Global Warming

4 credits · Undergraduate

This course examines global warming as both a geophysical and social issue. We will introduce the physical science that explains the problem, from the basic concepts of climate (carbon cycle, greenhouse effect, climate feedbacks) through to the models that project future climate changes and their impacts. Social scientific perspectives will cover the history of climate science, the geographical and political-economic implications of fossil fuels for industrial production, and the regulatory and ethical challenges posed by the current and prospective impacts of global warming. We will provide students with a solid understanding & information base with which to analyze and evaluate ongoing developments and debates surrounding climate change.