EAE1022 The Earth system: Changing environments and climates
Faculty of Science
EAE1022 The Earth system: Changing environments and climates is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 4 units, leading on to 13 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before EAE1022
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EAE1022
4 units list EAE1022 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
PROHIBITION: ATS1301, ENV1022, ESC1022
Overview
This unit is a core unit for further studies in geosciences, climate and atmospheric science, environmental earth science, geographical science, and environmental science.
We live on a constantly changing planet. In this unit, you will analyse the physical, chemical and biological processes that have shaped, and continue to shape, the surface of our planet over timescales important to ecosystems and society. This includes examining the respective roles of natural and human influences on these processes.
The scientific and modelling techniques we use to understand and predict how the Earth’s natural resources are established and maintained will be explored. Further, as we move forward in a world with increasing human influences, we consider the role of sustainable management of these resources. At the completion of this unit, you will have a clear understanding of natural and human influence on the biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, pedosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- QuizzesQuiz / Test60%
- Field tripExercise20%
- Mapping presentationWritten20%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Synthesise and explain how the fundamental physical, chemical, and biological processes change the earth's surface over time, including how they affect and shape landforms, ecosystems, weather and climate.
- 2
Identify, evaluate and describe the relative contributions of natural and human processes to changes in the Earth's lithosphere, pedosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere and describe the implications for ecosystem productivity.
- 3
Analyse the natural resources required to support ecosystems, the human impact on these natural resources and ecosystems, and their sustainable management.
- 4
Collect and use observations to examine, visualise and map how the processes regulating the Earth System operate in the real world.
- 5
Describe the role of modelling for understanding how natural and human processes influence the Earth System and evaluate the utility of modelling for prediction for a variety of applications.
- 6
Describe the science involved in modelling future environments, based on our past and present understanding of Earth's surface processes.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops12 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachField trips
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
Total 144 hours over 12 weeks, which includes:
- Three hours of own time material including videos and activities;
- Two hours of practical sessions;
- One hour of workshops and
- Five hours of self-directed learning per week and
- One full day field trip (8 hours) and asynchronous assessment (4 hours).
Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment subjects are inherently field sciences. A one day field trip will allow you to apply all of your knowledge to date in real world settings.
Examples of this will be used in practical and workshop classes.
Examples of this will be used in practical classes.
A one day (8 hour) field trip is part of this unit. It has been designed to be accessible. It shows the application of classroom and theoretical learning to the real world.
A combination of face to face learning and on line learning with an active learning approach. As a result of the hands-on nature of this discipline, all weekly practical classes will be assessed, and attendance at them, whether in person or on line, should be considered compulsory. As we realise that people learn at different paces, and that many aspects of earth, atmosphere and environment are not taught at most schools, this unit is taught at an introductory level.
Examples of this will be used in practical and workshop classes.
Learning resources
Required resources
Readings will be provided via Moodle.
Technology resources
It is assumed that all students enrolled in this unit will have access to a computer suitable for on-line work, and able to use Microsoft Office and Google Earth Pro.
Where it fits
EAE1022 is part of 13 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- CLATMSCI02Core unitsClimate and atmospheric scienceNo reviews yet
- CLATMSCI04Core unitsClimate and atmospheric scienceNo reviews yet
- CLATMSCI05Core unitsClimate and atmospheric scienceNo reviews yet
- ENVEASCI01Level 1 unitsEnvironmental earth scienceNo reviews yet
- ENVEASCI02Core studiesEnvironmental earth scienceNo reviews yet
- ENVEASCI03Level 1 unitsEnvironmental earth scienceNo reviews yet
- ENVIROSC04Core unitsEnvironmental scienceNo reviews yet
- GEOGSCI12Core unitsGeographical scienceNo reviews yet
- GEOGSCI13Core unitsGeographical scienceNo reviews yet
- GEOGSCI14Core unitsGeographical scienceNo reviews yet
- GEOSCIEN01Level 1 unitsGeoscienceNo reviews yet
- GEOSCIEN02Level 1 unitsGeoscienceNo reviews yet
- GEOSCIEN03Level 1 unitsGeoscienceNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Sophia Tsang
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Sophia Tsang
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EAE1022?
EAE1022 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after EAE1022?
EAE1022 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 4 units, including EAE2011, EAE2111, EAE2522 and EAE3051. Those lead on to 13 units in all.
When is EAE1022 offered?
In 2026, EAE1022 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is EAE1022?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EAE1022 have an exam?
No. EAE1022 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include EAE1022?
EAE1022 is part of Climate and atmospheric science; Environmental earth science; Environmental science; Geographical science; and Geoscience.