This course describes the processes and energy sources shaping the solid Earth's physical evolution and the means by which the properties of the planet’s interior can be inferred. Topics include detection of the Earth's core, Earth's magnetic field, manifestations of Earth's secular cooling (e.g., mantle convection) and Earth's gravity field.

This course applies a multi-disciplinary lens to the subject of biological invasions and is intended to build upon foundational understandings of global environmental change. The course explores the foundational ecological theories of biological invasions, ecological conditions and mechanisms driving invasions, multi-scale perspectives on the environmental impact of biological invasions (community, ecosystem), past and current approaches to the management of invaded environments, social and economic impacts of species invasions, and invasion risk assessment and biological invasion policy.

This course focuses on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) for solving a range of scientific problems in the environmental sciences and describing their relationship with - and applicability to - other fields of study (e.g. geography, computer science, engineering, geology, ecology and biology). Topics include (but are not limited to): spatial data types, formats and organization; geo-referencing and coordinate systems; remotely sensed image manipulation and analysis; map production.

Theoretical and practical aspect of the evolution of organismal diversity in a functional context; examination of species distributions and how these are organized for scientific study. Emphasis will be on the highly diverse invertebrate animals. Topics include biomes, dispersal, adaptation, speciation, extinction and the influence of climate history and humans.

Groundwater represents the world's largest and most important fresh water resource. This basic course in hydrogeology introduces the principles of groundwater flow and aquifer storage and shows how a knowledge of these fundamental tools is essential for effective groundwater resource management and protection. Special emphasis is placed on the practical methods of resource exploration and assessment; examples of the approach are given for aquifers under environmental stress in southern Ontario, the US and Africa.

To familiarize students with the relevant legislation, qualitative and quantitative approaches and applications for environmental impact assessments and environmental auditing. The focus will be on the assessment of impacts to the natural environment, however, socio-economic impacts will also be discussed. Environmental auditing and environmental certification systems will be discussed in detail. Examples and case studies from forestry, wildlife biology and land use will be used to illustrate the principles and techniques presented in the course. Students will acquire "hands-on" experience in impact assessment and environmental auditing through case studies.

Experiential learning in environmental science is critical for better understanding the world around us, solving pressing environmental issues, and gaining hands-on skills for careers in the environmental sector. This course provides exciting and inspiring experiential learning opportunities, across disciplines with themes ranging from geoscience, ecology, climate change, environmental physics, and sustainability, across Canada and internationally. The course entails a 7-10-day field camp with destinations potentially changing yearly, that prioritizes environmental skills including environmental data collection, in-field interpretation of environmental patterns and processes, and science communication.

North America is endowed with eight of the twelve largest lakes in the world. The origin and geological history, cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and structures of ecosystems of the North American Great Lakes will be used as examples of large lacustrine systems. Fundamental concepts of limnology will be related to features found in the Great Lakes.  Topics include: lake origins, lake classification, lake temperature structure and heat budgets, seasonal water circulations, productivity, plankton ecology, food-web dynamics, exotic species invasions, eutrophication-related phenomena and water quality/fisheries management.  Specific anthropogenic influences will be illustrated using case studies from the local environment, and students will be allowed to pursue their own interests through a series of short seminars.

The world's oceans constitute more than 70% of the earth's surface environments. This course will introduce students to the dynamics of ocean environments, ranging from the deep ocean basins to marginal seas to the coastal ocean. The large-scale water circulation is examined from an observationally based water mass analysis and from a theoretical hydro-dynamical framework. The circulation of marginal seas, the role of tides, waves and other currents are studied in terms of their effects upon the coastal boundary.

The course will cover fundamental aspects of chemical processes occurring at the Earth's surface. Terrestrial and aquatic geochemical processes such as: mineral formation and dissolution, redox, aqueous-solid phase interactions, stable isotopes, and organic geochemistry in the environment will be covered.

The course will provide a general introduction to the most important methods of geophysical exploration. Topics covered will include physical principles, methodology, interpretational procedures and field application of various geophysical survey methods. Concepts/methods used to determine the distribution of physical properties at depths that reflect the local surface geology will be discussed.

An advanced supervised readings course that can be taken in any session. Students will follow structured independent readings in any area of Environmental Science. A description of the objectives and scope of the individual offering must be approved by the Supervisor of Studies. Two papers are required in the course; the supervisor and one other faculty member will grade them. The course may not be used as a substitute for EES Program requirements.

This course will focus on how urban areas modify the local environment, particularly the climates of cities. The physical basis of urban climatology will be examined considering the energy balance of urban surfaces. The urban heat island phenomenon and its modelling will be studied based on conceptual and applied urban-climate research. The impact of climate change on urban sectors such as urban energy systems, water and wastewater systems, and urban transportation and health systems will be examined through case studies. Students will have the opportunity to choose their own areas of interest to apply the knowledge they learn throughout the course and demonstrate their understanding in tutorial-based discussions. The students will be required to work with community or industry partners on a project to assess the impacts or urban climate change.

Seismology is the study of earthquakes and how seismic waves move through the Earth. Through application of geological and mathematical techniques, seismology can reveal the inner workings of the Earth and provide hazard analysis for tectonic events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. This course will outline the practical applications of seismology to real-world scenarios of academic research and human exploration, while highlighting cutting-edge technological advances. Topics covered include subsurface imaging and surveying, catastrophe modelling, Martian seismology, stress and strain principles, wave theory, data inversion, and data science applications on seismic data analysis.

This course examines the diversity of microorganisms, their adaptations to special habitats, and their critical role in the ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. The course covers microbial phylogeny, physiological diversity, species interactions and state of the art methods of detection and enumeration.

The last 2.5 million years has seen the repeated formation of large continental ice sheets over North America and Europe. The course will review the geologic and geomorphologic record of past glacial and interglacial climates, the formation and flow of ice sheets , and modern day cold-climate processes in Canada's north. The course includes a one-day field trip to examine the glacial record of the GTA.

A field course on selected topics in aquatic environments. Aquatic environmental issues require careful field work to collect related hydrological, meteorological, biological and other environmental data. This hands-on course will teach students the necessary skills for fieldwork investigations on the interactions between air, water, and biota.

This course is intended for students who would like to apply theoretical principles of environmental sustainability learned in other courses to real-world problems. Students will identify a problem of interest related either to campus sustainability, a local NGO, or municipal, provincial, or federal government. Class meetings will consist of group discussions investigating key issues, potential solutions, and logistical matters to be considered for the implementation of proposed solutions. Students who choose campus issues will also have the potential to actually implement their solutions. Grades will be based on participation in class discussions, as well as a final report and presentation.

Same as ESTC34H3

This course surveys the processes that produce the chemical and mineralogical diversity of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks including: the distribution, chemical and mineral compositions of rocks of the mantel and crust, their physical properties, and their relation to geological environments. Descriptive petrology for various rocks will also be covered.

The course introduces mechanics of rock deformation. It examines identification, interpretation, and mechanics of faults, folds, and structural features of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as global, regional and local scale structural geology and tectonics. Lectures are supplemented by lab exercises and demonstrations as well as local field trips.

“The Anthropocene” is a term that now frames wide-ranging scientific and cultural debates and research, surrounding how humans have fundamentally altered Earth’s biotic and abiotic environment. This course explores the scientific basis of the Anthropocene, with a focus on how anthropogenic alterations to Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere, have shifted Earth into a novel geological epoch. Students in this course will also discuss and debate how accepting the Anthropocene hypothesis, entails a fundamental shift in how humans view and manage the natural world.
Same as ESTC38H3

Natural hydrochemical processes; the use of major ions, minor ions, trace metals and environmental isotopes in studying the occurrence and nature of ground water flow. Point and non-point sources of ground water contamination and the mechanisms of contaminant transport.

Climate change over the last 150 years is reviewed by examining the climate record using both direct measurements and proxy data. Projection of future climate is reviewed using the results of sophisticated climate modeling. The climate change impact assessment formalism is introduced and applied to several examples. Students will acquire practical experience in climate change impact assessment through case studies.

Experiential learning is a critical element of applied environmental science. Hands-on experience in observing, documenting, and quantifying environmental phenomenon, patterns, and processes unlocks a deeper understanding and curiosity of the natural world, and prepares students for careers in the environment. This advanced field camp course explores applied scientific themes across geoscience, climate science, ecology, hydrology, environmental physics, and sustainability, while emphasizing student-led scientific enquiry and projects. Over a 7-10-day field camp in locations in Canada and abroad, students will develop a deep inquiry-based understanding and appreciation of the natural world, by immersing themselves in some of Earth’s most captivating environments.

This course entails the design, implementation, and reporting of an independent and substantial research project, under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Research may involve laboratory, fieldwork, and/or computer-based analyses, with the final products being presented primarily as a written thesis, although other course work, such as oral presentations of student research, may also be required. All areas of environmental science research that are supported by existing faculty members are permissible. The course should be undertaken after the end of the 3rd Year, and is subject to faculty availability. Faculty permission and supervision is required.

This course entails the design, implementation, and reporting of an independent and substantial research project, under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Research may involve laboratory, fieldwork, and/or computer-based analyses, with the final products being presented primarily as a written thesis, though other course work, such as oral presentations of student research, may also be required. All areas of environmental science research that are supported by existing faculty members are permissible. The course should be undertaken after the end of the 3rd Year, and is subject to faculty availability. Faculty permission and supervision is required.

The motion of water at the hill slope and drainage basin scales. The relationship between surface and subsurface hydrological processes. Soil hydrologic processes emphasizing infiltration. Stream flow generation mechanisms, hydrometric and isotopic research methods. Problems of physically based and empirical modelling of hydrological processes. Snowmelt energetics and modelling.

This course reviews the laws and policies governing the management of natural resources in Canada. It examines the role of law and how it can it can work most effectively with science, economics and politics to tackle environmental problems such as climate change, conservation, and urban sprawl at domestic and international scales.

This course consists of a study of the ways in which hazardous organic and inorganic materials can be removed or attenuated in natural systems. The theory behind various technologies, with an emphasis on bioremediation techniques and their success in practice. An introduction to the unique challenges associated with the remediation of surface and ground water environments, soils, marine systems, and contaminated sediments.

Students will select a research problem in an area of special interest.  Supervision will be provided by a faculty member with active research in geography, ecology, natural resource management, environmental biology, or geosciences as represented within the departments.  Project implementation, project monitoring and evaluation will form the core elements for this course.
Same as ESTD16H3