Natural limits

Composition, physics, and circulation of Earth’s atmosphere with an emphasis on explaining the role of atmospheric processes in shaping the climate system. Topics include: atmospheric composition, the global energy balance, radiative transfer and climate, atmospheric circulation and climate sensitivity. Corequisites: Mathematics 2B or a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Calculus BC examination, Physics 3B or 7C.

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.

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.

Topics include conservation of fluid mass, storage properties of porous media, matrix compressibility, boundary conditions, flow nets, well hydraulics, groundwater chemistry, and solute transport. Design projects and computer applications included. Prerequisites: CEE20 or equivalent; CEE170 or MAE130A or equivalent; or consent of instructor. Concurrent with CEE172.

Impact of the physical environment on individual and group behavior. Three basic concerns examined: (a) environmental determinants of behavior at the individual and interpersonal level; (b) social planning and urban design; and (c) methodological approaches to the study of environmental issues.

Introduction to geologic principles and applications to environmental problems. Topics include: tectonic processes, earth materials, soils, river processes, groundwater, the coastal environment, slope failures, seismic hazards, mineral resources, and land-use evaluation based on geologic conditions. Examples from case studies. Prerequisite: Social Ecology E8.

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.

Introduction to the analysis of human population including fertility, mortality dispersion, sex distribution. Attention is focused on the effects of these variables on, e.g., over-population, social disorganization, and the stability of social institutions.

Explores basic topics in ecology and evolutionary biology and applications to agriculture, conservation, environmental issues, and public health. Format involves discussion of scientific journal articles and other readings, with focus on learning to evaluate scientific evidence. Prerequisite or corequisite: Biological Sciences E106.

Biodiversity, history of human impacts, and conservation efforts are examined in the five Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The extent of remaining natural habitat, approaches to ecological habitat restoration, control of exotic species, and predicted consequences of global climate change are described. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences E106.