms of granting SU academic credit.

2. Students will bring paper, pencil, and class binders to class every day.

3.Daily assignments will be collected periodically – keep all assignments in the class binder ready to turn in.

4.Assignments are due on the date specified. The only exceptions are if the student is ill, unable to attend school, or prior approval has been given by the instructor.

5.Students absent due to school activities must notify the instructor at least 24 hours in advance, or the absence will be counted as a regular absence.

6.Students who are absent due to planned school activities(sports, club meetings, band concerts, etc.) will see that their assignments are turned in on the required date. The student shall turn in homework and get the next assignments in person the same day as the absence. Failure to do as instructed will result in an automatic zero. CHECK WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR BEFOREMISSING ANY CLASS!

7.All tests will be announced several days in advance. Every effort should be made to be present on test days as well as every other day. Makeup tests and other work will be made up on the student’s own time and will be of a different format and will only be provided if the student has an excused absence.

Make-ups

Major makeup assignments (test, quizzes, and laboratory experiments) must be completed within one week of the absence. Makeup work must be done by appointment. Shorter assignments (homework, practice sheets, and class work) must be completed within two (2) days of return to school.

In case of extended illness (more than five (5) days), makeup work will be scheduled on an individual basis with the instructor and must be completed within two (2) weeks of returning to school. Scheduling makeup work is the student’s responsibility. Upon returning to school, the student must on his/her own time see the instructor to obtain assignments.

Determination of Grades

Finalgrades for EAR 203 will be assigned based upon the following:

In term examinations35%

Labs, Classwork30%

Homework10%

Final Exam25%

100%

The final letter grade will be assigned according to this scale. Numerical scores will be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Course Average Letter Grade

93-100 A

90-92 A-

87-89 B+

83-86 B

80-82 B-

77-79 C+

73-76 C

70-72 C-

60-69 D

0-59 F

Extra Credit

No extra credit will be given for this course.

Final Exam and Final Project

The final exam is scheduled for Monday, June 18, 2018.

The Final Project and Presentations are scheduled for: The last week of May and the first week of June (2018)

The final project will be student choice and will consist of a research project pertaining to topics studied in this course. Students are be expected to research the topic in peer-reviewed journals, to either carry out original research or to collect pre-existing data, analyze the data, draw their own conclusions and present their results to the class. Topic may included, but are not limited to: long-term climate change, human effects on climate, loss of biodiversity, mass extinctions, global warming impacts, mitigation of global warming, ozone depletion, human threats to biodiversity, impact of life on the evolution of the atmosphere, effects of plate tectonics on evolution, glaciation past and future, and impacts of ocean circulation change on climate.

Special Needs and Accommodations

Syracuse University welcomes people with disabilities and, in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Students who require special consideration due to a learning, physical, or other disability should discuss this with the instructor right away.

Use of Student Academic Work

It is understood that registration for and continued enrollment in this course constitutes permission by the student for the instructor to use for educational purposes any student work produced in the course, in compliance withthe federal Family Educational Rightsand Privacy Act(FERPA). After the completion of the course, any further use of studentwork will meet one of the following conditions: (1) the work will be rendered anonymousthrough the removal of all personal identification of the student(s); or (2) written permissionfrom the student(s).

Academic Integrity

Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity Policy reflects the high value that we, as a university community, place on honesty in academic work. The policy defines our expectations for academic honesty and holds students accountable for the integrity of all work they submit. Students should understand that it is their responsibility to learn about course-specific expectations, as well as about university-wide academic integrity expectations. The policy governs appropriate citation and use of sources, the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments, and the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verification of participation in class activities. The policy also prohibits students from submitting the same work in more than one class without receiving written authorization in advance from both instructors. Under the policy, students found in violation are subject to grade sanctions determined by the course instructor and non-grade sanctions determined by the School or College where the course is offered as described in the Violation and Sanction Classification Rubric. SU students are required to read an online summary of the University’s academic integrity expectations and provide a signature agreeing to abide by them. For more information about the policy, see

The Violation and Sanction Classification Rubric establishes recommended guidelines for the determination of grade penalties by faculty and instructors, while also giving them discretion to select the grade penalty they believe most suitable, including course failure, regardless of violation level. Any established violation of the policy in this course will result in a failing grade for the course.

Copying on tests, homework, or laboratory reports will result in zeroes for both the person copying and the one who allows it -- do your own work!