GEO9990 ¨C The Earth System

Course content

The lectures will deal with the basics of the earth system with an emphasis on interactions between its components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere). Observed changes in the state of the earth system will be presented. Current Earth System Models will be introduced, and their capabilities and limitations will be discussed. Projected future climate change based on multi-model simulations will be highlighted.

Learning outcome

After completing this course, candidates will

• have insight into ongoing and projected changes in the Earth¡¯s climate and associated uncertainties
• be familiar with the methods used in climate science
• be familiar with the concept of the Earth System and key processes governing interactions between its main components
• have experience in presenting topics in Earth System Science orally

Admission to the course

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national research schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student?within a given deadline.

The courses GEO4990?and GEO9990 have a joint admission?with a joint capacity of 36 students.?If there are more than 36 applicants, the applicants will be ranked after the following categories:

1. Students in the following categories (random order):
   • PhD candidates at the Department of Geosciences
   • Students admitted to the following programme option:
     • Water and Climate (programme option)?

2. Other PhD candidates?and visiting PhD candidates, and master's students in Geosciences, other programme options

3. Master¡¯s level exchange students and other master¡¯s level students at the MN Faculty

4. New single-course students on master¡¯s level

Applicants will be ranked by the number of ECTS credits within each category:?all applicants within category 1 are ranked before applicants in category 2. If there are space limitations in the course, available places will be given to students selected randomly among those with the same amount of ECTS credits.

Recommended previous knowledge

• GEO2210 ¨C Geomorphology?
• GEO2310 ¨C Meteorology
• GEO2320 ¨C Oceanography
• GEO2330 ¨C Hydrology
• GEO4901 ¨C Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with GEO4990 ¨C The Earth System.
• 10 credits overlap with GEF4400 ¨C The Earth System (continued).
• 10 credits overlap with GEF9400 ¨C The Earth System (continued).

Teaching

The course is taught weekly. The teaching consists of interactive lectures with active student participation and a model practical. Two oral presentations on topics in the subject field will count towards the final grade.

A model topic report must be handed in after the model practical and approved before the final examination.

Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).

We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.

Examination

• All mandatory activities must be completed and the model data report must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
• Two oral presentations?count 50% towards the final grade.
• The final oral examination counts 50% towards the final grade.
• Both the oral presentations and the final examination must be passed separately?in order to pass the course.

Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:

• GEO4990 ¨C The Earth System
• GEF4400 ¨C The Earth System (continued)
• GEF9400 ¨C The Earth System (continued)

Examination support material

Approved calculator

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.