Cluster 4
Anatomy of Global Climate Change

• Instructors: Isabel Montañez & Dave Osleger
• Prerequisites: None
• Typical Field Trips: Bodega Bay Marine Lab, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Exploratorium

Introduction

The continuing build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is producing changes in the Earth’s climate that potentially are the most important external control on the future health, wealth and welfare of this year’s COSMOS students. This course will provide a unique 'geologic perspective' on global climate change in that we will show students how to use the fundamental principles of chemistry, physics, geology, and biology to measure, assess and understand modern changes in the global climate while providing a 4-dimensional perspective of what important lessons can be solely learned from the 'deep-time' geologic record. Topics will include understanding how the oceans, atmosphere, land, and life on earth work together to create 'climate' and the history of how climate has changed in the past regionally in California as well as on a broader global-scale. We will explore the impact of fossil fuels on climate change vs. the world's growing need for these resources, as well as address the political social and technical challenges associated with climate change and emerging possible solutions. Particular attention will be paid to the relevance of each topic to the people of California since global climate change affects every aspect of life in California, from the availability and distribution of water and energy resources to the impact of climate change on California weather, flooding and sea-level. In addition to gaining a better understanding of what to expect from global climate change and how to deal with it, students will learn how to apply basic scientific principles to real world problems, an invaluable lesson for a career in any field of science.

Core Courses (2 Weeks Each)

Ancient Perspectives on Modern Climate Change

The continuing build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is producing changes in the Earth’s climate that potentially are the most important external control on the future health, wealth and welfare of this year’s COSMOS students. This course will provide a geologic perspective on global climate change in that we will show students how to measure, assess and understand modern changes in global climate through the prism of ancient climate variability that occurred through the vast expanses of geologic time. Topics will include understanding how the oceans, atmosphere, land, and life on earth work together to create 'climate' and the history of how climate has changed in the past regionally in California as well as on a broader global scale.

Energy and the Environment

Current arguments about how humanity needs to respond to ongoing and future climate change invariably focus on our dependence on fossil fuels.  Where does oil and natural gas come from and how much remains to be exploited?  Is there such a thing as “clean coal”?  Are corn, hydrogen, and uranium the inevitable replacements for fossil fuels?  What might be the effects on society as non-renewable fossil fuels become increasingly more scarce?  The goal of this core course will be to critically evaluate the intimate relationship between our energy needs and the impact on global climate.  Our collective response to climate change will be the defining issue of the next century; assessing our profligate energy use and recognizing ways to transition ourselves away from fossil fuels is a fundamental part of the solution.

Modified 2010-01-15T20:00:00Z