System Earth 1a

Introduction

Misha Velthuis

m.velthuis@uva.nl

Tue 3 Sept 2024

Today

Who are we?

What does this course look like?

Who am I?

Also #1

Also #2

Also #3

41.76006345520992, -13.607610755529738

lat_medellin = 6.246236906580691
lon_medellin = -75.5715966473171

lat_amsterdam = 52.36808956713812
lon_amsterdam = 4.901112303056097

# Spent 398 of the last 1727 days in Medellin.

frac = 398/1727

average_lat = lat_medellin * 0.23 + lat_amsterdam * (1-0.23)
average_lon = lon_medellin * 0.23 + lon_amsterdam * (1-0.23)

41.76006345520992 North latitude 13.607610755529738 West longitude

Why are we here?

Course overview

Every Tuesday 11:00-12:45

Every Friday 15:45-17:30

Literature

Assessment

Exam 1	18-Oct	25
Exam 2	13-Dec	25
Quizes		20
Presentation		20
Take home assignment	13-Sep	10
		100

4 x quiz

Testing smaller bits of knowledge

Multiple choice

Quick feedback

Good preparation for exams

Presentation

Break

Bird's eye perspective

Basic structure

Part 1: spheres of the Earth

6 Sep - 4 oct

Part 2: Biogeochemical cycles

8-Oct - 13-dec

Part 1: Spheres of Earth

Atmosphere (2a, 2b)

A gaseous sphere, consisting of a mixture of gases enveloping earth.

Ozone protects us. Greenhouse effect warms us.

90% of mass is below 16 km (compare to radius of Earth: 6371km) (16/6371=0.0025) 0.25%

Only 1 percent of the energy the planet is accumulating as a result of climate change is has accumulated in the atmosphere.

But we live in it. We grow our food in it.

"The majority, about 89%, of this heat is stored in the ocean, followed by about 6% on land, 1% in the atmosphere, and about 4% available for melting the cryosphere."

Von Schuckmann, K., Minère, A., Gues, F., Cuesta-Valero, F. J., Kirchengast, G., Adusumilli, S., … & Zemp, M. (2022). Heat stored in the Earth system 1960–2020: where does the energy go?. Earth System Science Data Discussions, 2022, 1-55. Link to article

Source image

Atmosphere (2a, 2b)

Hydrosphere (3b, 4a)

Oceans (3b, 4a)

Cryosphere (5a)

Geosphere (4b)

Biosphere

Part 2: geobiochemical cycles

Cycles and transformations of “life elements” (C, N, S, P, as well as trace metals) through the atmosphere, ocean, sediments, solid earth, and living organisms.

System Earth 1a

Introduction

Misha Velthuis

m.velthuis@uva.nl

Tue 3 Sept 2024

Today

Who am I?

Also #1

Also #2

Also #3

Why are we here?

Course overview

Literature

Assessment

4 x quiz

Presentation

Break

Bird's eye perspective

Basic structure

Part 1: spheres of the Earth

Part 2: Biogeochemical cycles

Part 1: Spheres of Earth

Atmosphere (2a, 2b)

Atmosphere (2a, 2b)

Atmosphere (2a, 2b)

Hydrosphere (3b, 4a)

Oceans (3b, 4a)

Cryosphere (5a)

Cryosphere (5a)

Cryosphere (5a)

Geosphere (4b)

Biosphere

Part 2: geobiochemical cycles

Carbon cycle (6b, 7a)

Carbon cycle(s)

Fluctuations in cycles

Maybe the best part …

Excursion

Day 1: Garzweiler brown coal mine

Day 1: Halde Haniel

Day 2: Kampmannbrücke quarry

Day 2: Bergisches Gladbach reef

Day 3: Laacher See

But first: Systems Thinking