Earth System Science

Earth system science (ESS) provides a way to engage with the science of some of today’s most pressing questions: How do changes in atmospheric composition affect climate? How do shifts in global land cover affect nutrient loading of the world’s waters or the abundance and distribution of different life forms? The study of ESS focuses on key Earth components, including the slowly churning rocky substrate, the liquids circulating through and atop it, the patches of ice crowning its nether reaches, the thin envelope of air surrounding it, and the organisms that populate its surface. In our minor, you’ll use connections across scientific disciplines to develop a framework for understanding large-scale transformations of our planet and their consequences, and you’ll graduate with experience in the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes that drive planetary functions, offering valuable professional training with diverse practical applications.