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Unit of Study SCIN1004 - Earth Systems (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit description

Introduces the formation of the earth over geological time and the complex interacting systems that provide a basis for life on earth, including the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Considers the recent changes induced by human activities and impacts on a global scale.

Unit content

1. The Earth: Introduction to earth system science, earth materials and geologic time. 

2. Geosphere: Plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, the rock cycle. 

3. Hydrosphere: the hydrological cycle and cryosphere 

4. Oceans: Ocean circulation, basin and coastline formation, currents and waves. 

5. Atmosphere: Structure and circulation and weather patterns and cycles. 

6. The Biosphere and Anthropocene: Influence of living world on the Earth system over geologic time. Recent  human impacts on the Earth system. 

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Term1
Term1
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour
Term1
Term1
Online
Term1,5
N/A

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

Describe the key attributes of major interacting Earth systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere.

Demonstrate an understanding of important earth system cycles.

Apply critical scientific thinking to describe how the Earth systems interact across different scales in space and time.

Reflect on how humans have influenced the current and future functioning of the Earth systems.

Prescribed learning resources

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Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.