Course Description
The Human Environment: Physical Processes (3) UC:CSU
Prerequisite: None
Lecture, 3 hours
An Introductory course which deals with the relationships between humans and the planet, and how we deal with such factors as pollution, consumption of natural resources, population, energy, and land use.
Fall 2017 SYLLABUS |
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sample assignment format for all classes updated.pdf | |
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image source: http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/solstice/
image source: http://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/ua/SunAndSeasons.html
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2. To help you review chapter 13, print these materials - worksheet & blank global circulation model --------->
& bring 'em to class: |
*CH 13 Study Guide*
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image source: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/natureofgeoinfo/c8_p4.html
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Watch the atmosphere in action:
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air_pollution.pdf | |
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*CH 14 Study Guide*-->
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CO2 Monitoring, Hawaii (Charles Keeling/The Keeling Curve): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/science/earth/22carbon.html?ref=earth http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/22/science/earth/20101222-carbon/index.html Ozone Depletion & Climate Change sites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUfVMogIdr8&p=E04EA9C8EC15841D&playnext=1&index=23 (ozone) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wrEvc2URE&feature=related (CFCs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiJJgC7B_KY&feature=related (James Hansen on David Letterman) UN Panel: Ozone Layer on the Road to Recovery Sep 17, 2014 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84382 |
image source: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/mlo/programs/coop/scripps/co2/co2.html
image source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84382
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX3y6BQd4LI
Science historian Naomi Oreskes talks about obfuscation of scientific consensus around climate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX3y6BQd4LI (shorter interview w/ Naomi Oreskes) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/205879-1 ("Doubt is their Product", David Michaels) http://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php ("getting skeptical about global warming skepticism"). How cool is this?!: http://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_sussman_the_world_s_oldest_living_things.html |
El Niño / Climate Theme Page:
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"Radiative forcing" by clouds: (from Carnegie Mellon University; direct link - -https://science360.gov/obj/video/9ac57bb8-5796-4054-a017-a1891a93fc07/understanding-climate-change-through-clouds
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Science Magazine article:
"The Carbon Accountant" (Aug 2016) http://science.sciencemag.org/content/353/6302/858.full On their site, you can download a PowerPoint of the article... how cool is that?! |
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Methane hydrates:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/03/pictures/130328-methane-hydrates-for-energy/ (with additional links), http://www.usgs.gov/video/wr/menlopark/labs/gashydrate.html |
Okay, we've figured how to get energy from an atom, but the energy we've got isn't that helpful: it's just a huge amount of heat! How do we turn that into something much more useful, namely electricity? A nuclear power plant works pretty much like a conventional power plant, but it produces heat energy from atoms rather than by burning coal, oil, gas, or another fuel. The heat it produces is used to boil water to make steam, which drives one or more giant steam turbines connected to generators—and those produce the electricity we're after. Here's how:
Nuclear: TED.com Nuclear Power Debate-http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/debate_does_the_world_need_nuclear_energy.html Steward Brand- http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/stewart_brand_proclaims_4_environmental_heresies.html Where is waste stored? http://205.254.135.24/kids/resources/teachers/pdfs/WIPPSecondary.pdf video re: the future of nuclear in the US- http://www.linktv.org/video/6787/jim-riccio-on-the-future-of-the-us-nuclear-industry (LinkTV is an excellent site for videos re: environmental issues in general) US Energy Information Administration (re: nuclear): http://www.eia.gov/nuclear/ Conservation: Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov/ Energy Efficiency: http://energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-efficiency CAFE Standards: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/solutions/cleaner_cars_pickups_and_suvs/fuel-economy-basics.html |
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Good population stats:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2010/2010wpds.aspx;
http://www.census.gov/; https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ National Geographic resources: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player#/?titleID=7-billion-animation&catID=1 ; http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/seven-billion/kunzig-text NPR video re: Population: http://www.npr.org/2011/10/31/141816460/visualizing-how-a-population-grows-to-7-billion |
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http://www.newsweek.com/2014/12/26/fixing-crowded-earth-293024.html According to the authors, one of the problems is "overpopulation"
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"Trashed" (film shown in class) - where does YOUR garbage go? Due one week from date assigned.
MIT's "Trash Track" website - http://senseable.mit.edu/trashtrack/
E-Waste videos - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/60minutes/main4579229.shtml
("Electronic Wasteland", "E-Stewards", "Ship Breakers")
Closed-loop manufacturing:
1. (Okabashi Recyclable Shoes): http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HzsxOV_1f0g
2. Ray Anderson (Interface) : http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/ray_anderson_on_the_business_logic_of_sustainability.html
a. Other books by Paul Hawkens:
http://www.paulhawken.com/paulhawken_frameset.html
3. Cradle-to-Cradle Design:
http://www.ted.com/talks/william_mcdonough_on_cradle_to_cradle_design.html
Hazardous Waste Collection Events:
http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/special/hhw/collection_schedule.htm
CA information page:
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
What to do with hazardous and electronic waste & recycling (LA County & LA City):
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/hhw/; http://lacitysan.org/services/index.htm
Professional organizations:
http://www.environmentalistseveryday.org/
San Francisco, Model City:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/us/26bcintel.html?ref=earth
NY Times Magazine Magazine devoted to INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE - not to be missed!!!
http://nyti.ms/2dFBByL |
Recently in the NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/business/gmo-promise-falls-short.html
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Risk Assessment
from the following site: www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/07/24/why-do-regulators-conclude-glyphosate-safe-while-iarc-almost-alone-claims-it-could-cause-cancer/ |
Air Quality inside of our cars (particulate pollution)
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/02/24/your-car-slowly-killing-you-with-pollution |
EXTRA CREDIT for Ch 10: "Forgotten Genius" (the story of Percy Julian) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/forgotten-genius.html |
DROUGHT
view image comparisons (NASA satellite data): http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84032&eocn=image&eoci=related_image & http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82910 Public Policy Institute re: Water in CA: http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=902 |
One inspiring story (from UCSB)
Direct link - https://science360.gov/obj/video/71a94c8d-c4d7-434c-9b61-146b41553c8a/plastic-pollution-oceans-future |
Another inspiring story (from theoceancleanup.com)
For additional info, look for Boyan Slat's TedTalk Link: https://youtu.be/6IjaZ2g-21E |
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You might find this helpful: http://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/
** Eco Footprint Template. Print screen ("PrtScn") to capture graph of acres.
eco_footprint_template.doc | |
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eco_footprint_template.pdf | |
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Elizabeth Kolbert talking about the 6th Mass Extinction, at Oregon State and on "The Daily Show" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avoq05Z1K6w and http://www.cc.com/video-clips/zj9x9i/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-elizabeth-kolbert)
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asian_mosquito_in_el_monte.pdf | |
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ex_6_study_guide_chs_1_5.pdf | |
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ex_6_study_guide_chs_1_5.doc | |
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http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/50/energy-vampires-fact-versus-fiction.html
Use www.blackle.com as your Google search engine - the black page reduces energy use!
"all you have to do is answer questions and for every right answer they will donate 20 grains of rice":
http://www.freerice.com/
or:
http://www.wfp.org/english/