Did you know there is a shortage of earth scientists in Australia? Future career opportunities are also wonderfully varied. An education in earth science could see you working in the energy sector, mining industries or for government agencies like the CSIRO or in environmental consulting roles.

Our Certificate of Earth Science is an online earth science course that explores various challenges, from acting against pollution and climate change to understanding earthquakes and eruptions and developing new technologies to counteract environmental problems.

In this professional development course, you will explore the scope and nature of the Earth’s forces and structure, including in rocks and minerals, the air and weather and in our tides and oceans.

You will also study global weather patterns, the greenhouse effect, the geological time scale, and contemporary environmental issues like conservation, pollution, waste, and resource depletion.

Would you like to gain a richer understanding of the environment and environmental resources? Do you see yourself affecting change for the benefit of science, industry, our planet, and its inhabitants?

If so, we urge you to explore our earth science course.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved if you study our earth science corse include:

• Understand the major structural elements of Earthand the major internal forces which affect them.
• Classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics and formation.
• Learn about the external processes that cause topographic and soil changes on the Earth’s
• Understand the oceans of the Earthand 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 how the Earth’s surface has changed over time.
• Identify environmental issues which are of current significance.
• 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.

And more!

5 Major Areas of Earth Science  

Earth science is made up of many branches of knowledge about our planet’s systems. The main areas of earth science include geology, oceanography, climatology and meteorology, environmental science and astronomy.

In each area, scientists explore and seek to understand all aspects of the Earth, from its landforms to the atmosphere and the oceans.

1. Geology

Geology is the study of the Earth’s solid materials, structures and processes. Geologists seek to understand the composition of rocks, minerals and landforms and how they’re created. These are important explorations to understand better how we can use Earth’s materials as resources.

2. Oceanography 

Oceanography is the study of everything in the ocean environment from water movements, distribution and quality. Planet Earth is made up of 70 per cent water. Yet there’s still so much of the ocean that’s a mystery.

3. Climatology and Meteorology

Climatologists study the atmosphere and explore how and why climate changes. Meteorologists, on the other hand, study weather patterns, clouds, hurricanes and tornadoes. Using high-tech equipment, meteorologists can predict major storms to save lives and damage to property.

4. Environmental Science

Environmental scientists study the effects of people on the environment. This area of science explores landscapes, atmosphere, water and all living things.

5. Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of outer space and the physical bodies that are beyond Earth. Astronomers use telescopes to make discoveries and help design spacecraft that can provide new insights into the universe.

15 Fascinating Facts About Planet Earth

National Geographic and Encyclopedia Britannica provide hundreds of fascinating facts about Earth and science; here are 15 of the most interesting (according to us anyway!). But, this is just the beginning …. there’s so much more to explore in earth science courses.

1. Earth zooms through its orbit at an average velocity of 30 kilometres per hour – though we don’t even feel it!
2. Earth rotates on its axis every 23.9 hours bringing night and day to its surface dwellers.
3. We experience seasons because the Earth’s axis of rotation tilts 23.4 degrees away from the plane of the planet’s orbit around the sun.
4. 4.5 billion years ago Earth was formed from the gaseous, dusty disk that surrounded the sun with a bit of help from gravity.
5. At Earth’s heart, there is an inner core, which is a sold sphere of iron and nickel that’s 1,200 kilometres wide and as hot as 5426 degrees Celsius.
6. Almost 70 per cent of Earth’s surface is covered in oceans of liquid water that average four kilometres deep.
7. Earth’s atmosphere nourishes and protects life on Earth – it provides a block for many meteorites that burn up before impact from friction, and its gases—such as ozone—block DNA-damaging ultraviolet light from reaching the surface!
8. Earth is the only planet of the solar system that does not come from Greco-Roman mythology – instead, its name is derived from Old English and German for ground.
9. Viewed from another planet, Earth would appear bright and blueish.
10. The distance from Earth to the sun is about 149,600,000 kilometres
11. Earth’s gravity keeps the moon in orbit around the planet – the moon’s gravitational force causes tides, but so does the sun.
12. About one-third of the solar energy that reaches Earth is expended on evaporating ocean water.
13. Ten million kilograms of meteors burn harmlessly in the Earth’s atmosphere each day.
14. Due to the Earth’s axial tilt – which exposes our planet’s northern and southern hemispheres to the sun, depending on the time of year, some places near the poles experience 24 hours of straight daylight or darkness!
15. Earth’s landmasses move about as fast as fingernails grow, which is called the ‘continental drift.’

 

Gain insights into the world’s many wonders and help affect change in science and industry with an earth science course, like our Certificate of Earth Science.