Global Environmental Change Cluster

Students are barraged on a daily basis with news stories of El Nino, global warming, CO2 increasing, greenhouse effects, ozone hole, etc. This cluster will introduce some of the scientific concepts and issues of natural global cycles and how the systems have changed in the past. We will discuss the physical, chemical and biological changes of the earth's environment in the past, present and future. The past will concentrate on the physical, chemical and biological changes that are recorded in the rock, ice and sediment record. The present will concentrate on recent changes on the oceans and atmosphere, and discuss the human dimension. The future will discuss the merits and limits of global models.

Cluster Coordinator: Georg Grathoff
Office: CH 17 Q
Phone: 503-725-3391
E-mail: grathoffg@pdx.edu


Sophomore Inquiry: Global Environmental Change

This course will provide enough content and description of the global system for students to have a conceptual framework to do further studies on global environmental change. This course will include a variety of exercises, including homework problems, writing exercises, group exercises and likely one or more mid-term exams. There will be some use of mathematics and graphical information, including use of Excel as an analytical tool. Having the computer in the classroom will allow analysis to take place in a group setting.

This SINQ leads to the Global Environmental Change Cluster.

Approved Cluster Courses: Academic Year 08-09

CH 360 Origins of Life on Earth
CR 399U Ecology of War and Peace
ENG 308U Literature and the Environment
G 344U Geology of National Parks
G 345U Life in the Universe
G 351U Oceanography
G 352U Minerals and World Affairs
G 399U Geology and the History of Hawaii
G 399U Earth and Life History of Costa Rica
G 399U Top: Climate Record in NW Geology
G 430U Life of the Past
G 452U Geology of the Oregon Country
G 456U Astrogeology
G 457U Volcanoes and Earthquakes
GEOG 310U Climate and Water Resources
GEOG 311U Climatology
GEOG 312U Climate Variability
GEOG 313U Biogeography
GEOG 314U Severe Weather
GEOG 322U Alpine Environments
GEOG 333U Weather
GEOG 340U Global Water Issues and Sustainability
GEOG 346U World Population and Food Supply
GEOG 347U Environmental Issues and Action
HST 339U Environment and History
PH 333U Weather
PH 375U The Earth’s Atmosphere
PHL 310U Environmental Ethics
SCI 334U Climate Variability
SCI 357U Sustain US/Mexico Border Region