Course Summary
Explore the fascinating world of Planet Earth with this course, which covers a wide range of topics from the geology of our planet to the impact of human activities on the environment.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the geological processes that have shaped our planet over millions of years
- Discover how the Earth's climate is changing and the impact this has on ecosystems
- Explore the challenges facing our planet and the ways in which we can work to protect it
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the geological processes that have shaped our planet
- Explore the impact of human activities on the environment
- Learn about the challenges facing our planet and the ways in which we can work to protect it
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of science
- Interest in the environment and sustainability
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Climate Change: The Science
- Environmental Management
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- David Attenborough
- Greta Thunberg
Related Books
Description
Earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, ice ages, landslides, floods, life evolution, plate motions—all of these phenomena have interacted over the vast expanses of deep time to sculpt the dynamic planet that we live on today. Planet Earth presents an overview of several aspects of our home, from a geological perspective. We begin with earthquakes—what they are, what causes them, what effects they have, and what we can do about them. We will emphasize that plate tectonics—the grand unifying theory of geology—explains how the map of our planet's surface has changed radically over geologic time, and why present-day geologic activity—including a variety of devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes—occur where they do. We consider volcanoes, types of eruptions, and typical rocks found there. Finally, we will delve into the processes that produce the energy and mineral resources that modern society depends on, to help understand the context of the environment and sustainability challenges that we will face in the future.
Outline
- Orientation
- Welcome to Planet Earth...and You!
- Syllabus
- Google Earth Instructions
- Updating Your Profile
- Social Media
- About the Discussion Forums
- How Graded Discussions Work
- Discussion Rubric
- Orientation Quiz
- Week 1: Earthquakes!
- 1.A.1 Introduction to Earthquakes
- 1.A.2 Generation of Earthquake Vibrations
- 1.A.3 Introduction to Faults
- 1.A.4 Types of Faults
- 1.A.5 Earthquake Waves
- 1.B.1 The Intensity and Magnitude of Earthquakes
- 1.B.2 Seismometers
- 1.B.3 Interpreting Seismograms and Earthquake Magnitude
- 1.B.4 Comparing Earthquakes
- 1.C.1 Damage Due to Ground Shaking
- 1.C.2 Other Consequences of Earthquakes
- 1.C.3 Tsunamis
- 1.D.1 The First Step in Predicting Earthquakes: Recognizing Where They Occur
- 1.D.2 Earthquake Recurrence Interval
- 1.D.3 Interpreting The Recurrence Interval
- 1.D.4 Efforts to Prevent Earthquake Devastation
- 1.D.5 Mitigating Earthquake Damage
- Week 1 Lab: Triangulation Lab
- Week 1 Overview
- Week 1 Quiz
- Week 1 Assignment
- Week 1 Lab
- Week 2: Plate Tectonics
- 2.A.1 Ideas before Plate Tectonics
- 2.A.2 Alfred Wegener & Continental Drift
- 2.A.3 Evidence for Continental Drift
- 2.A.4 New Discoveries Leading to Plate Tectonics: Seafloor Bathymetry
- 2.A.5 New Discoveries Leading to Plate Tectonics: Apparent Polar-Wander Paths
- 2.A.6 New Discoveries Leading to Plate Tectonics: Evidence for Seafloor Spreading
- 2.B.1 Discovering Plate Tectonics
- 2.B.2 Earth's Internal Layers and the Concept of a Plate
- 2.B.3 Three Types of Plate Boundaries: Divergent Plate Boundary
- 2.B.4 Three Types of Plate Boundaries: Convergent Plate Boundary
- 2.B.5 Three Types of Plate Boundaries: Transform Plate Boundary
- 2.B.6 Continental Rifts and Continental Collisions
- 2.B.7 Intraplate Earthquakes
- 2.B.8 The Velocity of Plate Motion
- 2.B.9 Plate Driving Mechanisms
- Week 2 Lab: Plate Tectonics! Lab Part 1
- Week 2 Lab: Plate Tectonics! Lab Part 2
- Week 2 Overview
- Week 2 Quiz
- Week 2 Assignment
- Week 2 Lab
- Week 3: Volcanoes!
- 3.A.1 Introducing Volcanoes and the Concept of Molten Rock
- 3.A.2 Where Does Molten Rock Come From?
- 3.A.3 How Does Rock Melt?
- 3.A.4 Forming Molten Rock; a Magma Composition
- 3.A.5 Volcanoes Associated with Subduction
- 3.A.6 Melting at Rifts and Mid-Ocean Ridges
- 3.A.7 Melting at Hot Spots
- 3.B.1 Introduction to Igneous Rocks
- 3.B.2 What Are Igneous Rocks Composed Of?
- 3.B.3 When Molten Rock Solidifies
- 3.C.1 Types of Volcanic Eruptions
- 3.C.2 Magma and Lava with Gas
- 3.C.3 Eruption Materials
- 3.C.4 Pyroclastic Debris
- 3.C.5 Three Different Volcano Shapes
- 3.C.6 Eruption Styles and Case Studies
- 3.C.7 Case Studies of Volcanic Explosions: Pompeii, Present-Day Italy
- 3.C.8 Super Volcanoes in the Geologic Record
- 3.D.1 Volcanic Hazards, Part 1
- 3.D.2 Volcanic Hazards, Part 2
- 3.E.1 Predicting Volcanic Eruptions
- 3.E.2 Dealing with Volcanic Hazards
- Week 3 Lab: Volcanoes! Lab Introduction
- Week 3 Overview
- Week 3 Quiz
- Week 3 Assignment
- Week 3 Lab
- Week 4: Rocks and Mineral Resources
- 4.A.1 Basic Classes of Earth Materials
- 4.A.2 Origin of Earth Materials
- 4.A.3 Defining Minerals
- 4.A.4 Clues for Identifying Minerals
- 4.B.1 Introducing Classes of Rocks
- 4.B.2 The Nature of Igneous Rocks
- 4.B.3 Different Types of Sedimentary Rocks
- 4.B.4 Formation of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
- 4.B.5 Primary Sedimentary Structures and Sedimentary Basins
- 4.B.6 Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks
- 4.C.1 How Rocks Can Change
- 4.C.2 Metamorphic Rocks Part 1
- 4.C.3 Metamorphic Rocks Part 2
- 4.C.4 The Rock Cycle
- 4.D.1 The Practical Uses of Rocks
- 4.D.2 The Nature of Metal Ore Deposits
- 4.D.3 Global Steel Usage
- 4.E.1 Non-Metallic Minerals – Concrete and Crushed Rock
- 4.E.2 Other Non-Metallic Resources – Brick, Gypsum, Dimension Stone
- Week 4 Overview
- Week 4 Quiz
- Week 4 Assignment
- Week 4 Lab
- Week 5: Energy Resources
- 5.A.1. Energy Resources from the Earth
- 5.A.2. Human Use of Energy Over Time
- 5.B.1. Sources of Energy: Coal Part 1
- 5.B.2. Sources of Energy: Coal Part 2
- 5.B.3. Sources of Energy: Coal Part 3
- 5.B.4. Problems Associated with Coal Mining
- 5.B.5. Problems Associated with Coal Use
- 5.C.1. Formation of Hydrocarbons: Oil and Gas
- 5.C.2. Conventional vs. Non-Conventional Hydrocarbons: Conventional Reserves
- 5.C.3. Exploring and Drilling for Oil
- 5.C.4. Transporting and Refining Oil
- 5.C.5. Where Does Oil Occur, and Why?
- 5.D.1. Non-Conventional Hydrocarbons: Tar Sands and Oil Shale
- 5.D.2. Natural Gas
- 5.D.3. Obtaining Shale Gas: Hydrofracturing
- 5.D.4. Challenges Associated with Obtaining Shale Gas
- 5.E.1. Some Hazards of Oil Production
- 5.E.2. Alternative Energy Resources
- Week 5 Overview
- Week 5 Quiz
- Week 5 Assignment
- Week 5 Lab
Summary of User Reviews
The Planet Earth course is a great option for those interested in learning about the natural world. Many users found the course to be engaging and informative, with a particular focus on the impact of human activity on the environment.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
The course provides a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's natural systems and how they interact with human activities.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and informative course material
- Great for gaining an understanding of the natural world
- Highly recommended for those interested in environmental science
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course material to be too basic
- Limited interaction with course instructors
- The course may not be suitable for those without a strong interest in environmental science
Dr. Stephen Marshak
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