Climate Change

obowiązkowe

Computational skills are very desired.

Science and mathematics on high-school level.

w sali

The goal of the course is to provide information on fundamental climatic mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the recent climate change (global warming). Students will read most important texts concerning fundamentals and recent developments in climate and climate change research (including key papers in leading scientific journals) and discuss the outcome. Readings will be provided by the lecturer, who will initiate and moderate discussions.

The outline of the course is as follows:

1) Climate vs. weather. Climate system: components and parameters. Climate measurements and observations.

2) Energy balance of planet Earth. Solar constant, planetary albedo, greenhouse effect. Climate forcings and feedbacks.

3) Natural climate forcings and climate changes across geological history of the planet. Anthropocentric climate forcing and actual climate change.

4) Human fingerprints on climate: evidence.

5) Climate modeling: principles, verification, projections. Climate scenarios. Carbon budget.

6) IPCC assessment and special reports.

• Andrew E. Deessler, Introduction to Modern Climate Change, Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (September 19, 2016).

• Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, Principles of planetary climate, Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (December 2, 2010).

• David Archer, The Global Carbon Cycle, Princeton University Press (November 1, 2010).

• David Archer, Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast, Wiley; 2 edition (September 21, 2011).

• http://forecast.uchicago.edu/models.html

• https://www.noaa.gov/categories/climate-change

• https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate-guide

• http://climexp.knmi.nl/plot_atlas_form.py

Selected scientific publications (changing year-to-year).

Understanding differences between weather and climate.

Understanding trends and anomalies.

Understanding energy balance, radiative forcing, feedbacks, climate sensitivity.

Ability to explain greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases.

Knowledge about climatic data sources and availability.

Understanding natural and anthropogenic climate forcings and their effects in past and present climate.

Basic knowledge on climate modeling, application to past, present and future climate.

Understanding climate projections and their uncertainties.

Knowledge on IPCC reports, public discussion on climate change, media coverage.

Ability to distinguish between information and disinformation about climate and climate change.

40% - continuous assessment, 60% - final written assessment

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