E-learning Course: Climate Science: An Introduction

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An e-learning course by Andreas Schmittner, Oregon State University  titled ‘Introduction to Climate Science’ that discusses Earth’s climate and climate change. This course contains  lecture videos, exercises, references and various additional resources. It includes the following topics:-

  1. Weather
    1. Weather and Climate
    2. The Climate System
    3. Processes
  2. Observations
    1. Atmosphere
    2. Cryosphere
    3. Ocean
    4. Biosphere and Carbon Cycle
  3. Paleoclimate
    1. Methods
    2. The Last Two Millennia
    3. The Holocene
    4. The Ice Ages
  4. Theory
    1. Electromagnetic Radiation
    2. The Greenhouse Effect
    3. Earth’s Energy Budget
    4. Radiative Forcings, Feedback Processes, and Climate Sensitivity
  5. Carbon
    1. The Natural Carbon Cycle
    2. Anthropogenic Carbon
    3. Carbonate Chemistry and Ocean Acidification
  6. Processes
    1. Atmospheric Circulation
    2. The Hydrologic Cycle
    3. Ocean Circulation
  7. Models
    1. Construction
    2. Evaluation
    3. Applications
  8. Impacts
    1. Projections
    2. Ecosystems
    3. Long-Term Changes
    4. Regional Changes
    5. Extremes
    6. Impacts on Humans
  9. Economics
    1. Economics and the climate change challenge: Understanding incentives and policies
  10. Ethics
    1. Do We Have a Moral Responsibility to Stop Global Temperature Rise? Adapted from Moore and Nelson (2010, 2012)
  11. Solutions
    1. Technology
    2. Politics
    3. Personal Actions
    4. Adaptation

Students will be introduced to climate science and learn about the different aspects of past and present climate change – including natural and human-induced climate change. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

  1. What is climate science?
  2. How does weather differ from climate?
  3. What is the Greenhouse effect?
  4. How to differentiate between natural and human-induced climate change?
  5. State some impacts of climate change.

About the Tool 

Tool NameIntroduction to Climate Science
DisciplineEarth Sciences, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in DisciplineClimate Change Overview, Climate Science, Global Warming, Climate History, Climate Physics, Climate Economics, Climate Politics
Climate Topic Introduction to Climate Change
Type of tool Teaching Module
Grade LevelHigh School, Undergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish 
Translation
Developed byAndreas Schmittner
Hosted atOregon State University
LinkLink
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsBasic
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