Reading the Record of Climate and Environmental Change (U03239)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : GEO-3-RRCEC

This course examines the operation of Earth's Climate System in the past, present and future. It will consider the complex interactions of the Atmosphere, Oceans, Ice Sheets and Lithosphere as revealed by past records and models, and the methodology to read the records. The course will cover various time scales, ranging from those where geological forces dominate to those where human influence is tangible; i.e. looking at changes/processes occurring over 10s of millions of years to those that may occur during a lifetime.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Geography, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2008	11:10	13:00	Room 3.18, Old Infirmary (Geography)	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

A goal is to help you better understand the global climate system, and the evidence we have from environmental and geological records. You will be introduced to the methodologies applied to read these records; with the aim that you are able to understand the principal concepts of how these methods are used. This is basis for a critical assessment of these methods, and of the accuracy/ significance of the knowledge that can be obtained using them.
Based on the understanding of the science behind climate change, including future climate change, different views on factors driving climate and environmental change are discussed. From the presentation of these views and their discussion you will learn to critically assess scientific literature, and be able to appreciate the relevance of scientific data in the political discussion on global climate change.

Students should improve on their transferable skills such as reading and thinking about scientific literature, writing and seminar presentation.