Archives

1 Global Change Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Understand the major global environmental problems. • Know about anthropogenic greenhouse gases. • Know about fundamental components of the Earth system. • Differentiate between global […]

1 Origin of the Earth and of Life Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Realize that the solar nebula formed from a cloud of interstellar gas • Know that the Earth and the other […]

Effect of Life on the Atmosphere: The Rise of Oxygen and Ozone Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know that methanogens are thought to be among the earliest forms of life on Earth. • […]

Long-Term Climate Regulation Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Have a grasp of long term climate cycles and the processes that affect climate fluctuations on timescales of millions of years or greater. • Know […]

Biodiversity through Earth History Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Understand how the diversity of life has changed though Earth history. • Understand the ways in which paleontologists measure diversity. • Know how species […]

Pleistocene Glaciations Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Comprehend the climate changes that the Earth has experienced during the Pleistocene and be able to provide explanations for these changes • Know what pieces of […]

1 Global Warming, Part 1: Recent and Future Climate Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know that the global climate fluctuates on small timescales of years to decades, and that scientists are still not […]

1 Global Warming, Part 2: Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Understand how changes in greenhouse gases may affect sea level • Understand some of the impacts of global warming […]

Ozone Depletion Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know what the effects of UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation are on life. • Know that UVC radiation is mostly absorbed by ozone. • Know the […]

Human Threats to Biodiversity Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Realize where species loss is occurring, how it is occurring, and why it is important to society • Understand the uncertainties in measuring and […]

Climate Stability on Earth and Earthlike Planets Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Realize how the Sun and the Earth’s atmospheric composition have evolved over timescales of billions of years. • Know what the […]

1 Daisyworld: An Introduction to Systems Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Understand what the essentials of systems are • Know how the components of systems interact with each other • Describe the concept […]

1 Global Energy Balance: The Greenhouse Effect Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know how Earth is warmed and cooled. • Know what happens to the infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s surface. • Know […]

1 The Atmospheric Circulation System Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know why the incoming solar energy varies with latitude and season. • Know what buoyancy is and how it is controlled. • Know […]

1 The Circulation of the Oceans Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know how ocean currents form • Know the role of ocean circulation in the global climate system • Understand why the movement […]

1 The Cryosphere Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Understand the importance of the cryosphere to the climate system. • Understand how ice forms on land and in the ocean. • Know how glaciers […]

Circulation of the Solid Earth: Plate Tectonics Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Analyze and interpret the Earth’s response to forcings on a wide range of time scales • Know the geodynamics associated with […]

Recycling of the Elements: The Carbon Cycle Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Understanding the global carbon cycle. • Know why Earth is likely the only planet in our solar system that supports life. […]

1 Focus on the Biota: Metabolism, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students should be able to: • Know two fundamental groupings of organism • Know the characteristics of life • Know what ecosystems are • Recognize […]