Group Report: Integrating Socioenvironmental Interactions over Centennial Timescales: Needs and Issues

摘要

This group report focuses on the means of improving our understanding of the dynamics of socioenvironmental change that occur over timescales of centuries, with specific focus on the past 1000 years. The term "socioenvironmental change" is used here to define the whole range of interactions that may connect together the climate, sociocultural, and ecological systems existing at any spatio-temporal scale. The overall importance in studying this timescale and period are as follows: 1. The past 1000 years were a period of substantial social and environmental change globally, exemplified by the growth of Islam, the European Renaissance, the 16~(th)- to 17~(th)-century scientific revolution, the rise of nation states, and the global exchange of European and Asian inventions and values. This period also encompasses the rise of colonialism, industrialization, global communications, accelerated global population growth, urbanization, significant modification of land use and land cover, and major climate change.