Planetary Evolution

EART35202 Planetary Evolution 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 6 James Gilmour Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div>In this course unit students will learn about the evolution of the terrestrial planets and icy body structures. Content varies somewhat from year to year to reflect current areas of exciting research, but in outline will cover these areas. Planetary scale processes including origins of planetary cores, mantles and crusts (modified by volcanism and magmatism, impact cratering, and erosion). We will see how these processes allow us to compare and contrast planetary scale evolution. We will discuss the relationships between terrestrial planetary atmospheres and climate change, especially the contrasting fates of water on Mars and Venus, and the reasons their climates have differed from that of the Earth. This will lead to a discussion of the features of the Earth that lead to its being able to support us, and how they arose (i.e., planetary habitability). There is an emphasis in the course on developing your own understanding, applying it in new contexts, and supporting your opinions with evidence. Students are encouraged to read around the subject, following their interests and starting from some recommended papers on the blackboard site.</div>  <div>In this course unit students will learn about the evolution of the terrestrial planets and icy body structures. Content varies somewhat from year to year to reflect current areas of exciting research, but in outline will cover these areas. Planetary scale processes including origins of planetary cores, mantles and crusts (modified by volcanism and magmatism, impact cratering, and erosion). We will see how these processes allow us to compare and contrast planetary scale evolution. We will discuss the relationships between terrestrial planetary atmospheres and climate change, especially the contrasting fates of water on Mars and Venus, and the reasons their climates have differed from that of the Earth. This will lead to a discussion of the features of the Earth that lead to its being able to support us, and how they arose (i.e., planetary habitability). There is an emphasis in the course on developing your own understanding, applying it in new contexts, and supporting your opinions with evidence. Students are encouraged to read around the subject, following their interests and starting from some recommended papers on the blackboard site.</div>  <div>In this unit you will learn about the processes that have shaped the environments of the rocky and icy planetary bodies in our Solar System. You will consider whether the Earth is unique in our Solar System in providing a habitable environment.</div>  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:496px;">On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </td> <td style="width:72px;">Developed</td> <td style="width:66px;">Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:59px;">ILO 1</td> <td style="width:432px;height:59px;">Provide an up-to-date account of the properties of the rocky and icy planetary bodies in our Solar System.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:59px;">x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;">x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:67px;">ILO 2</td> <td style="width:432px;height:67px;">Describe and comment on current theories that account for the properties of these planetary bodies.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:67px;">x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:67px;">x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:76px;">ILO 3</td> <td style="width:432px;height:76px;">Discuss the merits of arguments, assumptions and source data(s) relevant to the understanding the formation and evolution of the Solar System’s rocky and icy planetary bodies.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;">x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;">x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;">ILO 4</td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;">Explain areas of uncertainty in our understanding of the Solar System.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;">x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;">x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;">ILO 5</td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;">Support their opinions with evidence from scholarly reviews and primary sources.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;">x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;">x</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  <ul> <li>Processes that set the compositions of planetary bodies.</li> <li>Comparisons among planetary bodies in the solar system between the solar system and exoplanetary systems.</li> <li>Impact cratering and its use for surface chronology.</li> <li>The contrasting histories of planetary bodies including the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, the Galilean satellites and Titan.</li> <li>Processes that made the Earth a habitable environment.</li></ul> <div>20 x 1 hour meetings.Blackboard site with course material, links to recommendations for further reading, notes, and a discussion board.</div>  3 Report 100% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:68px;">Assessment type</td> <td style="width:85px;height:68px;">% Weighting within unit</td> <td style="width:66px;height:68px;">Hand out and hand in dates</td> <td style="width:104px;height:68px;">Length </td> <td style="width:161px;height:68px;">How, when and what feedback is provided</td> <td style="width:123px;height:68px;">ILO tested</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;">Report (individual)</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;">33</td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;">Tbd (about half way through)</td> <td style="width:104px;height:101px;">Tbd</td> <td style="width:161px;height:101px;">Via turnitin individually, and via global report/comments</td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;">ILOs 1-5</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;">Report (individual)</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;">67</td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;">Tbd(after last class)</td> <td style="width:104px;height:101px;">Tbd</td> <td style="width:161px;height:101px;">Via turnitin individually, and via global report/comments</td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;">ILOs 1-5</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Pre-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> Earth and Planetary Sciences (Planetary Pathway)  BSc or MSci course Physics BSc or MSci course </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Co-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> None</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geochemistr) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geoch) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS w IE (GeoChem) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS w YA (Geochem) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w R (GeoChem) Third Year Optional Research papers for suggested reading are available on the home page of the blackboard site, with those most beneficial highlighted.  0 0 100 <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">Type</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:169.5pt;" width="226">Example student activity</td><td style="height:68px;width:75px;">Total Hours</td><td style="height:68px;width:160px;">New material</td><td style="height:68px;width:104px;">Consolidation and Practice</td></tr><tr><td style="height:39px;width:139px;">Contact time (students are in front of staff)</td><td style="height:39px;width:85px;">Lecture (new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">Mostly listening & taking notes (mostly new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">20</td><td style="height:39px;width:160px;">15</td><td style="height:39px;width:104px;">5</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Lecture (revision/examples)</td><td>Mostly listening & taking notes (no new material- revision of course)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Practical (new material and practice. Typically 25-50% of practical time is spent on new material)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;">0</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Tutorial</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive small group work</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;">0</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Seminar/examples class</td><td>Working on and discussing questions </td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Independent study time</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:131.5pt;" width="175">Pre/post lecture work</td><td>Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast</td><td>40</td><td>0</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Pre/post practical work/write up</td><td>Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>