| | Searching Current Courses For Fall 2016 |
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Course: |
GEO 160
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Title: | Global Climate Change |
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Long Title: | |
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Course Description: | Presents global climate change from an Earth science perspective including explorations of paleoclimatology, atmospheric science, vegetation, fluvial systems, and oceanic circulation. Analyze observed and predicted impacts of climate change on the world’s terrestrial regions. Examine interrelationships among economy, society, and public policy as well as geographic variation in greenhouse gas emissions at national and regional scales. Also discussed will be efforts to mitigate climate change and its causes and/or adaptations to global climate change. |
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Min Credit: | 3 |
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Max Credit: | |
STANDARD COMPETENCIES:
1. Define difference between weather and climate.
2. Explain the scientific method and discuss the role it has played in building consensus of global climate change.
3. Discuss how the evolving study of climate change may have added to popular confusion regarding climate change and where uncertainties remain in the magnitude and/or cause of global warming.
4. Discuss natural and anthropogenic carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Analyze numeric data in graphs and maps. Interpret means, medians, and trends in climatic data.
6. Describe the effects and complexities of climate change on human populations including society, culture, economy, and politics.
7. Explain the geology of fossil fuels and the historical evolution of their use.
8. Explain positive and negative feedback loops and their role in the causes and effects of climate change.
9. Discuss the role of climate change on geomorphic processes and ecological systems.
10. Discuss sea level rise, observed and expected changes to water resources, and potential for severe weather impacts.
11. Explain local, regional, and global efforts to mitigate climate change and/or prepare for climate change.
12. Discuss the potential for conflict associated with climate change.
TOPICAL OUTLINE:
I. Basics of modern climate change (temperature readings, changes in greenhouse gasses, modeling)
II. Scientific method
III. Atmospheric and oceanic circulation
IV. The greenhouse effect
V. Definition of climate and types of climates
VI. Paleoclimatology
VII. The carbon cycle
VIII. Geology of fossil fuels
IX. Global warming on geophysical systems
X. Global warming on ecological systems
XI. Global warming on human populations
XII. Efforts and challenges to mitigate climate change
XIII. Adaptation to climate change including fisheries, agriculture, and coastal preparedness
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