The Science of Climate

Catalog description

Section information text: All of life on Earth needs energy to survive and thrive. Although plant life is able to derive energy directly from the sun and produces oxygen in the process, most animal life, including human life, must gather energy in other ways. Ultimately, the nutritional needs of almost every creature on the planet are satisfied by consuming plants and their fruits. However, in the modern world, humans want energy for more than survival. We want energy to drive our automobiles, power our factories, our homes, and our society. In our quest for energy, we have consumed enormous amounts of energy embodied in the fossil remains of previous life-forms. Unfortunately, in this process we have altered the natural carbon cycle, changed the chemical composition of our atmosphere, and affected our global climate. In this course, students examine the natural carbon cycle with its basis in cellular respiration and photosynthesis. They also explore human impact on the carbon cycle, and how our use of fossilized energy relates to global warming and climate change. Note: Students who have previously taken BIOL 1001 - Introduction to Biology will not receive credit for this course.