Clark University Academics & Faculty
950 Main Street • Worcester, MA 01610
Tel: 508-793-7711 • academicaffairs@clarku.edu

Geography
Geography
The Graduate School of Geography offers programs for both undergraduate and graduate study. Areas of focus include nature and society; globalization, cities and development; earth system science and geographic information science (GIS).

"...if you want to be a geographer...be the best. Take your graduate work at this school in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University." Texas, James Michener, 1985, p. 504.

Earth System Science

Earth System Science examines how the earth functions and assesses the consequences of global environmental change on the biosphere and life on Earth. A multidisciplinary approach to studying Earth is used to:
  • identify and measure the primary natural and human factors affecting the Earth system,
  • understand how the Earth system responds to changes in these factors,
  • describe how the Earth system is changing,
  • identify the consequences of these changes for human civilization, and
  • accurately predict future changes to mitigate the predicted effects.

Earth System Science involves studying the processes and interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, pedosphere, lithosphere, biosphere from a global to local point of view, and across the time scales in which these spheres interact. We use environmental models to describe physical, chemical, and biological processes within each sphere and the interactions among the spheres. To construct environmental models, data are collected by ground, airborne, waterborne, and spaceborne instruments.

Faculty working on Earth Systems Science at Clark University include professors Turner (global environmental change), Lewis (land degradation), Kuhn (climate change and surface processes, impact of climate change in central Massachusetts), Polsky (environmental modeling), Ratick (data analysis), Pontius (GIS), and Rogan (remote sensing).

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You may also be interested in:
Environmental Science
George Perkins Marsh Institute
Global Environmental Studies
HERO Program
International Development and Social Change
International Studies Stream
Urban Development & Social Change

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