Global Environmental Change

As part of the Geography Subsidary course I study at Bristol University, I have studied Global Environmental Change. This is a huge topic which is exactly what it says it is: the study of our world and its environment and the changes that it undergoes. The changes may be natural or man made, the environment may be the biosphere, the geosphere, the atmosphere etc.

GLOBAL dictates that any changes are widespread and te nature of the spread is indictitive of the type of change taking place. The causes of the change must also be widespread as must the concern for the changes.

ENVIRONMENTAL means everything apart from oneslf. It includes the entire climate system; the biosphere, geosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere. It is based on a flow of energy and matter, interactions between variables occur through precise processes which produce geographical patterns.

CHANGE includes the rate of change of actual environmental systems but also includes the impacts on humans, public concern, education, technology and scientific advances that result from alterations in the environment.

Being such a vast topic, it is impossible to cover all aspects in one year, perhaps even in a lifetime! The size of the topic, the size of the environment and the world itself has many repercussions when studying G.E.C. There is much uncertainty associated with these studies.

Useful Links

Global Change and Environmental Resources

A comprehensive collection of resources selected for their relevance to global change and environmental education.

A good jump point

Another jump point

This site deals with cleanup, compliance, pollution prevention, energy conservation/renewable resources and conservation, all of which are highly important aspects of Global Environmental Change.

Research

This site is a research projects findings that were funded by the Economic and Social research Council in the U.K.

Back to main page