NESC 215 Climate Change in Native Lands

Exploration of how climate has changed in the past, how it is changing now, and the contemporary causes of climate change with an emphasis on understanding the interconnectedness of biotic and physical systems. Climate change topics focus on the ecological impacts and consequences for tribal lands and Native communities. Prerequisites: ENGL 100, BIOL 104. (NSL)

Credits

5

Outcomes

1. Apply basic concepts of meteorology, climatology, and traditional ecological knowledge to explain and understand their local climate and environment.
2. Summarize how Earth's climate system works, and understand the physical processes and dynamic interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, ice, and land surface.
3. Describe changes in climate through time, and be able to distinguish between long-term geologic-scale climate change and recent human-caused climate change.
4. Discuss current impacts of climate change on humans and ecosystems with emphasis on impacts to Coast Salish Tribes and other Native Peoples.
5. Illustrate specific examples of climate change impacts on plants, animals, land, or water resources, in your tribal community.
6. Discuss peoples unique adaptations to their place and demonstrate examples of how traditional ecological knowledge and intergenerational knowledge of the natural world can assist in solving environmental issues.
7. Describe various approaches to collecting and analyzing data, including field data collection, visual data analysis, and using data to understand trends or discover underlying issues.
8. Apply scientific and traditional ecological knowledge toward positive solutions to the impacts of climate change while respecting tribal values and strengthening community ties.
9. Describe the global carbon cycle and the role of CO2 in creating a greenhouse effect including the recent (100 year) changes in the composition of the atmosphere and its role in global warming.