Climate Science: Understanding Global Warming
Earth's rising temperatures, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, trigger widespread changes in weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems worldwide.
Earth's rising temperatures, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, trigger widespread changes in weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems worldwide.
This comprehensive course delves into the complex factors influencing Earth's climate, focusing on the causes and consequences of global warming. Students will examine the Earth's energy balance, investigating how astronomical factors, surface reflectivity, and atmospheric composition affect global temperatures. The curriculum covers key topics in climate science, including greenhouse gases, paleoclimate proxies, and climate modeling. Participants will analyze historical climate data, explore current trends, and learn about future climate predictions. The course also addresses the human impact on climate change, discussing carbon emissions and their sources. Additionally, it covers feedback loops in climate systems and their role in climate modeling. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of climate science fundamentals and be equipped to critically evaluate climate change information.
4.9
(7 ratings)
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What you'll learn
Analyze climate data using calculations, plots, and models
Identify and explain positive and negative feedback loops in climate systems
Describe methods for reconstructing past climates using proxy records
Explain the process of climate modeling and future climate predictions
Evaluate the current state of global warming and its consequences
Discuss strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation on global and local scales
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
PreRecorded video
Graded assignments, exams
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
Limited Access access
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There are 6 modules in this course
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to climate science, focusing on the factors influencing global warming and its impacts. The curriculum is structured into six main sections, each addressing crucial aspects of climate change. It begins with an overview of global warming, explaining the difference between climate and weather, and exploring energy sources affecting Earth's temperature. The course then delves into the Earth's surface and atmosphere, examining greenhouse gases and their sources, with a particular focus on carbon dioxide. Students will learn about global temperature trends and energy balance concepts. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to understanding past climates through proxy records like tree rings and ice cores, providing context for current climate changes. The curriculum also covers future climate predictions, introducing climate models and feedback loops. Throughout the course, students will engage with calculations, plots, and models to analyze complex climate data. The final section addresses global plans and prospects for climate change mitigation and adaptation, including discussion of energy facts and international agreements like the Paris Accord.
Global Warming
Module 1
Global Warming: The Earth's Surface
Module 2
The Global Temperature
Module 3
Past Climate
Module 4
Future Climate
Module 5
Global Plans and Prospects
Module 6
Fee Structure
Instructors
Pioneering Astronomer and Educational Innovator
Dr. David J. Helfand has established himself as a distinguished figure in astronomy and higher education during his remarkable 46-year career at Columbia University, where he served as Chair of the Department of Astronomy for nearly half that time. His impact on science education has been transformative, particularly through his successful integration of science into Columbia's Core Curriculum in 2004, a change he had envisioned since 1982. As the author of over 200 scientific publications and mentor to 22 PhD students, his commitment to education extends beyond research to making science accessible to non-science majors.
Scientific Innovation Leader and Nuclear Policy Expert
Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes serves as Director of Frontiers of Science and Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at Columbia University, where she brings exceptional academic credentials and innovative leadership to science education. Her academic journey includes a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Honors from Caltech, where she worked alongside Nobel laureate Frances Arnold, followed by a Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2005, where she conducted research as an American Heart Association Fellow in enzymatic catalysis and protein evolution. As Director of Frontiers of Science, Columbia's core science class, she collaborates with faculty across disciplines to develop comprehensive science curriculum that engages students in critical thinking and scientific methodology. Beyond her educational leadership, she directs the K1 Project – Center for Nuclear Issues, where she works with undergraduate students and faculty to promote informed debate on nuclear technologies through research, writing, and film production. Her expertise has been recognized through numerous media appearances and publications in prestigious outlets including The Hill, The Diplomat, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, and Scientific American. Her research work spans from biochemistry to nuclear policy issues, demonstrating her commitment to bridging scientific understanding with public policy. Her international research experience, including work at the University of Nis in Serbia, ETH in Zurich, and the University of Washington, has shaped her global perspective on scientific education and nuclear issues.
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4.9 course rating
7 ratings
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