GEO 109 - Global Climate Change

Course Units: 1.0

Global climate change is the defining environmental issue of our time. The impacts of climate change disproportionally affect populations who have contributed the least to atmospheric greenhouse gas loading. This course will review the basis for the overwhelming scientific consensus that ongoing warming is not natural; topics include: the radiation balance of Earth, the role of greenhouse gases on Earth’s surface temperature, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and natural oscillators in the climate system. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to understanding natural climatic variability. Students will prepare and submit policy briefs to policy makers at the federal, state, and/or local level that outline ways to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change. Preference given to first and second year students. Corequisite(s): GEO-109L

CC: SET, GNPS ISP: ESPE, STS