Earth and Oceanic Systems
Code
73224102
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Geografia e Planeamento Regional
Credits
5
Weekly hours
2
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
The goal of this course is to provide to students a general understanding of the dynamics of the planet identifying the principles of a responsible and sustainable management of the environment. It is described in a integrated way the fluxes of energy and resources at a global scale and the main impacts of mankind in the planet. Special emphasis is given to water resources, namely in what respects the urban water cycle, to oceans, soils, ecosystems and biodiversity. It is briefly analyzed the contributions of science and technology to sustainability.
Prerequisites
None
Subject matter
The Earth System: Energy and materials cycles. The planet resources.Ecosystems and biodiversity: Structure, composition and functioning of the different types of Earth ecosystems. Energy and resources exchanges. Earths ecosystems productivity. Population and communities.Biodiversity, trophic structures and ecological pyramids.
The water cycle: Water uses & other pressures on resources. The millennium goals & the sustainable use of water. The impacts of climate change on the water cycle & on resources.
The urban water cycle (water suplly, wastewater and stormwater drainage and treatamentpollution control)
Soils & desertification: The rock cycle. Physical and chemical weathering processes. Erosion & sediment
transport. Soil conservation. Non-point source pollution and soil & water contamination.
The ocean system: Earth oceans and seas. Ocean dynamics forcing factors. The ocean carbon balance. The upwelling phenomenon. Tides, waves regime and storm surges. Coastal erosion & protection.
Bibliography
Earth Science, Turbuck, Lutgens, Tasa, Pearson International, 2009 (12th edition).
Environmental Geology. An Earth System Approach, Merrits, De Wet, Menking, WH Freeman and Co. 1998.
Earth Science and the Environment, Thomson and Turk, Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2007.
Fundamental Processes in Ecology: An Earth Systems Approach, Wilkinson, David M., 2007.
Essentials of Ecology, Townsend CR, Begon M, Harper JL., 2008 (3rd edition).
Teaching method
Classes are used to present the course subject. Students are also required to develop 1 group assignment on a subject of their choice, presenting its results as scientific paper.
Evaluation method
The final course grade is obtained from the average of the group assignment and an individual written examination.