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12.007 geobiology
the interactive Earth system: biology in geologic and environmental change throughout Earth history
Tuesday and Thursday, room 54-317 11-12.30 |
Since life began it has continually shaped and re-shaped the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the solid earth. This course introduces the concept of life as a geological agent and examines the interaction between biology and the earth system during the roughly 4 billion years since life first appeared.
Assignments are posted here
Course description (pdf version of syllabus, with readings and lecture schedule, available here)
- overview of course; timescales; the making of a habitable planet starting from the Big Bang; galaxies and stars; creation and distribution of the chemical elements
- origin and compositions of the Solar System, Earth and Moon; early Earth segregation; formation of atmosphere and hydrosphere; characteristics of the habitable zone
- theories about the Origin of Life
- nature and Habitat of Early Life; RNA world; breakthrough organism; last common ancestor
- introduction to the tools of biogeochemistry; Isotopic signatures; C, O, N, H, S, B, inert gases, transition metals; biomarkers; microbiology, genomics
- biogeochemical cycling of Lifes elements of C, N, S. Exogenic and rock cycles
- life's three domains; fossil and biogeochemical evidence for their presence and evolution through geological time
- metabolism and energy yields; the biological energy quantum; constraints on the biosphere applicable to Astrobiology
- oxygenic photosynthesis, aerobic metabolism and the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Could a biosphere be sustained before oxygenic photosynthesis?
- the global carbon cycle; tectonism, environments and/or biology as controls? C-Cycle models and isotopic evidence for evolution of the cycle
- evolution and radiation of metazoans
- biogeochemical tracers #1; biominerals, fractionated isotopes and trace elements
- biogeochemical tracers #2; lipid biomarkers
- biogeochemical tracers #3; sedimentary records of life and environment
- the fate of buried organic carbon; petroleum and natural gas; occurrence and distribution
- methane hydrates; formation, distribution, potential role in C-cycle and subsurface ecosystems dependent upon them
- CO2-climate connection; global glaciations; the Snowball Earth hypothesis
- the ocean-atmosphere climate system #1; oceanic biological pump
- the ocean-atmosphere climate system #2; Holocene and anthropogenic climate change
Terms Offered: every spring
Expecations:
- two weekly lectures of 1.5 hours will introduce each topic
- a reading list will also be provided and assignments due on the readings
- there will be a final term paper with oral presentations toward the end of the term and two exams
Grading will be on the following basis:
- 30% Problem Sets/Assignments, 8 for the course
- 20% Final Paper & Oral Presentation
- 20% Midterm Exam
- 30% Final Exam
Instructor: Roger Summons with guest lecturers Julian Sachs, Yanan Shen (Harvard), John Hayes (WHOI) and Charles Marshall (Harvard)
Rationale: The interactive Earth system: biology in geologic, environmental and climate change throughout Earth history. Since life began it has continually shaped and re-shaped the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the solid earth. This course introduces the concept of 'life as a geological agent' and examines the interaction between biology and the earth system during the roughly 4 billion years since life first appeared.
Topics covered include
- the origin of the solar system and the early Earth atmosphere.
- the origin and evolution of life and its influence on climate up through and including the modern age and the problem of global warming
- the global carbon cycle
- astrobiology
Although this is an excellent first course for those interested in pursuing further study in the earth and environmental sciences, this course is designed for any student interested in understanding life's role in the Earth system. |
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