I.) WAYS OF KNOWING
(Scientific Method, Observations, Technology,
Informatics, Habits of Mind, Faith)
“Reflection on how we know what
we believe will help our
understanding”
Ways of Knowing
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Intuition
Ask a friend/expert
Internet, media
Observation, hypothesis, test, revise
Peer-reviewed science journals
Scientific consensus
It just makes sense to me
Faith
II.) HUMAN INTERACTIONS
(Sustainability, Ocean Policy and Management,
Human Health)
“Currently, the human species is
significantly affecting and is
affected by earth systems, but has
the ability to choose its relationship
with the environment”
Human Interactions
• Economics-Goods and services
• Laws and regulations-Wetland Protection
Act
• International Cooperation-Montreal
Protocol—Ozone depletion and freons
– Copenhagen
• Social norms shift—Global Climate
Change
III.) ECOSYSTEMS
(Biological Communities, Population Ecology,
Habitats)
“The survival and health of
individuals and groups of
organisms are intimately coupled
to their environment”
Ecosystems
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Eco-Sphere
Trophic levels
Niches
Biotic vs. Abiotic factors
Predator vs. Prey
Hula Hoops
IV.) EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE
(System Properties, Oceanography, Atmospheric
Science, Earth Science)
“The Earth as a whole acts as a
complex set of interacting systems
with emergent properties”
Earth System Science
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Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Climate
Plate tectonics
Positive and Negative Feedbacks
Thresholds
V.) EVOLUTION-BIODIVERSITY
(Species Diversity, Natural Selection,
Biogeography)
“Evolution explains both the unity
and diversity of life”
Evolution and Biodiversity
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Survival of the fittest/Natural Selection
Genetics
Mass extinctions
Rain forest vs. tundra
Niche
Species migration due to climate change
Succession after a disaster
VI.) ENERGY FLOW AND
TRANSFORMATION
(Forms of Energy, Thermodynamics, Conservation of
Energy, Energy Use, Motion)
“Energy transformations drive physical,
chemical, and biological processes.
Total energy is conserved and flows to
more diffuse forms”
Energy and Transformations
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Energy balance (sun’s radiation budget)
Eco-Sphere
Household Energy
Alternative Energy sources
Trophic levels
VII.) CONSERVATION OF MASS
(Input/Output Models, Elemental Cycles,
Hydrological Cycle, Stoichiometry, Equilibrium)
“Mass is conserved as it is
transferred from one pool to
another”
Conservation of Mass
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Eco-Sphere
Keeling Curve
Carbon Cycle
BioSphere 2
Petroleum reserves
Residence time in a hot tub/ocean
VIII.) SPATIO-TEMPORAL
RELATIONSHIPS
(Geospatial Position, Mapping, Historical Trends,
Coordinate Systems)
“Choosing the appropriate reference
frame is the key to understanding
one’s environment.”
Spatial-Temporal Scales
• Ice ages
• Plate tectonics, mountain building
• Household/Boston Harbor/Neponset Watershed/
Earth
• Carbon dioxide variations with time
• Global warming
• Mass extinctions
• Remote Sensing
• Models
Summary
• Content
– Facts
– Concepts
• Skills
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Reading graphs
Calculations
Group discussions/negotiations
Research (take home exams, paper)
• Relevance
– News
– Local examples