Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2024
Earth and Climate Sciences Bachelor  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Basic Courses II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 402-0000-03L | Laboratory Course in Physics for Students in Earth Sciences  Please make an enrolment in mystudies. Register the experiments here: https://www.lehrbetrieb.ethz.ch/laborpraktika. For further information visit: https://ap.phys.ethz.ch Only students from 3rd Semester BSc Earth Sciences on are admitted to this Laboratory Course. | O | 2 credits | 4P | A. Biland, A. Eggenberger, A. Müller | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The central aim is to provide an individual experience of the physical phenomena and the basic principles of the experiment. By conducting simple physical experiments the student will learn how to properly use physical instruments and how to evaluate the results correctly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Laboratory work forms an important part of the education in natural sciences. The overhead topic in this lab course is the confrontation of fundamental problems of any experiment. Using the example of simple tasks, the following aspects should be considered in particular: - the practical structure of the experiment and the knowledge of the measuring methods - the use and handling of measuring instruments - the correct evaluation and assessment of the observations - deepening the knowledge in some areas of elementary physics - physics as a personal experience. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Lab safety; error calculation and report writing; 6 selected experiments on a variety of topics. Selection of experiments may vary between courses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Manuals for the experiments in the physics lab; additional material is provided on the course website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Examination Block 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 402-0063-00L | Physics II | O | 5 credits | 3V + 1U | A. Vaterlaus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to the way physicists think and work with the help of concept questions, demonstration experiments and problem solving. Wherever possible, applications from thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism are taught from the areas of the degree programmes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Introduction to the scientific methodology. The student should develop his/her capability to turn physical observations into mathematical models, and to solve them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Thermodynamics with first and second law, phase transformations, transport phenomena. Introduction to electricity and magnetism, as well as waves and modern physics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | A script will be distributed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Friedhelm Kuypers Physik für Ingenieure und Naturwissenschaftler Band 2 Elektrizität, Optik, Wellen Wiley-VCH, 2012 ISBN 3527411445, 9783527411443 (4. Auflage 2022) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 651-3400-00L | Geochemistry I | O | 4 credits | 3G | M. Schönbächler, D. Vance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to geochemistry and its application to the study of the origin and evolution of the Earth and planets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Gain an overview of geochemical methods used in various fields of Earth Sciences and how they can be applied to study geological processes in the Earth’s mantle, crust, oceans and atmosphere. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course is an introduction into geochemistry with a special focus on the basic concepts used in this rapidly evolving field. The course deals with the geochemist's toolbox: the basic chemical and nuclear properties of elements from the periodic table and how these elements can be used to ask fundamental questions in Earth Sciences. The important concepts used in solid-solution-gas equilibria are introduced. The concepts of chemical reservoirs and geochemical cycles are discussed with examples from the carbon cycle in the Earth. The course also addresses geological applications in low- and high-temperature geochemistry, including the formation of continents, the differentiation of the Earth, the geochemistry of ocean and continental waters. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The slides are available online. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | H. Y. McSween et al.: Geochemistry - Pathways and Processes, 2nd ed. Columbia Univ. Press (2003) William White: Geochemistry, Wiley-Blackwell Chichester (2013) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Prerequisite: chemical thermodynamics, basic inorganic chemistry and physics, basics of Python programming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 701-0023-00L | Atmosphere | O | 3 credits | 2V | E. Fischer, U. Lohmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Basic principles of the atmosphere, physical structure and chemical composition, trace gases, atmospheric cycles, circulation, stability, radiation, condensation, clouds, oxidation capacity and ozone layer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students are able - to explain the physical structure and chemical composition of the atmosphere - to quantitatively describe and understand the fundamental physical and chemical process in the atmosphere - to explain the interactions and feedbacks between atmosphere - ocean - land surface, troposphere - stratosphere and weather - climate. In the course "Atmosphere", the competencies of process understanding, system understanding and data analysis & interpretation are taught, applied and examined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Basic principles of the atmosphere, physical structure and chemical composition, trace gases, atmospheric cycles, circulation, stability, radiation, condensation, clouds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Written information will be supplied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | - Wallace, J. M., and Hobbs, P. V. Atmospheric science: an introductory survey. 2nd ed. Amsterdam; Boston, Elsevier Academic Press, 2006. - Gösta H. Liljequist, Allgemeine Meteorologie, Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1974. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Examination Block 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 701-0071-00L | Mathematics III: Systems Analysis | O | 4 credits | 2V + 1U | C. Brunner, R. Knutti, H. Wernli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The objective of the systems analysis course is to deepen and illustrate the mathematical concepts on the basis of a series of very concrete examples. Topics covered include: linear box models with one or several variables, non-linear box models with one or several variables, time-discrete models, and continuous models in time and space. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Learning and applying of concepts (models) and quantitative methods to address concrete problems of environmental relevance. Understanding and applying the systems-analytic approach, i.e., Recognizing the core of the problem - simplification - quantitative approach - prediction. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | https://iac.ethz.ch/edu/courses/bachelor/vorbereitung/systemanalyse.html | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Overhead slides will be made available through the course website. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Imboden, D.S. and S. Pfenninger (2013) Introduction to Systems Analysis: Mathematically Modeling Natural Systems. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Verlag. http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-30639-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 651-3543-00L | Geophysics I | O | 4 credits | 2V + 1U | D. Giardini, M. O. Saar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | General knowlede of seismology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | General knowlede of seismology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 651-3507-00L | Introduction to Oceanography and Hydrogeology | O | 3 credits | 2V | D. Vance, M. O. Saar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course is designed to provide an introduction to hydrogeology and oceanography for all Earth Science students at ETH. It provides an overview of the physical controls on water flow in streams, aquifers, and the oceans. It also deals with the basics of groundwater chemistry, biogeochemical cycling in the oceans, the role of the oceans as carbon reservoirs and their dynamic redox state. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | To understand and describe the basic principles of the hydrologic cycle and water flow in streams and aquifers. To conduct simple calculations of water transfer in streams and aquifers as well as of flood frequencies and magnitudes. To discuss surface and groundwater as a water resource. To interpret different ion distributions in aquifers in terms of bacic water chemistry, fluid-mineral reactions, water contamination, and water origin. To understand the major features of ocean basins and the tectonic controls on their structure. To identify the major controls on the temperature, salinity and density structure of the oceans. To describe how these controls interact to drive surface and interior ocean circulation. To interpret different kinds of element distribution in the oceans in terms of basic chemistry, sinks, sources and internal biogeochemical cycling. To discuss the cycles of carbon and oxygen in the ocean, with a view to the critical analysis of how the oceans respond to, cause and record the dynamics of these cycles in Earth history. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course provides an introduction to oceanography and hydrogeology, with a special focus on the basic physicochemical concepts that control the properties and behaviour of two major reservoirs of water on Earth. The hydrogeology component will: 1) describe the hydrologic cycle, with a focus on the importance of groundwater to society; introduce the basic physical aspects of groundwater flow, including Darcy's law, hydraulic head, hydraulic conductivity, aquifers; 2) describe the basics of groundwater chemistry, including major ions and mean meteoric water line, basics of groundwater contamination; 3) introduce the interface with the oceans, including hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges, ocean-water intrusion into groundwater at coasts. The oceanography component will: 1) provide an overview of the physical circulation of the oceans, including its importance for heat transfer around the surface of the Earth and for climate; 2) describe the basic processes that control the chemistry of the oceans, including its temporal and spatial variability; 3) introduce some simple concepts in biological oceanography, including the dependence of ocean ecology on nutrient distributions. There will be a specific focus on how the physics, chemistry and biology of the ocean might have changed through Earth history, and the impact of oceanic processes on Earth's climate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Available | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Talley, L.D., Pickard, G.L., Emery, W.J. and Swift, J.H. Descriptive Physical Oceanography, an Introduction. (2011) Online textbook, available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780750645522. Libes, S.M. (2009) Introduction to marine biogeochemistry. 2nd edition. Academic Press | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Chemie I and II, Physik I and II, Mathematik I and II. Erdwissenschaftliche Datenanalyse und Visualisierung mit Python | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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