Units for Programmes in Natural Sciences, 2007/08 |
XX20085 The Earth as an ecosystem |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must (take CH10056 and take CH10057) or (take CH10008 and take CH10007) or (take CH10089 and take CH10090) and while taking this unit you must take XX20001 |
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Aims: To develop an understanding of the global impact of human agricultural and industrial activity and of the relationship between the technical and some social and economic aspects of the topic.
Learning Outcomes: After studying this Unit students should be able to: * Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of global environmental science topics; * Recognise the experimental and analytical evidence for this knowledge; * Consider the implications of current environmental problems for living organisms and their life support systems. Skills: Learning and studying (T/F/A), Information handling and retrieval (T/F/A), Written communication (T/F/A), Working independently (T/F). Content: Global human impact: population and consumption levels; Early mankind and the domestication of other species; The agricultural and industrial revolutions; Improvements in healthcare and education; Demographic trends; Sustainable economic development; Equitable distribution of resources; Policies and institutions; Biomagnification and heavy metals; Radioactivity and nuclear reactors; reprocessing and waste storage. Atmospheric and ground level pollution; Structure and dynamics of the atmosphere; Photochemical cycles involving O, N and Cl species; Factors affecting ozone concentrations; The Greenhouse effect; Photochemical smog and acid rain considered via case studies; Speciation of anionic and cationic water pollutants. |