ESA-30806 Global Change
Vak
Studiepunten 6.00
| Onderwijstype | Contacturen |
| Lectures | 26 |
| Practical intensively supervised | 40 |
| Problem-based learning | 40 |
| Course coordinator(s) | dr. RS de Groot |
| Lecturer(s) | dr. RS de Groot |
| prof. dr. RA Feddes | |
| prof. dr. AAM Holtslag | |
| prof. dr. P Kabat | |
| prof. dr. R Leemans | |
| PA Boiten | |
| prof. dr. ir. A Veldkamp | |
| ir. JA Veraart | |
| prof. dr. ir. PH Verburg | |
| and some quest speakers | |
| Examiner(s) | prof. dr. P Kabat |
| prof. dr. R Leemans |
Language of instruction:
English
Assumed knowledge on:
SAG-20306 Water Quantity and Quality, MAQ-10806 Meteorology and Air Quality, SFI Soil, Water and Vegetation, (SFI Global Biogeochemical Cycles), GRS-10306 Introduction Geo-Information Science.
Contents:
Students will learn how scientific research can contribute to a better understanding of the causes and effects of Global Change (climate change, land use and cover change) and possible solutions. To this end, lectures and guest-lecturers will provide the latest expert knowledge about Global Change issues. Also the interactions between science and policy making will be discussed. Attention will be paid to the Climate Change and Biosphere Program (CCB) of Wageningen University and Research Center. The course is based on a multi-disciplinary perspective to enhance the integration of knowledge of disciplines like environmental sciences, ecology, economics and agriculture.
Besides climate change, this course aims at understanding, analysing and modelling Land Use Cover Change (LUCC) and its effects. Students will engage in a problem-oriented study on the underlying causes (socio-economic and biophysical) of land use change by means of a set of case studies from various regions in the world varying from continental to local scales. Subsequently the students will receive for each case study a combined spatial explicit socio-economic-biophysical data set, which they will analyse by means of empirical methods. The students will use the CLUE (Conversion of Land Use and its Effects) model. Scenarios will be formulated with an emphasis on socio-economic issues such as population growth, equity, technology, globalization and natural catastrophes.
Aims:
The course "Global Change" is an obligatory course within the MSc Earth Systems Science, but may be relevant for other students as well, who have an interest in environmental sciences, pollution of soil, water and air, biology, forestry, land use or economics.
After the course the participant should
- be knowledgeable about and understand the working of the climate system, the main causes and effects of climate change, and possible solutions;
- be aware of the uncertainties in projections for the future;
- be able to judge policy implications of climate change research;
- have insight in the drivers of land use and cover change;
- be able to describe and analyse quantitatively the spatially explicit drivers of land use;
- be able to use a land use and cover change model;
- be able to assess the role of land use cover change in global change;
- have insight in current Global Change research activities.
Activities:
Students will learn about Global Change research through lectures (including guest-lecturers), practicals, and by group work devoted to the interactions between science and policy.
Examination:
The grade will be based on the result of the group work, and on a written exam.
Literature:
A study guide and reader will be availabe at the first lecture.
| Opleiding | Fase | Specialisatie | Periode | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verplicht voor: | MCL | Climate Studies | MSc | 3 | |