Students will examine the human causes of change to the environment on a global scale along with the impact of these changes on the lives of humans.
Analyze Global Climate Change (sometimes called “global warming”) and assess the validity of this idea, the variable climate changes it forecasts for different parts of the earth, and the implications of these changes for humans (political, economic, and health and welfare). [Physical Systems, Human Environment Interactions, Change Over Time, Spatial Distribution, Spatial Interaction, Spatial Variability]
EXAMPLES: The accuracy of Global Climate Models (GCMs) (1980–Present); the forecast that the productive farmlands of the U.S. Great Plains will experience drought while Canada’s farmlands will become much more productive (Present); sea level changes associated with past and present climate changes and the impact of such changes on humans in the contemporary world (last Ice Age–Present).
Explain the concepts of linear* and exponential** growth. Apply these concepts to geographical themes and analyze the consequences of various human responses to these trends. [Change Over Time, Human Environment Interactions, Cultural Landscapes, Physical Systems]
EXAMPLES: The “doubling time” for global population and the implications of this doubling in various world regions (1750–Present); economic growth curves for various countries and the implications for resource use and environmental pollution (Present)
* Linear Growth—A model of growth that involves adding a fixed amount to constant base over a period of time.
** Exponential Growth—A model of growth in which a constant rate of growth is applied to a continuously growing base over a period of time.