6 EC
Semester 2, period 5
5264CLCH6Y
Climate is an important boundary condition for natural ecosystems and human societies. Climate change causes stress on natural ecosystems and provides challenges (and sometimes opportunities) for human society. In the past climate has changed due to several natural factors. Nowadays human activities are also interfering with climate and causing extra climate change. This course seeks to deepen your knowledge about climatology, meteorology and climate change by studying the relevant literature and writing an essay.
The lectures will cover most chapters from Houghton (2015). Each student selects a chapter from the 2013-2014 IPCC Assessment Report and presents this chapter, the 2018 or 2019 report or the 2022 IPCC Assessment Report. All students read the executive summary of this chapter and the chapter is discussed in class. The student writes an essay on a climate change related subject and presents this essay at the final presentations.
Houghton (2015) Climate change, the complete briefing (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 396 pp. ISBN 978-1-107-46379-0.
Scientific publications from peer reviewed journals.
IPCC Reports 2013/2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022 (Available at www.ipcc.ch).
Lectures, discussions/debate, presentations by students.
|
Activity |
Number of hours |
|
|
Lectures & discussion |
26 |
|
|
Presentation |
12 |
|
| Self-study |
130 |
|
| Total |
168 |
|
Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):
Additional requirements for this course:
Because discussions and presentations are important to meet the objectives, and because these are part of the grading, attendance is mandatory and active participation is required.
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade |
Three in class Canvas quizes (together 15%)
Presentation IPCC chapter (20%)
Debates (10%)
Presentation Literature Review (20%)
Literature Review (40%)
The manner of inspection will be communicated via the digitial learning environment.
The student writes an essay or literature review of about 3000 (+/- 1000) words on a subject related to climate change. For the essay the student uses 15-20 articles (or more), of which at least 12 are peer reviewed scientific papers.
Presenting a chapter from one of the IPCC reports
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
|
Week nr. |
Day |
Subject |
Study materials |
|
May 6th |
1 |
Kickoff meeting The Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Gases and emissions |
|
|
May 7th |
2 |
|
|
|
May 13th |
3 |
Why we should be concerned |
Ciais et al. 2013. Carbon and Other Biogeochemical Cycles (Chapter 6 in IPCC 2013) - Executive Summary.
|
|
May 14th |
4 |
|
No Class. Working on literature review or essay. |
|
May 16th |
5 |
|
|
|
May 21th |
6 |
IPCC Chapters depending on choices of students |
|
|
May 23th |
7 |
Climate in the 21st Century and Beyond |
|
|
May 27th |
8 |
|
Student Essay presentations |
|
May 28th |
9 |
|
Student Essay presentations |
Basic knowledge climatology or meteorology is required.
A Canvas page is available. Here all the PowerPoints and presentation schemes etc. will be published. Also, the Canvas page contains information on recent scientific publications and news items related to climate change.