ESSE

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Michigan State University Earth System Science
Education Understanding the Principles of the
Biosphere
System Interactions
Objectives Appreciate the Earth System at various
temporal and spatial scales Understand the
interactions between the major components of the
Biosphere Recognize the need for
multi-disciplinary skills for understanding the
Earth System. Communicate and describe components
of the Earth System
ESSE
System Science A holistic approach to the study
of complex interactions
NASA
Sun
Earths position
Geographical latitude
Solar Radiation
CHANGE
Climate
Weather
Greenhouse gases
Temperature and moisture dynamics
Earths rotation (Seasonality)
Chemical comp.
Global wind circulation
Cloud cover
Energy
Energy
Atmosphere
Condensation
Sea-Ice dynamics
Water Cycle
Evaporation
Precipitation
Cryosphere
Respiration Heat
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Carbon
Biogeochemical Cycles
Population
Human-made disturbances
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Aquatic Ecosystems
Sulfur
Phosphorus
Ocean circulation
Ocean depth zones
Nutrients
Population growth
Heat
Photosynthesis
ESSE
plants
Culture
Algal bed
Autotrophs
algae
Tropical F
Coral reef
Estuaries
Decomposers
Natural resources
prokaryotes
Shelf
bacteria
CHANGE
Fresh water distribution
Open Ocean
Energy use
Hydrosphere
CHANGE
Sea level
Land use
Herbivores
Omnivores
Ocean heat capacity
Sociosphere
Temperate F
protozoa
Marine
Precipitation
fungi
Technology
Carnivores
Boreal F
virus
Natural disturbances
animals (inc.humans)
Savanna
Thermal vents
Seasonal precipitation
Environmental values
Grassland
Tundra
Water runoff
Freshwater
Desert
Chaparral
Lakes Rivers Streams Marshes
Temperature
Agriculture Fisheries Forestry Urban
Surface-Ground water dynamics
Ecosystem management
Organization
Succession Evolution Extinction
D Long, S Gage, P Webber, and C Harris.1997. The
iosphere Diagram I. MSU ESSE Program
Soil development
Lithosphere
Energy
Plate tectonic cycle
Rock cycle
Lecture Themes
Earths internal heat
Earthquakes Volcanism
Continental Geomorphology
Sea-floor Geomorphology
CHANGE
M Colunga-Garcia, S Gage, P Webber, D Long, and
C Harris.1999. The Biosphere Diagram II. MSU ESSE
Program
Overview of the Biosphere Physical
components Earths energy systems Aquatic
Systems Elements of System Thinking Climate
system Biotic components Plants-Animals-Microbes-H
umanity Global Social System-Managed Systems
Fisheries-Agrifood-Urban
Principles of Global Change-Issues
Disturbance Biodiversity Human Population
Growth Land Use Human Health Modeling Earth
Observation Technologies Water Issues
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MSU-ESSE Nat. Geo. World Atlas
Participants
Professors David Long (GLG) Craig Harris
(SOC) Patrick Webber (BOT) Stuart Gage
(ENT) Julie Winkler (GEO) Nathaniel Ostrom
(GLG) David Skole (FOR) Brent Simpson
(IAG) Catherine Lindell (ZOL) Manuel Colunga
(ENT) Jiaguo Qi (GEO) Mark Cochrane (GEO) Gene
Safir (PP)
Colleges Natural Science Social Science Ag.
Nat. Res. Departments Geography Plant
Pathology Entomology Geo. Sciences Plant
Biology Social Science
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Principles of the Biosphere The Biosphere is
holocoenotic and self-adjusting it is never
static. Energy flows through the Biosphere and is
continually supplied by the Sun. The quantity of
matter in the Biosphere is finite and must be
recycled for life to exist. Information is
exchanged within the Biosphere it may expand and
be limitless. Homo sapiens is an animal and is
part of the Biosphere.
Course Grade Structure Three exams
(54) Individual Term Paper (20) Linking an
organism to the Biosphere Term Paper Peer
Review (14) Lecture questions (6) Essays (6)
Formal Writing Assignment
Team of 4 students Assign Biome Select
organisms Herbivores Predators Microbes Primar
y Producers
Students from more that 25 majors have taken ESSE
courses for credit. This diversity shows a
balance between social, physical and biological
sciences. This course provides science majors
with a big picture perspective. MSU-ESSE
students have used the Biosphere approach to
create their own courses. High School teachers
are using material developed by MSU-ESSE students
Linking and Organisms to the Biosphere in
biology classes. A model interdisciplinary course
for MSU Honors College.
Research interactions Relate to Earth System
cycles Write paper (National Geo. Style Peer
Review
OUTCOMES