Syllabus (GEOLOGY)

Course Type: MAJ-1

Semester: 1

Course Code: BGELMAJ01T

Course Title: Earth System Science

(L-P-Tu): 5-0-1

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Theory

Course Objective: Overall understanding of the subject as a branch of Earth science, Interpreting signature of geological incidents as may be preserved in rock records. Earth system science introduces the subject as a whole as it is not taught holistically in school level.

Learning Outcome: Overall students will learn the basics of geology, terminologies used in different branches of geology, origin and evolution of the earth itself as well as life and atmosphere on earth, cause of different geological phenomenon etc.

Theory

Unit I: Earth as a planet

1. Introduction to various branches of earth sciences

2. General characteristics and origin and evolution of the Universe, the Solar system and its planets and satellites.

3. Meteorites and asteroids

4. Cosmic abundance of elements and distribution of elements in solar system and in Earth

5. Origin of atmosphere, ocean, and life

Unit-II: Solid Earth

1. Mechanical layering of the Earth-lithosphere, asthenophere, mantle and core

2. Seismic waves and internal structure of the Earth

3. Formation of core, mantle, crust

4. Concept of Isostasy

5. Geothermal gradient and internal heat of the Earth

6. Earth’s magnetic field

Unit III: Plate Tectonics

1. Introduction to Plate tectonics, Concept of Continental drift and sea-floor spreading

2. Introduction to different types of plate and plate boundaries, orogeny and mountain building processes, types of mountains and their geological characters

3. Earthquake and earthquake belts

4. Volcanoes- types and distribution of volcanic belts

Unit IV: Understanding the past from stratigraphic records.

1. Concept of geological time scale

2. Concepts of Neptunism, Plutonism, Uniformitarianism, and Catastrophism

3. Nature of stratigraphic records

4. Concept of absolute and relative dating; radiometric dating methods

Unit V: Soil, Hydrosphere and Atmosphere

1. Weathering and Erosion

2. Soil types, process of formation of soil, weather and climate

3. Atmospheric circulations; Oceanic currents, tides and waves, Oceanic currents, surface currents and global ocean conveyor system,

4. Climate change, Climate change in geological past from rock records

Suggested Reference Books:

• Grotzinger, J., Jordan, T.H., Press, F., Siever, R. (2007): Understanding Earth. W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, 5 th Ed.

• Emiliani, C. (1992): Planet Earth: Cosmology, Geology, and the Evolution of Life and Environment. Cambridge University Press. Published in USA.

• Skinner, B.J., Porter, S.C., Botkin, D.B. (1999): The Blue Planet – An Introduction to Earth System Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. P.552.

• Mathez, E.A. and Webster, J.D. (2004): The Earth machine – The Science of a Dynamic Planet. Columbia University Press, New York. P.335.

• Duff, P. M. D., & Duff, D. (Eds.). (1993). Holmes' principles of physical geology. Taylor & Francis.

• Gross, M. G. (1977). Oceanography: A view of the earth.