Ecosystem

Overview of oceanography for those interested in Earth system science. Focus is on physical, chemical, and biological processes that drive biogeochemical cycling in the oceans. Coastal systems also reviewed, with emphasis on California waters. Corequisites: Mathematics 2B and Physics 3B or 7C. Prerequisite: Chemistry 1C.

Supervised original research in areas of Earth System Science. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

Designed to introduce first-year graduate students to research. Students explore research opportunities and develop a proposal for a summer research project under the direction of a faculty mentor.

Covers the origin and evolution of the Earth, its atmosphere, and oceans, from the perspective of biogeochemical cycles, energy use, and human impacts on the Earth system. Earth System Science 1 and 25 may not both be taken for credit.

Kinetics, mechanisms, and photochemistry of tropospheric reactions in the gas, liquid, and solid phases, and methods of analysis. Chemistry of photochemical oxidant formation and acid deposition, and applications to control strategies. Chemistry of toxic chemicals and indoor air pollution. Prerequisites: Chemistry 130A-B-C or 131A-BC and Chemistry 151 and 151L or equivalent.

Population structure, function, development, and evolution. Topics include population structure, population growth and regulation, metapopulations, predation, competition, species diversity, ecosystem function, macroecology, and island biogeography. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences E106.

Special topics courses are offered from time to time. Course content varies with interest of the instructor. Prerequisites: Public Health 1 and in some cases, consent of the instructor.

Introduction to the basic science and state of predictability of various natural catastrophic events including hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, as well as possibly future climate catastrophes including severe droughts, abrupt climate change, thermohaline circulation collapse and sea level rise.

Human behavior in a geographical context. Spatial patterns and organization of the cultural, social, and economic activities of man as imposed on and influenced by the earth’s physical setting.

The role of terrestrial processes in the Earth system. Provides an introduction to ecosystem processes that regulate the cycling of energy, water, carbon, and nutrients. Analysis of the impact of human activities. Prerequisite: Chemistry 1C.