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Course information

Purpose

To introduce scientific literature addressing climate change. The course consists of short lectures, reading the scientific articles, and classroom discussion. The readings will include the most recent as well as the classic articles on the subject. The assigned readings may be modified during the course to include the latest interesting and/or ground-breaking articles.

Objectives

To read the up-to-date scientific literature and be able discuss the following questions

  • Is the Earth's climate changing?
  • How is climate change measured?
  • What are the drivers of climate change?
  • Is human activity the cause of climate change?
  • What are possible impacts of climate change?
  • What can be done to slow down climate change?

Course format

Once a week, 50min. A discussion of the last week’s reading, led by one of the students, followed by an introduction of the next week’s topic. No exams.

Prerequisites

You should be able to read and discuss scientific literature discussing climate change.

Topics (preliminary)

  • Introduction and Definitions. Is the climate changing?
  • Climate and Greenhouse effect.
  • GHGs
  • Climates of the past: 100 years, 1000 years
  • Climates of the past and human: did we change the Midwestern climate?
  • US senate, Michel Mann, and the “hockey stick”.
  • Climates of the past: 500000 years
  • Modeling weather and climate
  • Scenarios of the future
  • Future climate change in this century
  • Impacts: agriculture
  • Impacts: biodiversity
  • Impacts: extreme events and total cost
  • Mitigation: Kyoto protocol
  • Kyoto protocol implementation: what is the role of cultural differences between Europe and the US?

Grading

  • Oral reports 50%
  • Class discussion leadership
  • Participation in discussion 25%
  • Essay 25%

Homework (reading)

Due one week after it has been assigned before the class starts.

Suggested additional reading:

Houghton J.. Global Warming: the complete briefing. Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Kump L.R., Kasting J.F., Grain R.G. The Earth System. Pearson Education, 2004.

Class policies

Class discussion is encouraged. Please feel free to ask questions during or after class. Please no food in class (unless the class time slot is during the lunch of breakfast hours) and no drinks except water.