This course will introduce students to the broad field of earth system science. Students will learn about the interactions of the various biogeochemical cycles, processes, and ​“spheres” of the Earth’s subsystems, that influence environmental change over temporal and spatial scales. Earth system science, which is primarily the comprehensive monitoring of the earth’s environment, will be taught through a variety of topics, including the genesis and evolution of the earth, its atmosphere, and its oceans from the viewpoints of the biogeochemical cycles, energy use, and human effects on the earth system.