Climate Courses

Climate science fundamentals: Energy balance, ocean and atmospheric circulation. Future climate scenarios. Processes driving spatial and temporal climate variability. Analysis of observations and climate projection data to evaluate the anthropogenic impact on climate. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: 3rd year class standing

Local climate time series collection and analysis. Retrieval and analysis of online climate data and model output. [0-3-0] Prerequisite: One of EOSC 340, EOSC 345 and one of CPSC 103, CPSC 110, EOSC 211, MATH 210, PHYS 210 and one of STAT 200, STAT 201, STAT 251, BIOL 300.

Basic energy systems and technologies in the context of the cultural and social dimensions of environmental education and climate emergency--through conceptual, digital, and narrative models, as well as policy, design, and science.

Market failure and gains from trade in the presence of environmental externalities; multilateral trade and environmental agreements; case studies, including biological invasions, transport emissions, climate-induced migration, carbon leakage, ivory trade, food miles. Prerequisite: One of ECON_V 101, ECON_V 310, FRST_V 101, LFS_V 101.

Concepts of disturbance ecology with special reference to insects and diseases in the forests of British Columbia; forest health problems in the biogeoclImatic zones of BC; present management strategies and future potentials in a scenario of climate change. [3-3-0] Prerequisite: One of FRST 210, NRES 210 and one of FRST 211, NRES 211.

Role of climate and climate change in the population dynamics, outbreak potentials and resultant impacts to forest ecosystems associated with herbivorous forest insects. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: One of FRST 307, APBI 327, BIOL 327.

Psychological, social, and systemic dimensions of climate change communication; approaches for engaging diverse groups for low-carbon futures; overcoming climate inaction.

Topics vary by term. Please consult the program website for details.

Science, impacts, and parallel crises of the climate emergency; decarbonization challenge and measuring progress towards emission targets; strategies and tools for climate action at local, national, and global levels. Credit will only be granted for one of GEOG 202 or ENST 202. Recommended: Second-year standing. Equivalency: ENST 202

Concepts of environment, resources and sustainability; the roles of physical and human geography in understanding the interaction of humans and the environment; introduction to management of environment-resource systems. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 310 or ENST 310. Equivalency: ENST310

Climates over the geological, historical and instrument periods. Theories of climatic change. Monitoring and modelling the climate system. Impacts of change on environmental and socio-economic systems. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 312 or ENST 312. Recommended pre-requisites: one of GEOS 102, GEOB 102, GEOS 200, GEOB 200, GEOS 204, GEOB 204, ATSC 201, EOSC 112. Third-year standing. Equivalency: ENST312

Concepts and techniques employed in environmental research; challenges in the areas of climate change, water use, knowledge translation and natural hazards. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG_V 314 or ENST_V 314. Restricted to students with at least third-year standing. Prerequisite: One of GEOG_V 211, GEOB_V 102, GEOB_V 103, GEOS_V 102, GEOS_V 103, EOSC_V 110 or EOSC_V 112. Equivalency: ENST_V 314.

Moral problems arising in the context of human relationships to nature and to non-human living things, considered in terms of both general moral theory and policy formation. Topics include moral standing, animal rights, obligations to future generations, pollution, hazardous materials, the depletion of natural resources and the treatment of non-human living things. Credit will be granted for only one of PHIL 332 or PHIL 435.

Physical principles underlying weather and climates. Thermal, moisture and wind climates from the scale of plants and animals to the globe. Daily weather systems and climate change. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 200, GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 204, or APBI_V 244. This course is recommended for students with credit in one of GEOS_V 102, GEOB_V 102, or second-year standing in science. [3-2*-0] Equivalency: APBI_V 244 and GEOB_V 200.

Meteorology and climatology at the micro-, local, and meso-scales. Interactions between land surfaces and atmosphere. Basics of atmospheric turbulence and transfer processes. Microclimates on scales of a leaf to those of a large valley. Recommended prerequisites: one of GEOB_V 200, GEOS_V 200, GEOB_V 204, GEOS_V 204, ATSC_V 201. [3-0-0] Credit will be granted for only one of GEOB_V 300 or GEOS_V 300. Equivalency: GEOB_V 300.

The key social and technological challenges, contradictions, and opportunities in planning for ecologically sound urbanization.

Formation of ice masses and their evolution including snowpacks, glaciers, and ice sheets. Relationships between ice and climate including records of climate change, glacier dynamics and ice-related hazards. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: One of PHYS_V 101, PHYS_V 106, PHYS_V 107, PHYS_V 117, PHYS_V 131, PHYS_V 157, SCIE_V 001, and one of GEOB_V 206, GEOS_V 206, GEOB_V 305, GEOS_V 305, GEOB_V 308, GEOS_V 308. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOB _V 408 or GEOS _V 408. Equivalency: GEOB_V 408.

Ecological consequences of the global political economy.

A foundation course dealing with the regulatory and policy framework for the protection of the environment in Canada, such as pollution control and biodiversity conservation. Credit will only be granted for one of LAW_V 387 LAW_V 587. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

Causes and effects of air pollution in the context of technology and society. Topics include: impact of air pollutants on air quality and climate, atmospheric science, public policy, collective action, environmental justice, science communication, economic externalities, and ethical engineering design. Recommended pre-requisite: third-year standing. [3-0-0]. Prerequisite: Second-year standing.

Human health impacts of the current and projected environmental crisis; study of key concepts and ideas to prepare for the future to promote wellbeing of individuals, communities and populations.

The fundamental physics behind global issues of energy use and climate change. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Either (a) one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of PHYS 101, PHYS 102, PHYS 106, PHYS 107, PHYS 108, PHYS 117, PHYS 118, PHYS 131, PHYS 153, PHYS 157, PHYS 158; or (b) SCIE 001.

Examines key themes and issues in the study of political interaction between states and non-state actors, including international security, armed conflict and conflict management, global governance and international institutions, the world economy, poverty and inequality, and climate change. Prerequisite: POLI_V 100. Or second-year standing or higher.

Ecological consequences of the global political economy. Prerequisite: All of POLI 100, POLI 101, POLI 240. Or third-year standing or higher.