{"id":336,"date":"2022-02-10T09:30:29","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T09:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lakhankar.com\/teaching\/environmental-system-and-sciences\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T12:39:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T12:39:39","slug":"environmental-system-and-sciences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/teaching\/environmental-system-and-sciences\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental System Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Environmental Systems Science (SCIE 4104E)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This course focuses on Earth as a system and explores the interdependent relationships among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere.\u00a0 Through inquiry-based laboratories and field investigations students learn to take scientifically valid measurements in the fields of atmosphere, hydrology, soil and land cover\/phenology.\u00a0 Students will gain experience in the analysis and mapping of scientific data, will design and investigate their own science inquiry, and present oral and written reports to their peers.\u00a0The goal of this course is to provide an integrated background in earth system science and to become proficient at scientific practices including asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematics and computational thinking, constructing explanations, engaging argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.<\/span><\/p>

Required Materials:<\/b> (1) Environmental Science: Foundations and Application, Author: Andrew J. Friedland, Publisher: W. H. Freeman, Edition: 1st, Year Published: 2011, ISBN: 978-1429240291 (2) GLOBE Program Teacher\u2019s Guide, selected readings, science notebook, and clipboard.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Grading:<\/strong><\/span>
15% – Homework\/Reaction paper (3)
15% – Quizzes (2)
15% – Mapping\/Analysis (GIS) Projects (3)
20% – Research Group Project\/Presentation (1)
25% – Final Exam (1)
10% – Participation in class discussions, field trips and experiments.<\/p>

Homework\/Reaction paperdue in 2 week<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Quizzes:<\/strong>\u00a0There will be two quizzes during the course.\u00a0 Quizzes will be multiple choice questions based on material taught during class. Each quiz will have 15 questions and to be solved in 20 min.GIS Projects:<\/strong>\u00a0You will learn the basic use of ArcGIS software in the class.\u00a0 In the GIS projects you will creating maps based on environmental data (CO2 emission, Energy data, temperature, deforestation, etc.) provided to you.<\/p>

Research Group Project:<\/strong>\u00a0 Under research group project activity each group will have 3-4 students. The project topic will be decided based on mutual discussion between group and instructor.\u00a0 Student will be using GIS software to produce maps for group project. The grading for this activity is based on final outcome of project (1) 5-6 page report and (2) PowerPoint presentation (9-10 slides).<\/p>

Final Examination:<\/b>\u00a0Final exam will be mix of (1) multiple choice questions, (2) mathematical related problems, and (3) drawing charts\/maps by hand.<\/p>

Homework and final report format: <\/strong>All report must be submitted as hard copy in following format: Font should 11 point, Times New Roman, Single spaced lines, Justified, Page: Margin 1 inch all side, Bold Title and Sub-titles.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Date<\/td>\nPresentation\/Lecture (40-60 Min)<\/td>\nHomework \/ Quiz<\/td>\nGroup activity\/Audio\/Video (40 min)<\/td>\nExperiment\/ Projects (40 min)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30-Jan<\/td>\nCourse Overview, Introduction to the GLOBE program:\u00a0 What is GLOBE?\u00a0<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHands-on Science Experiment 1:\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Measuring air and surface Temperature of objects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6-Feb<\/td>\nIntroduction\u00a0to Environmental Systems Science, Atmosphere\/climate, hydrology, Ecology, and alteration of air, soil and water<\/a><\/td>\nHomework 1:\u00a0Read and analyze the article and write report<\/a><\/td>\nVideo:\u00a0IPCC \u2013 State of science<\/a>\nIPCC \u2013 Fifth Assessment Report<\/a><\/td>\nMath Experiment 1<\/a>:\u00a0Use of min, max and average function using Global\/regional dataset (1)\u00a0Agriculture<\/a>\u00a0(2)\u00a0CO2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13-Feb<\/td>\nTemperature: Measurements, Instruments (thermometer, satellite sensors), Calibration, protocol.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\nGroup Activity 1: Discussion\/ presentation: Earth Systems Concept (poster board)<\/td>\nMath Experiment 2:<\/a>\u00a0determine correlation coefficient and plotting using earth system data (1)\u00a0Data1<\/a>\u00a0(2)\u00a0Data2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20-Feb<\/td>\nTemperature: Trends, variability, global warming and mitigation<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\nVideo:\u00a0IPCC \u2013 Climate change mitigation\u00a0<\/a><\/td>\nMath Experiment 3:\u00a0USA CO2\u00a0emission data to find trend and anomaly (1)\u00a0Global CO2 Data<\/a>, (2)\u00a0USA data<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27-Feb<\/td>\nHydrology:\u00a0Rainfall, Soil moisture, and Evapotranspiration. Measurements by Probe, Models and Satellite Sensors, Applications.\u00a0<\/a><\/td>\nQuiz 1<\/td>\nVideo:\u00a0NASA-SMAP mission<\/a>,\u00a0Drought projection<\/a>,\u00a0California drought 2014-15<\/a>.<\/td>\nHands-on Science Experiment 2:\u00a0Measuring rainfall, manual and tipping bucket measurement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5-Mar<\/td>\nAtmosphere:\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Cloud Type, Cloud Cover, Wind speed\/direction, Hurricanes, (ground\/satellite\/ Radar).<\/td>\nHomework 2:\u00a0Report on \u201cInconvenient Truth\u201d<\/a><\/td>\nGroup Activity 2:\u00a0Discussion\/ on climate adaptations and Global Warming mitigation\u00a0<\/a><\/td>\nHands-on Science Experiment 3:\u00a0Soil moisture determination using Hydrometer (Due to cold weather moved to next class)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12-Mar<\/td>\nWater quality<\/a>:\u00a0Temperature, conductivity, turbidity, salinity, monitoring and measurements<\/td>\n<\/td>\nVideo:\u00a0TED Talk: Water & future\nUN \u2013 Global water supply\/crisis.<\/td>\nMath Experiment 4:\u00a0Climate\/environmental Data analysis and data projection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19-Mar<\/td>\nEcosystem<\/a>:\u00a0Land use and Land Cover, Wetlands, Vegetation monitoring<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGIS Project 3:\u00a0\u00a0Use of environment (energy) data in GIS for mapping<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26-Mar<\/td>\nNo Class Scheduled<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2-Apr<\/td>\nGuest Lecture: Water sustainability<\/a><\/td>\nQuiz 2<\/td>\nGroup Activity 3:\u00a0Discussion on developing climate science and adaptation education<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9-Apr<\/td>\nMapping (GIS):\u00a0Introduction to basic use and analysis using ArcGIS for creating maps<\/a>.<\/td>\nHomework 3: Climate adaptation<\/a><\/td>\nVideo:\u00a0GIS Application for earth science<\/a>.<\/td>\nGIS Project 1<\/a>:\u00a0Explore Earth Science Resources and create map\nData link<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16-Apr<\/td>\nMapping (GIS):\u00a0Use of environmental data for analyzing and creating graphs and maps, and importing satellite images.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGIS Project 2<\/a>:\u00a0\u00a0Use of climate data to produce maps using GIS software<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30-Apr<\/td>\nField experiment trip 1 (during Class hour):\u00a0\u00a0 Water Quality experiment measurement of temperature, turbidity, salinity, pH, etc.<\/td>\nMeeting at 145st @Hudson river park for water quality sampling and measurement.\u00a0 (Location lap and direction map will be provided)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7-May<\/td>\n* Work on Group research Project\n*\u00a0Hands on Activity on Ecosystem and Earth Science<\/td>\nHands-on Science Experiment 4:\u00a0 Vegetation (NDVI) measurement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14-May<\/td>\nGroup Research Project Presentation<\/td>\nClass will be divided in 2 groups and project will be assigned mid-semester, students will write report and present their research using PowerPoint slides.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21 May<\/td>\nFinal Examination<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Environmental Systems Science (SCIE 4104E) This course focuses on Earth as a system and explores the interdependent relationships among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere.\u00a0 Through inquiry-based laboratories and field investigations students learn to take scientifically valid measurements in the fields of atmosphere, hydrology, soil and land cover\/phenology.\u00a0 Students will gain experience in the analysis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":9947,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-336","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9976,"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/336\/revisions\/9976"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/creativecore.co.in\/lakhankar2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}