Global Change Introduction to Earth Systems and Sustainability (c) Ben A. van der Pluijm for the GC Author Team November 11, 2005

Hyperlinked Outline of Content

Unit 1. Introduction: Changing Systems – BP/DA/TG
1.1 Changing Earth Systems
1.2 Systems Thinking
1.3 Sustainability
Unit 2. Planet Earth: Origin and Evolution - BP
2.1 Time and Our Solar System
2.2 Continents, Oceans and Plate Tectonics
2.3 Role of Natural Hazards
Unit 3. Life System: from Building Blocks to Biodiversity - DA
3.1 Building Blocks of Life
3.2 Emergence of Complex Life
3.3 The Process of Speciation and Evolution
3.4 Threats to Biodiversity 
Unit 4. Ecosystems: Energy Flow, Productivity and Ecosystem Threats - DA/GK
4.1 The Flow of Energy: Primary Production and Higher Trophic Levels
4.2 Competition, Predation and Resource Scarcity
4.3 The Concept of the Ecosystem
4.4 Deforestation and Desertification
4.5 Coastal Environments
Unit 5. Human Evolution: Adaptation and Environmental Justice - RF
5.1 Hominids and Environmental Change
5.2 The Cultural Transformation of the Environment
5.3 Cultural Adaptation, Maladaptation and Environmental Change
5.4 Environmental Justice
Unit 6. Human Population: Trends, Appropriations and Health - GN/DA
6.1 Population and the Demographic Transition
6.2 Growth and Economic Development
6.3 Human Appropriation of the World's Food and Fisheries
6.4 The World’s Freshwater Supply
6.5 Infectious Diseases and Human Health
Unit 7. Energy: Resources and Consumption - BP
7.1 Radiation Laws and Stellar Dynamics
7.2 Energy Balance of Planets
7.3 Energy in Today’s World
7.4 Energy Trends and Future Alternatives
Unit 8. Climate: Atmosphere and Oceans - TK
8.1 Structure of the Atmosphere and Oceans
8.2 Greenhouse Gases and Earth’s Energy Balance
8.3 Climate Patterns Past, Present and Future
8.4 Impacts and Mitigation Strategies
Unit 9. Development and Urbanization: Pollution and Poverty - VA
9.1 Developed and Less Developed Countries
9.2 Migration and Urbanization
9.3 The Urban Environment
9.4 Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development
Unit 10. Global Biogeochemistry: Transformations and Cycles - GK
10.1 Transformation of Matter and Materials
10.2 The Water Cycle
10.3 Global Carbon Cycles
10.4 Nutrient Cycles
Unit 11. Sustainability: Globalization, Equality and Security - TG
11.1 Economic Globalization
11.2 Global Inequality
11.3 Human Conflict and Security
11.4 Challenges of Global, Long-Term Thinking
Index