20806250Climate and Climate Change
Course Information
Description
This focus of this course is the science of climate and climate change. Climate can change on multiple scales and be forced by natural events or by human activity. You will learn how climate is described, what controls climate, and how climate is modeled. Climate cycles and feedbacks will be described and observations of climate change will be outlined. You will also learn how to read popular and scientific articles with a critical eye to better understand climate science and improve your own climate literacy.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Process scientific information related to climate (climate literacy)
    Assessment Strategies
    Skill demonstration throughout the class
    Criteria
    synthesize scientific information
    produce accurate interpretations of scientific information gathered for a task
    determine value of scientific information, critically assessing its relevance and credibility
    seek additional information after recognizing the need for more clarification or support
    evaluate the usefulness of varied scientific approaches
    compare different points of view, considering them impartially and rationally

  2. Examine the differences between weather and climate
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    differentiate between climate and weather events
    examine key characteristics of a climate event
    examine key characteristics of a weather event
    identify at least three ways in which climate events differ from weather events
    identify at least three ways in which climate events are similar to weather events
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  3. Analyze how Climate Normals change with time
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    describe how Climate Normals are computed
    list ways in which Climate Normals change
    describe the impact of land-use change on temperature and local regional climate
    illustrate the effect of a historical event which impacted a regional climate
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  4. Illustrate the role of solar forcing on the terrestrial climate
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    describe the effect of Milankovitch Cycles
    define temperature controls and feedbacks in the Arctic/Antarctic
    identify elements of Orbital/Solar controls of temperature
    summarize land-based forcings of surface temperature at Poles
    scientific-related vocabulary is used accurately

  5. Classify different climatic regimes found on Earth
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    specify items that present challenges in classification of climatic regimes
    specify defining characteristics of the categories within climatic regimes
    sort regimes using Koeppen and other climate classification schemes
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  6. Evaluate the impact of water vapor and carbon dioxide gases in climate forcing
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    determine causes of Greenhouse forcing related to radiative processes in the atmosphere
    account for different Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere and how their concentrations have changed over time
    correlate how carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases maintain terrestrial temperatures
    clarify how carbon dioxide has changed in the recent decade, century, millennium, and epoch
    offer a recommendation on a workable way to reduce Greenhouse Gases
    describe how pH is controlled in the Ocean
    summarize the implications of changing the Ocean’s pH on the oceanic biosphere
    relate effects of ocean pH changes to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  7. Explore cycles in the atmosphere/lithosphere/hydrosphere that pertain to climate and climate change
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    process scientific information related to climate (climate literacy)
    identify how different Atmospheric Oscillations can influence a location’s climate
    describe the influence of Oscillations on one point on the Globe
    describe how temperature and gas concentration are extracted from ice corings
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  8. Assess the impact of climate regulators and feedbacks
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    process scientific information related to climate (climate literacy)
    differentiate between regulators and feedback
    identify Feedback mechanisms that exist in the climate
    summarize how climate can be regulated
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  9. Configure Climate Models
    Assessment Strategies
    Model, quiz
    Criteria
    select parameters to include in a simple climate model
    compare parameterized features with simulated features in a Climate Model
    interpret model output
    report model output within permissible tolerance of errors
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  10. Explore recent changes in climate and the reasons behind the changes
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product, quiz
    Criteria
    summarize recent changes in climate
    specify how recent changes may have occurred
    compare and contrast future climate scenarios
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately

  11. Evaluate methods to mitigate anthropogenic climate forcing
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product
    Criteria
    define mitigation
    compare different mitigation methods such as sequestration and emission reduction
    specify mitigation strategies that would lessen the impact of anthropogenic climate forcing
    determine feasibility of policy change using facts
    scientific vocabulary is used correctly

  12. Analyze past, present, and future climates of a location
    Assessment Strategies
    Project
    Criteria
    project includes an 8-10 page paper on the past, present, and future climate of one location
    discuss aspects of the climate now and in the future (e.g., USDA Plant Zones, the land surface properties, climate zones, etc.)
    relate the station to its position within the General Circulation
    scientific vocabulary is used accurately