Course Overview - Our Changing Earth
If you've ever owned or used a globe, you know that it is meant to represent the Earth in as accurate a format as possible. But one thing globes cannot represent about the Earth is how dynamic it is: it is always changing. A globe is merely a static snapshot of the Earth at one point in time and from the perspective of whoever created the globe.
Physical geography is the interdisciplinary study of the physical properties of processes that shape the dynamic Earth. Whether we know it or not, we regularly experience and make decisions in our lives based on the fundamentals of physical geography. What to wear each day. When and where to hold parties and weddings. Where to go on vacation and when. Where to live and raise our families. All of these are directly influenced by physical geography.
This course will provide you with the scientific basis to understand the why’s and how’s of the natural environment, from day-to-day observations to some of the major environmental issues facing mankind in the coming century. This course will prompt you to begin asking questions about your surroundings, to make observations, and put those observations into context according to the scientific method to answer your questions. The study of physical geography cannot be undertaken solely in the classroom, and you will be asked to begin paying attention to your environment outside of the classroom as well.
Physical geography is a diverse subject that involves a sequence of interconnected topics on Earth system processes and their changes over time. These topics are presented in this course as eight modules. While this is a science class, throughout the semester we will tie Earth system processes to both long-term and short-term change and how it affects humans, our infrastructure, and the things we value. We would not study physical geography if it did not affect us and if humans were not part of the Earth system.
We will conclude the course with a section devoted to further investigating the science behind a set of critical issues and challenges that our planet faces in the 21st century. Geography 100 will provide you with the scientific background to make your own informed thoughts and decisions on these issues.
Physical geography is the interdisciplinary study of the physical properties of processes that shape the dynamic Earth. Whether we know it or not, we regularly experience and make decisions in our lives based on the fundamentals of physical geography. What to wear each day. When and where to hold parties and weddings. Where to go on vacation and when. Where to live and raise our families. All of these are directly influenced by physical geography.
This course will provide you with the scientific basis to understand the why’s and how’s of the natural environment, from day-to-day observations to some of the major environmental issues facing mankind in the coming century. This course will prompt you to begin asking questions about your surroundings, to make observations, and put those observations into context according to the scientific method to answer your questions. The study of physical geography cannot be undertaken solely in the classroom, and you will be asked to begin paying attention to your environment outside of the classroom as well.
Physical geography is a diverse subject that involves a sequence of interconnected topics on Earth system processes and their changes over time. These topics are presented in this course as eight modules. While this is a science class, throughout the semester we will tie Earth system processes to both long-term and short-term change and how it affects humans, our infrastructure, and the things we value. We would not study physical geography if it did not affect us and if humans were not part of the Earth system.
We will conclude the course with a section devoted to further investigating the science behind a set of critical issues and challenges that our planet faces in the 21st century. Geography 100 will provide you with the scientific background to make your own informed thoughts and decisions on these issues.