This course aims to educate learners on the causes and impacts of climate change. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand Earth's climate system, differentiate between natural and human-caused climate change, and analyze the effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. The course teaches skills such as interpreting proxy data from ice cores, analyzing variations in Earth's orbit, and predicting future climate scenarios. The teaching method includes lectures on Earth's heat budget, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and the greenhouse effect. This course is intended for individuals interested in climate science, environmental studies, or sustainability.
Overview
Syllabus
Chapter 16 Lecture
Earth's Climate System
Determining Causes of Earth's Climate Change
Proxy Data - Ice Cores
Variations in Earth's Orbit
Natural Causes of Climate Change
Natural vs. Human Caused Climate Change • Scientific consensus of large human contribution
Documenting Human-Caused Climate Change
The Greenhouse Effect
Earth's Heat Budget
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Methane and Nitrous Oxide
Greenhouse Gases Past and Future
Ice Core Data
Future scenarios from Global Warming
Other considerations
Thermometer recordings of surface air temperature
Predicted Changes from Global Warming • Earlier, hotter summers
Changes in the Oceans
Arctic sea ice decline
Marine organisms affected by increased ocean acidity
Pteropods dissolved by acidic waters
Dissolved carbon dioxide and ocean pH
Global Sea Level Rise Determined by Satellites
Taught by
Sven Holbik
