Earth & Space Sciences

The Individual Research Training Senior (IRT Senior) Course is an advanced course of the Individual Research Training A (IRT A) course in the Tohoku University Junior Year Program in English (JYPE) in the fall semester. Though short-term international exchange students are not degree candidates at Tohoku University, a similar experience is offered by special arrangement. Students are required to submit: an abstract concerning the results of their IRT Senior project, a paper (A4, 20-30 pages) on their research at the end of the exchange term, and an oral presentation on the results of their IRT Senior project near the end of the term.

This course explores how chemical and isotopic tracers can be used to determine the composition, mineral content, and evolution of the crust mantle system. Focus is given to radiogenic isotopes and trace elements in magmatic systems. Key issues include: How are the crust and the mantle chemically distinct? What are the differences between continental and oceanic crustal and mantle reservoirs? How have these reservoirs evolved through geological time? How can geochemical data support or disprove plate tectonic models? Which types of magmatic rock give the most useful information about tectonic processes and how do we recognize this?

This course covers the topic of climate change from several angles. Starting with the basic evidence and science behind climate change and modeling of future scenarios, then through impacts and vulnerability to efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Issues such as climate refugees, gender aspects, and negotiations are addressed. Students taking this course generally have very different backgrounds and students have a chance to learn about climate change from different viewpoints.

This course introduces the use of telescopes and data collection in astronomy. It covers how to set up and competently operate a telescope, how to plan and conduct astronomical observations for scientific purposes, and how to process and analyze astronomical data.

This course focuses on couplings between biological, geological, and chemical processes; on the interactions between climate and the environment; and human impacts on these processes. It covers the development of the biosphere on Earth and the major biogeochemical interactions in air, land, and water; the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, and mercury; the major processes governing these cycles and how these cycles are linked; why and how the biogeochemical system is changing; and how climate and biogeochemical processes mutually interact. The course develops skills in calculation of chemical speciation by use of a speciation program, as well as the ability to perform simple mass balance calculations. 

This course examines how glaciers respond to climate changes. It provides a global perspective with emphasis on examples from polar regions. The course focuses on understanding the processes and impacts of the climate on glacier behavior.

This course examines the foundations of Earth Science. It covers understanding and mitigating climate change and natural hazards, including sea-level rise, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In addition, the course covers environmentally responsible management of natural resources such as groundwater and minerals. 

This course examines foundational practical skills for spatial analysis using relevant real-world datasets with a strong environmental and urban focus. Students will develop quantitative problem solving and spatial thinking skills applied to real-world problems such as sea-level rise and housing inequality. 

This course deals with advanced sedimentology from a temporal and spatial perspective. Development of sedimentary basins, and their sedimentary infill is treated with emphasis on depositional processes/environments and resultant stratigraphic architecture.

This course examines concepts as diverse as the origin of the Solar System through to the evolution of life. It will touch on the big geological processes that have shaped our planet, covering topics including plate tectonics, volcanology, earthquakes and climate change.