Mountains 101

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/mountains-101

Introduction

### Course Review: Mountains 101 on Coursera **Overview** Mountains 101 is an engaging and comprehensive 12-lesson course that provides an extensive overview of mountain environments, focusing on their geological, biological, and cultural significance. Developed with the goal of fostering a deeper understanding of these majestic landforms, this course is accessible to anyone interested in the multidisciplinary aspects of mountains, particularly in Alberta, Canada, and worldwide. By blending scientific inquiry with cultural exploration, Mountains 101 offers students a unique perspective on why these towering giants matter in our world today. **Course Structure and Highlights** The course is structured into 12 lessons, each designed to build on the previous one, creating a cohesive learning journey: 1. **Why Mountains Matter**: This introductory lesson sets the stage by articulating the relevance of mountains to our understanding of global and local environments. It effectively lays the groundwork for the multifaceted explorations to come. 2. **Origins**: Students delve into the geological formation of mountains, exploring various theories about their creation. This lesson provides a foundational understanding of where our mountains come from. 3. **Climate**: This lesson examines how mountains influence climate and local weather patterns, introducing essential concepts about altitude and climate interactions. 4. **Bodies at Altitude**: An intriguing exploration of human physiology, this lesson discusses how our bodies adapt to higher altitudes, underscoring the human connection to these environments. 5. **Water Towers**: Mountains are crucial for the hydrological cycle, and this lesson illustrates how they serve as vital sources of freshwater, alongside associated hazards. 6. **Glaciers**: A detailed look at glaciers, their formation, and their impact on landscapes provides insights into these awe-inspiring but vulnerable features. 7. **Imagination**: This lesson explores cultural representations of mountains throughout history, allowing students to appreciate how different societies perceive and interact with these landscapes. 8. **Hazards**: Focusing on natural dramas within mountain environments, this lesson examines snow avalanches, landslides, and volcanic activity, including management strategies for these hazards. 9. **Mountain Biodiversity and Adaptations of Plants**: A captivating look at ecological adaptations, this lesson reveals how plants survive in extreme mountain conditions. 10. **Animal Adaptations**: Students learn about the unique adaptations of mountain-dwelling animals and how these creatures thrive in challenging environments. 11. **Use and Preservation**: This lesson tackles the conflicting needs of utilizing mountain resources and conserving these areas, raising important ethical questions about human interaction with nature. 12. **Future Mountains**: The course concludes with a forward-looking perspective, discussing climate change's impact on mountains and the lessons learned for future conservation efforts. **Tech Tips** Each lesson includes practical "Tech Tips," offering students valuable advice related to outdoor preparation, safety, and ethical considerations—perfect for those looking to engage with mountain environments actively. **Recommendation** I highly recommend Mountains 101 to anyone interested in exploring the interconnectedness of geology, ecology, and human culture as it relates to mountain environments. Whether you are a student pursuing environmental studies, a lover of outdoor activities, or simply curious about the natural world, this course provides invaluable insights and knowledge. With its interdisciplinary approach and richly detailed lessons, Mountains 101 offers a fulfilling educational experience that deepens your understanding of these incredible landscapes. Enroll today and embark on a journey to explore why mountains truly matter!

Syllabus

Lesson 1: Why Mountains Matter

In this introductory lesson, you will learn why mountain environments are relevant to people all around the globe. We’ll also define just what a “mountain” is in order to show why it is useful to think about mountains from various perspectives. TechTip: Your feet are your vehicle

In Lesson 2, we discuss why mountains are located where they are. How did they get there? We’ll explore the physical origins of mountains, theories of mountain building, and how our changing ideas about mountains and their genesis have shaped our engagement with them. TechTip: Dress for success

Mountains influence climate and weather at both global and local scales. In Lesson 3, we will examine how elevation affects atmospheric processes, and discuss an ecological manifestation of mountain climate: the alpine tree line. TechTip: What goes in your pack?

Lesson 4 explores some of the physiological responses that allow humans to visit higher altitudes, as well as the unique genetic adaptations that permit long-time exposure to the world’s high places. TechTip: Stay found – preparation

Lesson 5 focuses on mountain hydrology. We'll discuss the ways that water moves through the mountain landscape, how water shapes and changes mountain landscapes, and we'll introduce some hazards associated with water, such as glacial lake outburst floods. TechTip: Stay found – in the field

Lesson 6 focuses exclusively on glaciers, their physical composition and processes, how they form and move, and how they modify the landscape. We’ll also examine how our changing understandings of glaciers have shaped the ways people have engaged with mountain landscapes over the past few centuries. TechTip: Stay safe – from falling

In Lesson 7, we examine some of the ways people have imagined mountains throughout time, and try to place those ideas and attitudes in their respective cultural contexts. Appreciating the diversity of views – their reception in oral traditions, art, literature, architecture, and other cultural forms – gives us some context for the more dominant ways we think about and celebrate mountains today. TechTip: Stay safe – winter challenges

Mountain hazards are the focus of Lesson 8, specifically snow avalanches, landslides, and volcanoes. We will examine the physical processes that lead to instability in mountain landscapes and consider how risks associated with hazards can be managed. TechTip: Stay safe – avalanche safety (know before you go)

In this Lesson 9, we discuss the ecological and evolutionary processes that account for the remarkable biodiversity of species living in mountain environments. Then, we explore some of the unique adaptations that plants have for coping with extreme conditions, including cold, intense solar radiation, and short growing seasons. TechTip: Go farther – camping

Animals living in mountains have evolved morphological, behavioural, and physiological adaptations to survive under extreme conditions. In Lesson 10, we will focus on how several species deal with the cold and conclude with a peek at the adaptations of fish living in mountain lakes. TechTip: Go farther – cooking

How are mountains used? How are they preserved? In Lesson 11, we examine the often conflicting demands of using mountains, and preserving and managing the integrity of mountain environments, cultures and economies. TechTip: Go softly – mountain ethics

In Lesson 12, we will look forward and consider some possible future scenarios for mountains. How is our changing climate affecting these places? What are the indicators of change? What lessons can we learn from the past and present to inform decisions for tomorrow?