GEOLOGY 3505 - Earth Systems History III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course studies the fundamental geological and biological processes comprising the Earth System. It focuses on the interactions between the biosphere and the geosphere as the Earth System evolved as recorded in the geochemical and sedimentary record. It will identify the techniques necessary to interpret that record. This course explores the dynamics of the Earth system in the context of its development through time, from the origins of life on Earth (or lack of on other planets) through to the future planet Earth, affected by human activity. The course will outline the influence the changing Earth has had on the history of life as well as the role life has had in defining the Earth system and how the prediction of current issues, such as resources, climate change, and sustainability, can be informed by this record.

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Course Details

Course Code	GEOLOGY 3505
Course	Earth Systems History III
Coordinating Unit	School of Physical Sciences
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 6 hours per week plus field trip
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	GEOLOGY 2500
Incompatible	GEOLOGY 3014
Assessment	Practical & Theory in-class tests

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Jonathan Tyler

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

	A succesful student in this course should be able to:
1	demonstrate an understanding of how the sediments and landscapes of the Earth develop as dynamic systems, and how they relate to the concepts of geological time and space;
2	demonstrate an understanding of the key sedimentological and geochemical techniques used to decipher Earth system processes through time;
3	demonstrate an ability to manipulate and interpret geochemical data derived from sedimentary geological materials;
4	demonstrate knowledge of how environmental change has operated on geological timescales to produce the conditions on Earth capable of supporting life;
5	apply basic mathematics to quantify Earth system processes;
6	apply information from sediments to interpret past environments from field observations, geologic and geochemical information;
7	understand the relationship between the geological record and the record of time preserved in sedimentary successions;
8	critically debate a key issue in Earth Systems History, both verbally and through a written report.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1-7
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	1-7
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	1-7
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	3
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	1-7
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1-7
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	3,4,5,6
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	3,4,5

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will be delivered by the following means:

1 x 2-hour lectures per week
1 x 4-hour practical per week
1 x day field trip held in class time

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

**Schedule**
	Lecture	Practical
Week 1	Course introduction; Phanerozoic climate history	Earth's energy budget
Week 2	Climate and the carbon cycle through geological time	Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum case study
Week 3	Building an icehouse climate in the Cenozoic	Sedimentary rock review
Week 4	Quaternary ice ages and Milankovitch forcing	Marine sediments, forams and oxygen isotopes
Week 5	Centennial-annual dynamics in the climate system and climate forcing	LECTURE TEST 1
Week 6	Sea water chemistry and it's evolution through geological time	Sediments, REDOX and non-traditional isotope geochemistry
Week 7	Evolution of Earth's atmosphere: redox and oxidation	Isotope mass balance and carbon isotopes
Week 8	Issues in Earth Systems History: introductory overview of assignment topics	Issues in Earth Systems History: small group debates
Week 9	Biogeochemistry and global change: the Snowball Earth	Fieldtrip to Hallett Cove
Week 10	Humans in in the Earth System: an Australian case study	Cave sedimentary deposits
Week 11	Dating sediments and applications to Earth Systems History	Sediment geochronology
Week 12	Course wrap up and review	LECTURE TEST 2

Specific Course Requirements

This course has a one-day field trip held in class time.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle Yes/No	Outcomes being assessed/achieved	Due date
In-class theory tests 2 X class tests 15% and 25% respectively	Formative & Summative	40%	No	1-8	Weeks 5 and 12
Online quizzes x 3 5% each	Summative	15%	No	1,2,4,6,7	Weeks 3,6,9
Assignment and take home exam 25% and 20% respectively	Formative & Summative	45%	No	1-8	Weeks 9 and 11

Assessment Detail

In-class theory tests: (60% of total course grade)
Three tests will be given to address understanding of the material. The first and second tests will be given mid-term to provide the students a benchmark for the progress in the course. The final summative test will be given at the end of the semester to ensure summative knowledge of course material. The tests will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions and be held in the 1 hour lecture sessions. Feedback on the first in–class test will be provided by end of week 6.

Practical Test: (40% of total course grade)
A cummulative Practical test will be administered in the final week to assess the learning through this part of the course. This test will be 2.5 hours and held in the practical session.

Submission

Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator