Global Change
An interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach to natural and social science
principles, dynamic systems modeling, spatial data analysis and critical
reading activities.
Preface
Every day, millions of human and natural activities are altering
the planet on which we live. Over the past century, through our ever-increasing
population and mastery of technology, we have been changing the global
environment at a pace unknown to natural history. The goal of the material in this book is to offer
an introductory, science-based interdisciplinary approach that provides users,
regardless of their scientific background or mathematical skills, an
opportunity to gain the benefits and insights from a modern and continuously
updated scientific description of the changing global environment and the human
relationship with that environment. In
the book, we explore the physical aspects of change from the early solar system
to life to current events, as related to physical, chemical and biological
cycles contributing to Global Change, and we examine the human impacts, through
the effects of economic and social systems on the dynamics of a changing
planet. In this book we see that change
has always characterized our planet since its formation 4.5 billion years ago,
but that several of today’s changes occur at unprecedented rates, creating a
unique and potentially catastrophic challenge to humanity. We also learn that even seemingly small
changes can have major impacts, such as the increase in large storms through
only slight warming of the ocean-atmosphere interface, large coastal changes
through only minor sea-level rise, the role of young people dominating
non-western nations through new demographic trends, regional climate
adjustments thought seemingly small changes in ocean and atmosphere
circulation, and water shortages from growing regional demands and hydrologic
shifts. These and other topics are
explored here, taking a critical, hands-on approach to learning.
Structure of the Units
The material is divided into 11 units that explore
connected topics of key issues, with a distinctly human-centric perspective.
The approach of the text is inquiry-based, starting each unit with the
exploration of fundamentals through answering a series of key questions,
followed by personal examinations with a variety of hands-on activities. The
activities in each unit include systems modeling using the ISEE program
Stella™, spatial data analysis using the ESRI program ArcGIS™
and critical reading using essays from articles in State of the World by the WorldWatch Institute.
Through modeling we are trying to understand the future, using the past to ground-truth these quantitative efforts. Using spatial data, we can explore global patterns of the past and of today, in an attempt to find meaningful correlations and connections. Perspectives written by an environmental activist organization are used to encourage a critical reading approach. We do not suggest to complete all activities in a single semester course. Rather, following each unit’s introductory essays or vignettes, the material allows selection of activities that best meet the goals of the instructor and the students, or a mixed approach to hands-on learning that is based on interest and background.
The opening chapter of each unit examines key topics in
the form of queries or vignettes that start with fundamental aspects
(“Scientific principles”), followed by human dimensions (“Our choices”) and
adaptation and sustainability strategies (“Our actions”). This structure emphasizes the role of
feedbacks and integration at the outset of any topical exploration, which is
continued in the activities. This Global
Change Loop, which lies at the root of our thinking, is graphically illustrated
in Figure 1.1.
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Figure 1.1. The Global Change |
Aims
This book
is intended for students who are interested in understanding the changes that
are occurring in the physical and socio-political systems of our planet through
human impacts with the environment.
Rather than taking an encyclopedic approach, this text serves as a guide
into myriad of connected issues, which offer the user a first introduction to
more detailed, disciplinary information.
The
purpose of the book is to explore the problems and challenges that humanity
faces as it wrestles with the urgent need to develop a more sustainable
relationship with the Earth and its resources.
Toward these goals, the material provides a broad understanding of the
many issues involved in global change and global sustainability, as well as
offers exposure to some of the approaches and strategies for effective economic
development and resource management. The
approach is highly interdisciplinary and attempts to seamlessly cross
traditional disciplinary boundaries. As
such, the text is not a survey of all areas in the physical and social
sciences, but rather tries to informs today’s citizens of the more relevant
topics in these fields. In this manner,
it is hoped that tomorrow’s citizens will be prepared to face the environmental
and economic challenges of the 21st Century, irrespective of their individual
career paths and personal goals.
Each unit
describes major topics in the form of queries or vignettes that explore
fundamentals, today’s world and considerations for the future. Because we emphasize an active learning
approach, each unit offers of a variety of activities that involve systems
modeling, spatial data analysis and critical reading exercises. This structure allows users to take a
quantitative, spatial or reading approach to the material, or a combination. The modular approach, both in the exploration
of fundamentals and for hands-on activities, allows great flexibility in use
and ordering of the material. Because of
the specific progression of topics, from principles to applications and system
description to impacts, each unit resembles the approach in more traditional,
disciplinary textbooks, except that it presents each topic as a self-contained
block. We believe that this modular
approach appeals better to today’s students, while also allowing alternative
uses of basic material. Instructors may decide to change the structure and/or
content of the text by selecting topics from each unit for a personalized
edition, which is further facilitated by the publisher’s electronic version of
the book.
Supporting Materials
Customized manuals for novice users describing the
functionality of the Stella modeling and ArcGIS
spatial data programs are given in the Appendix. The text of the reading
activities is located on the enclosed CD-Rom or can be downloaded with password
access from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/titles/globalchange. Instructors can also receive an answer manual
for the activities in each unit by contacting xxxxxx.
Thanks to ….
The materials
that form the basis of this book reflect the educational efforts of many
dedicated current and former colleagues at the University of Michigan; besides
the contributors of the text, they are, in alphabetical order, {your name here
or on the cover page} Vincent Abreu, David Allan,
Mary Anne Carroll, Paul Edwards, Richard Ford, Thomas Gladwin, Tim Killeen,
George Kling, Maria Carmen Lemos, Gayl
Ness, Perry Samson, James Teeri and Mark Wilson. Comments by yearly teams of graduate student
instructors were central to the development and application of the activities,
while our students offered feedback and fresh perspectives. Derek Robinson gave ArcGIS
assistance. The staff of WW Norton and
the encouragement of its editorial team, especially Leo Wiegman,
XXX, XXX, are gratefully acknowledged.
The preparation of this book also benefited from the financial support
of the Provost office at the
Last update: 2/1/2008 8:21 AM