Geography Of Global Change

Geography Of Global Change

Week	Contents	Teaching/learning activities
1	Block 1 Introduction to Global Change  The Earth as a System  Spatial and temporal scales (e.g. human, geologic, and all in between)  Global change vs. climate change, similarities and distinctions    Block 2 The Atmosphere  Defining the structure and composition (baseline for change)  Greenhouse gases	lecture presentations  readings of relevant articles, and book content  both individual and small group activity and discussion of concepts  question and answer / critical dialog
2	Industrial pollution Block 3 The Oceans Role in global and climate change  Non-climatic global changes (e.g. fisheries, pollution, exotic species invasions)  Specific global change issues (monsoons, ENSO, hurricanes, etc.). Concrete look at the 2017 and 2020 Atlantic hurricane events	lecture presentations  readings of relevant articles, and book content  both individual and small group activity and discussion of concepts  question and answer / critical dialog  field trip to Barcelona to discuss and explore urban global change
3	Block 4 Terrestrial Impacts The nature of land surfaces  Specific terrestrial-based concerns (e.g. biosphere)  Causes for concern and likely futuristic developments	lecture presentations  readings of relevant articles, and book content  both individual and small group activity and discussion of concepts  question and answer / critical dialog  Visit to UAB research institute (ICTA)

From Monday to Friday.

From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Block 1 Thematic Question Answers, due Wednesday of Week 1 (15%) 

Block 2 Thematic Question Answers, due Friday of Week 1 (15%) 

Block 3 Thematic Question Answers, due Thursday of Week 2 (15%) 

Block 4 Thematic Question Answers, due Tuesday of Week 3 (15%) 

Final Exam Wednesday of Week 3 (40%) 

• GUGLER, J. (2004). World Cities. Globalization, Development and Inequality. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 
• JOHNSTON, R.J., TAYLOR, P.J. I WATTS, M.J. (eds) (2002): Geographies of Global Change. Oxford: Blackwell (2nd edition). 
• MANNION, A.M. (1991): Global environmental change. Harlow, Essex: Longman. 
• MARSH,W.M. I GROSSA,J.M. Jr (1996): Environmental Geography. Science, Land Use and Earth Systems. New York: John Wiley. 
• OLDFIELD, F. 2005: Environmental Change. Key Issues and Alternative Perspectives. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 
• STEFFEN, W. et al 2004: Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet Under Pressure. New York, Springer. 
• TURNER, B.T.II; Clark,W.C., KATES,R.W., RICHARDS,J.F., MATHEWS,J.T. I MEYER,W.B. (eds) (1990): The Earth as transformed by human action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 
• GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP v4) 
• Climate-warming gas in atmosphere passes 400ppm milestone – interactive 
• IPCC report: six graphs that show how we're changing the world's climate 
• The Rains May Be A-Comin' 
• Increase in the Asian Southwest Monsoon During the Past Four Centuries
• ENSO as an Integrating Concept in Earth Science
• Increasing destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the past 30 years 
• Clues to Supertyphoon's Ferocity Found in the Western Pacific
• 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season Now Seventh Most Active in History 
• What's really warming the World? 

There will also be selected readings from journal articles, and other links, highlighted during the course. Some links above are to journal articles; others are for some key sites and animations. 

Graham Mortyn earned BS and MS degrees in Earth Science and a PhD in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (University of California at San Diego, UCSD). Prior to academia he worked as a hydrogeologist. He was an Assistant Professor in California (California State University, Fresno, CSUF) before UAB arrival in 2004, joining the Department of Geography and ICTA.  

• E-mail: graham.mortyn@uab.cat
• Department of Geography