Special Topics in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences: The Environment of the Earth's Surface

A meandering river system.

The elements of a meandering river system. (Image by MIT OpenCourseWare.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

12.090

As Taught In

Spring 2007

Level

Undergraduate

Cite This Course

Course Features

Course Description

A great variety of processes affect the surface of the Earth. Topics to be covered are production and movement of surficial materials; soils and soil erosion; precipitation; streams and lakes; groundwater flow; glaciers and their deposits. The course combines aspects of geology, climatology, hydrology, and soil science to present a coherent introduction to the surface of the Earth, with emphasis on both fundamental concepts and practical applications, as a basis for understanding and intelligent management of the Earth's physical and chemical environment.