HOME STUDY EARTH SCIENCE COURSE
"Learn about the structure of earth and the greenhouse effect."
In Earth Science you will develop an ability to identify and describe the Earth, its structure and explain processes that affect change in the structure and composition of the earth. Learn about rocks and minerals, meteorology, global weather patterns, the oceans, surface chances (eg. earthquakes and volcanoes), geological time and more while studying at your own pace in the privacy of your own home.
Study this for either general interest or as a foundation for a career. Earth science related industries including geology, mining, atmospheric sciences, etc.are growing rapidly. Never has this course been more timely.
Student Comment: The course was a valuable learning experience...learnt a lot about the earths make up and environmental issues M. Whitehead
Structure and Forces including plate tectonics and volcanoes Never has it been more timely to understand the world you live in, in Earth Science you will learn about the dynamic forces that have structured the Earth as you see it, you will also learn about the complex interplay of processes such as atmospheric and oceanic forces can have a direct effect upon the climate and the environment. Additionally this covers some of the major environmental issues that we now face such as climate change and atmospheric pollution. Take the time to keep yourself informed and study Earth Science at your own home and at your own pace by enrolling in this important course now.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
- Structure and Forces
- Scope and Nature of the Earth and it's Structure
- Continental and Oceanic Crust
- Continental Drift
- Sea Floor Spreading
- Plate Tectonics
- Plate Boundaries; divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries
- Transform Faults
- Volcanoes; shield volcanoes, cinder cones, composite conesmagma, pyroclastic flow
- Rocks and Minerals
- Definitions
- Mineral Properties; crystaline form, luster, colour, streak, hardness, light transmissioncleavage, fracture, etc
- Mineral Groups
- Silicates
- Nonsilicate Minerals
- Rocks; formation, texture
- Sedimentary Rocks; derital, chemical and biochemical rocks
- Metamorphic Rocks
- Surface Changes
- Introduction
- Weathering
- Mass Wasting
- Erosion
- Glaciers
- Streams; birth of a stream, stream flow, deposited stream sediment
- Ground Water and Land Subsidence
- Aquifiers and Confining Beds
- Soil; parent materia, time, climate, life forms, slope
- Soil Profile, horizons
- The Oceans
- Scope and Nature of Oceans
- Sea Water
- Currents
- Coriolis Effect
- Geostrophic Flow
- Land Scale Currents
- Convergence and Divergence
- El Nino
- Waves
- Tides
- The Ocean Floor
- Shorelines
- The Marine Food Chain
- Air and Weather
- The Hydrological Cycle
- The Atmosphere
- Atmosphere and Circulation of Essential Elements
- Structure of the Atmosphere, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Seasons
- Solar Radiation
- The Greenhouse Effect
- Weather
- Temperature Control
- Air Pressure
- Wind; Local Winds, Wind Erosion, Wind in Arid Climates
- Thunderstorms
- Tropical Cyclones
- Tornadoes
- The Greenhouse Effect
- Introduction
- Global Warming
- Anthropomorphic Changes to Global Climates
- Ozone Layer and Ozone Destruction
- Atmospheric Pollutants
- Global Weather Patterns
- Climate
- Climate Classification; Tropics, Dry Climates, Humid Mid Latitude and Mild Climates, Polar Climates, etc
- Geological Time
- Geological Time Scale
- Relative Dating
- Inclusion
- Correlation
- Types of Fossils
- Radiometric Dating; radiocarbon dating, radioactivity, half life
- Geological Time
- Modern Environmental Issues
- Balance of Nature
- Major Current Environmental Events
- Resource Depletion
- Conservation Issues
- Pollution and Waste
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
SUMMARY OF COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED
On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:
- Describe the major structural elements of Earth and the major internal forces which affect them.
- Classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics and formation.
- Explain external processes that that cause topographic and soil changes on the earth’s surface.
- Describe the oceans of the earth and their role in global processes.
- Describe the earth’s atmosphere and the forces which create weather.
- Describe some well known effects of particular atmospheric conditions like the Greenhouse effect.
- Identify global weather patterns and their relationship to different climates.
- Describe the way in which the earth’s surface has changed over time.
- Identify environmental issues which are of current significance.
WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
Here are just some of the things you may be doing:
- Research how a mountain/mountain range in or near your region was formed.
- Explain plate tectonics.
- Collect and classify rock samples as either sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or metamorphic rock.
- Describe four ways that weathering breaks down rocks to help form soil.
- Explain how the speed of a stream affects the shape of the landscape.
- Name the three main layers of the ocean, describe the characteristics and ocean life in each.
- Keep a record of atmospheric and weather changes in your environment.
- Explain the highs and lows associated with air pressure, and how they affect weather.
- Create a questionnaire to determine understanding of the Greenhouse Effect or the Ozone layer.
- Explain why your region has its overall climate.
- Research what life forms (plant and animal) inhabited your region before the formation of humans.
- Identify the rules and laws used to date fossils.
- Research an environmental problem in your area, and discuss possible solutions
Would you like to -
- Get more information on this course.
- Contact one of the tutors
- Learn more about ACS
- Learn more about our other courses.
Click here to contact us via email or phone 0800 328 4723.
| STUDY EARTH SCIENCE AT HOME |
"Learn about the structure of earth and the greenhouse effect."
Take a journey into the fascinating world of earth science and learn about the dynamic forces that shape the world you see today. Learn about the science behind current environmental issues such as global warming and greenhouse gasses, investigate the complex interactions that drive climate and environmental conditions throughout the world.
