Wind, water, earthquakes, volcanoes, and human activities constantly modify the Earth. Global systems studies probe the processes that form and modify the planet, from cycling of water and human interactions, to magmatism and faulting at plate boundaries as well as recycling of plates within the convecting mantle.

Understanding these systems requires measurements of present-day Earth structure, as well as records since Earth’s formation 4.5 billion years ago. This multi-disciplinary, systems-based approach forms the basis for our undergraduate and graduate degree programs.