• About
  • Partners
  • Glossary
  • Email
  • Twitter

Understanding Global Change

Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.

Understanding Global Change

Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.

Menu
  • Home
  • How to use this website
  • What is Global Change?
    • Close
    • Understanding Global Change 101
    • Understanding Global Change Infographic
    • How the Earth System Works
      • Atmosphere
      • Biosphere
      • Elemental Cycles
      • Geosphere
      • Global Energy Budget
      • Hydrosphere
    • Causes of Global Change
      • Human causes
      • Non-human causes
    • Measurable Changes
      • Atmosphere
      • Biosphere
      • Geosphere
      • Hydrosphere
      • Quality of human life
      • Weather / extreme events
    • Close
  • Teaching Resources
    • Close
    • Planning for Instruction
    • Example Units and Lessons
    • Downloadable Graphics
      • Infographic
      • Icon Sets
      • Earth Scene
    • Close
  • Construct a Model
Home → What is Global Change?

What is Global Change?

Understanding Global Change 101

Visit this page for a guided tour of the Understanding Global Change Framework and the fundamental Earth system processes relevant to environmental and climate change.

Understanding Global Change Infographic

Use the UGC Infographic to navigate to content about global change processes and phenomena.

Explore global change topics on the content pages:

HOW THE EARTH SYSTEM WORKS

  • Atmosphere
  • Biosphere
  • Elemental cycles
  • Geosphere
  • Global energy budget
  • Hydrosphere

CAUSES OF GLOBAL CHANGE

  • Human causes
  • Non-human causes

MEASURABLE CHANGES

  • Atmosphere
  • Biosphere
  • Geosphere
  • Hydrosphere
  • Quality of human life
  • Weather / extreme events

A project of the University of California Museum of Paleontology  |  © 2025 University of California Regents. All Rights Reserved.