Advanced Topics in Climate Science

Graduate

Held concurrently with GEOG 80 .14. During this course, we will use primary literature and reviews to explore and interrogate seminal, retired, and new findings in climate science. Topics include climate forcings and feedbacks, land-atmosphere interactions, tipping elements, emergent constraints, climate projections, detection and attribution, climate impacts, integrated assessment, climate extremes, adaptation, and mitigation. Students will situate findings within their broader scientific experience and pursuits, tracing the evolution of ideas over time and pinpointing open questions for future research. Class time will be focused on student-led presentations and discussions of primary literature, with an emphasis on critical evaluation of findings, methods, assumptions, and visual and written communication, with an eye towards effective proposal and manuscript writing. Success in the course requires preparation, participation, and a willingness to respectfully engage with both the literature and peers' perspectives.