UCSD ESYS 10 Introduction to Environmental Systems

Winter 2006

Term papers

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Syllabus with writing and citation guidelines for term papers

Term Papers

Overview: ESYS10 requires a brief (5-7 page) term paper and a group oral presentation on your findings. Papers should be typed and double-spaced

Schedule:

Tuesday, February 16. One paragraph summary due describing term paper topic. Groups meet.

Tuesday, March 14. Term papers due.

Tuesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 16: oral presentations by groups

Topic selection: You may choose from 5 general interest areas:

El Nino and climate
Amazon rainforest
Hurricane Katrina and other large hurricanes of the 2005 season and the environment
Water resources in the California/Baja California border region
Sea level rise: How much could global sea level rise and why?

You will divide into groups by interest area. Within your groups, decide what science and policy issues are relevant. Each of you should choose specific topics on the basis of your own interests and curiosity. Topics may focus on policy, science, or a combination of the two. Because your papers should be short, you should select a very narrow topic that you can research carefully.

Acceptable research sources: Because our understanding of environmental systems is changing rapidly, the Internet is an acceptable research tool, as are conventional printed materials in the library (newspapers - whose archives are now mainly accessed through the internet, magazine articles, books). If you work from the Internet, be sure to cite your sources carefully, and do not succumb to the temptation to "borrow" text from other sources. Also please recognize that Internet web sites have differing levels of credibility. Be sure to use multiple sources, and seek out material prepared by professionals working in the field. I am particularly interested in seeing you look for at least one article in a refereed scientific journal such as Nature or Science, if appropriate to the topic; for some topics that are more narrowly focused on California, look for a refereed journal article that deals with some aspect of the science or engineering. I'm happy to talk to you to help you get started on your topics.

Ideas for subtopics:

El Nino and Climate:

What is El Nino? What happens during an El Nino event?
What is the impact off El Nino on Southern California weather?
How does an El Nino event influence fisheries?
Why do big corporations want to predict El Nino events?
How is El Nino monitored today?
How might El Nino be changing

The Amazon rainforest:

What is the impact on ecosystems of cutting rainforest trees?
What is the impact of cutting trees on carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
What are rainforest friendly agricultural methods for growing timber? coffee? nuts?
How has the International Monetary Fund steered rainforest management policies?
What is the impact of slash and burn agriculture on soil quality or air quality?
How does the pharmaceutical industry benefit from the rainforest?

Hurricane Katrina and other large 2005 hurricanes and the environment:

What is the natural coastal environment in the southeastern U.S., eastern Mexico and the Caribbean?
How do hurricanes create storm surges and what is the impact of storm surges?
How are hurricanes predicted? (large topic – pick some aspect)
Were there any man-made changes to the ecosystem that affected the impacts of the hurricanes on the ecosystem itself, the populace, the infrastructure, etc (positively or negatively)?
What is the view of international bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the hurricanes?
Is there any credible relation between global climate change and increased hurricane frequency or intensity?

Water resources in the California/Baja California border region:

What are the primary sources of water for the border region? How is water apportioned between the U.S. and Mexico?
What are the primary aquifers for this region? What is an aquifer and how is it replenished?
How is the projected growth in the San Diego and Tijuana regions expected to impact water resources or be impacted by water issues? (or consider Imperial County and Mexicali)
How is San Diego sewage managed? How polluted is the sewage that enters the ocean?
How is Tijuana sewage managed? What international policies have been implemented?
What are the major sources of pollutants that we dump into the ocean? How could they be mitigated?
Why are beaches closed sometimes?
What are the health hazards associated with ocean pollutants?
How do local ecosystems respond to human activities? How is the San Diego kelp forest doing?