A modern holistic approach to the study of the earth system. Introduction to climate science: the processes operating within the atmosphere and biosphere, including general circulation of the atmosphere, ocean-atmosphere interactions, and global climate systems. Emphasis on the impacts and consequences of human-environment interactions. Spatial and temporal variability of these processes on local, regional and global scales. The primary causes, both natural and human, and consequences of climate change and the impact of a changing climate for communities both within and outside the Caribbean region. Particular emphasis on the impacts of climate change on the biosphere, as well as their implications for agricultural systems. Introduction to the study of biogeography, focussing on the geographical features of biodiversity at different geographical scales, and reviewing ideas about ecosystem processes and vegetation disturbance and succession.