GEOG3401W: Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change

This course provides a basic foundation in environmental science and global change. Conceptualizing the environment as composed of “systems” (as in the course name) is a common framework in the environmental sciences because it puts the focus on interactions and connections. The “systems” we focus on in this class are the atmosphere (climate), the hydrosphere (water), the biosphere (plants), and the geosphere (land), along with their connections with human activities and decision making. We approach the study of environmental systems through the lens of global climate change, which has the potential for far-reaching consequences that extend across environmental systems. You'll recognize how climate processes lead to the spatial patterns of climate that influence human activity (e.g., agriculture, recreation) and infrastructure (e.g., levees, building codes). You'll also learn how soils, landforms, and ecosystems affect and are affected by changes in climate and by decisions humans make about how to live on, and use, the land. Achieving consensus among us as to what should be done in response to environmental change (whether or not those changes are caused by humans) is not a goal of this course; rather, the goal is for you to feel equipped to critically evaluate the range of potential solutions, trade offs, and ethical questions that surround environmental issues. You’ll practice what you learn in this course by writing a “consultant report” on the likely impacts of climate change on the human and environmental systems of a location of your choosing. You’ll draw on scholarly research, government documents, and your own analyses to create your report, which is written for a non-expert audience. This kind of writing is a common expectation of environmental scientists, consultants, or policymakers. A series of focused “writing workshops” will support the research and writing process and the development of your final consultant report.

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