Environmental Science is a discipline about Ôhow the modern earth functionsÕ and the impact that humans have on the processes on the planet. To gain some appreciation of the latter, we have to know the basics of the former. I will talk about the rocks, water, air, and life on earth and how these interact. The scientific approach is used to understand how the world works and how ÔweÕ are thoroughly disturbing things. I will also look at the ethical, historical and economic factors that are at play in our society when we are trying to define our position in the natural world. As a result, we will meet greed and corruption, volcanos and hurricanes, Tasmanian Wolves and aardvarks, in our global quest to connect the dots. You will learn how science works, how we simulate nature with computer programs, model population growth, predict when we run out of oil, and how hot it will be 50 years from now. We also look at pollution issues, such as Mercury, Lead and nutrient contamination. Four major environmental themes are embedded in the syllabus: Human population dynamics, energy demand and supply, climate science and biodiversity. We weave our way through these themes and touch on various aspects. A midterm exam, a final exam, a term project (term paper, theatrical performance, video, music performance, visual art, or..) and 3 problem sets are part of the course. You will learn the basics of Excel spreadsheet use. The TAÕs will help with the problem sets, Excel skills, and issues with the term project. A field trip to the Long Island Sound coast is organized in April, but participation is not mandatory. An occasional guestlecturer will brighten the days as well as the occasional movie showing. Remembering high-school science will be useful, but interest and motivation are the true requisites for the course.
Textbook: Environmental Science: a systems approach
– McKinney and Schoch.
Class website: http://jvarekamp.web.wesleyan.edu/199.htm
January
24 Introduction to Environmental Science- Ch. 1.
26 Earth in Space – relation with planets
29 The earth – continents, mountains - Ch. 1
31 Oceans – geology, submarine life forms
February
2 Human Population dynamics I. - Ch.2.
5 Population growth, carrying capacity (problem set 1)
9 Biogeochemical cycles - Ch.3
12 Life on earth – origin, energy flows - Ch. 4
14 Life on earth – diversity, biomes
16 Resource management - Ch.6
19 Energy I. scales, conversions - Ch.7
21 Energy II, demand and supply (problem set 2)
23 Energy supply –
Excel exercise
26 Coal
& gas
5 Nuclear Energy
7 Alternative energy supplies
9 Midterm Exam
26 Climate Movie
28 Global Climate Change I - Ch. 17.
30 Radiative processes, greenhouse effect
2 Convective climate processes (ÒweatherÓ)
4 Fossil fuels and the atmosphere
6 the Carbon Cycle
9 Sea level rise - (problem set 3)
11 Climate change and society
13 Water Resources - Ch. 15
16 Feeding the world – soils, genetic manipulations, the green revolution
18 Biodiversity - Ch. 11
20 Guest speaker - invasive species
23 Water pollution - Ch. 14-15.
25 Eutrophication
27 Metal pollution (Mercury, Lead etc)
30 Air pollution - Ch. 16
2 Acid rain
4 Smogs and city air pollution
7 Ozone in the stratosphere