Geography of Global Change

UAB Barcelona Summer School

Number of credits: 6 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
Course Fee: 850 €
Course Fee for UAB students and Alumni UAB Premium+ : 200 €
Teaching Language: English
Place: Online
Teaching Period: 21 June to 9 July

Registration of international and national students (non-UAB students) before May 16 will get 20% discount.

Enrol now

Enrolment guidelines

Contact: summer@uab.cat

 

PROFESSOR BIO INFORMATION

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.

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

 

ACADEMIC GUIDE         
 

Contents overview

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 Industrial pollution	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	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 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)

 

Evaluation

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%)

 

Links and references

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 (2ª edició).

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.

https://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/interactive/2013/may/10/climate-warming-gas-carbon-dioxide-levels-interactive

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/31/ipcc-report-six-graphs-that-show-how-were-changing-the-worlds-climate?CMP=twt_gu

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/297/5581/528.full

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/297/5581/596.full

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/314/5806/1740.full

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v436/n7051/full/nature03906.html

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6162/1027.full

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2017-10-09-atlantic-hurricane-season-one-of-busiest-october

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-whats-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.