ENVR102 - Earth Science

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

An understanding of the fundamental processes and cycles underpinning the physical environment is crucial for scientists and policy makers. Knowledge of these underlying processes informs decisins about the effective use, management and conservation of our natural resources and is foundational in scientific disciplines such as ecology, biogeography, geology and geomorphology.

This unit introduces students to Earth Science. Students will develop an understanding of the tectonic processes that create landscapes and the erosional forces that modify them and produce different landform morphologies. They will be able to classify soil types in the Australian landscape and identify the optimal uses of these soils. Students will develop comprehension of coastal landforms including estuaries, beaches and rock platforms as well as the management issues facing these areas. The unit also explores atmospheric composition, interactions and functioning, including effects on local weather patterns and changes in global climate.

This unit aims to produce students with an understanding of the complex planetary systems that produce our physical environment and their interactions.