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| SPAT0026-1 | Paleoenvironment and evolution of the Earth system
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| Duration : | 30h Th, 10h Pr |
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| Holder(s) : | Louis François |
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| Language : | Langue française |
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| Course contents : | In the first part of the course, the Earth is presented as a dynamic system with several components interacting closely together and shaped by various physical, chemical and biological processes. The second part provides an overall synthesis of the evolution of this system over geological ages.
The Earth as a dynamical system: geospheres, plate tectonics, rock cycle, climate and greenhouse effect, atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, feedback processes, the Earth as a living organism (Gaia hypothesis).
The Earth and its history:
- Hadean (solar system and Earth's formation, degassing),
- Archean and Proterozoic (origin of life, continental growth, atmospheric oxidation state, Neo-proterozoic glaciations),
- Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras (biological crises, paleogeography changes and orgenesis, CO2 and climate, isotopic records),
- Pleistocene (Milankovitch theory and climate cycles, ice core and marine records),
- deglaciation and Holocene (climate, greenhouse gases and vegetation),
- present and future climate changes.
Practical lessons: each student will address in more detail some topics from the scientific literature. |
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| Course objective : | The objective is to give to the students a general overview of the Earth's evolution from the solar system formation to the current climate changes. The course is designed for students with no advanced background in geology.
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| Prerequisites : | None. |
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| Workshops : | Every student will realize a work of bibliographical synthesis on a subject of his choice, in connection with the topics of the lectures. He will give an oral presentation of this work to other students. |
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| Organization : | The course is given in the second semester in a series of 3-hour lectures. |
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| Assessment : | Oral examination.
Bibliographic homework. |
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| Contacts : | Louis François, Lecturer,
Institute of Astrophysics et and Geophysics (B5c build.),
Phone: (+32) (4) 366-9776
e-mail: Louis.Francois@ulg.ac.be
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