Intro to Climate Change

4.0 credits

This course will explore the Earth's dynamic climate system through lectures, discussions and computer-based modeling of climate processes. We will work toward an understanding of several fundamental and important questions. What are the main factors that determine the Earth's climate? What forces can drive climate to change? What can we learn from climate change in the Earth's distant past, when our planet experienced periods of both extreme cold and warmth? How do we know that our climate is now changing? What can we expect from the Earth's climate in the near future and how would it affect us? While the course is designed to be accessible to all students, a working knowledge of high school level algebra is expected; it is also expected that you have taken high school level chemistry.