GEOGG131 The Anthropocene

CORE GEOGG131 - The Anthropocene
(15 credits; Term 1)

Staff:
Anson Mackay, Viv Jones, Neil Rose

Aims:
·    to evaluate the role of human impact on global ecosystems
·    to gain experience in the development of empirical models to reconstruct past climates

Content:
The Anthropocene is increasingly considered to be a new geological epoch. This course will provide in-depth coverage of human impacts on many of the Earth’s ecosystems, drawing on research strengths within the department.

·    Natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change
·    Global biogeochemical cycles
·    Land-use change
·    Aquatic environments
·    Biodiversity
·    Ecosystem impacts

Assessment:
Up to 3500 word course paper based on course content

Format:
The course is based upon lectures and computer practical

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course students should:
·    Be able to critically evaluate the drivers of climate change during the Holocene
·    Understand global biogeochemical cycles (e.g. C, N and Si) and how they have been disrupted by human activity
·    Understand the impact of humans on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
·    Be able to use appropriate statistical techniques which are commonly used to reconstruct past changes in water quality and climate
·    Be aware of how palaeoecological techniques can be used to further our understanding of changing biodiversity
·    Be able to critically evaluate human and climate impacts on different global ecosystems