Climate change and variability
Coordinator: Professor Peter Kershaw
6 points
* 3 hours per week on average (2 lectures and 1 lecture and
3-hour practical in alternate weeks)
* Second semester
* Clayton
*
Prerequisites: 16 points of second-year geography or permission of the head of
department
Objectives Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the dynamic nature of global climates and their past, present and future influences on human population patterns and activites; a familiarity with the range of techniques available for climatic reconstruction and prediction, together with an ability to assess their relative merits and limitations; an appreciation of the nature and degree of uncertainty in climatic prediction; an appreciation of the importance of a knowledge of both scientific and human components in addressing environmental issues; and an ability to produce a scientific paper based on original data and its analysis.
Synopsis This multidisciplinary subject examines the nature, causes and future implications of climatic change and variability. Emphasis is placed on processes which are of greatest global concern such as rapid climate change, Greenhouse warming, monsoon activity and the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. An assessment is made of predictive climatic models and the major types of data from fossil and historical records which are used as model input and for model validation. The course concludes with an evaluation of the social, economic, political and broad environmental implications of predicted future changes. The field and practical part of the course will focus on the collection and time series analysis of tree rings which provide an important source of proxy information for determination of patterns of climate change and variability in many parts of the world.
Assessment Written (2000 words): 40%
* Examinations (1.5 hours): 40%
* Practical field and laboratory work: 20%
Recommended texts
Bradley R S Quaternary palaeoclimatology Allen and Unwin, 1985
Fritts H C Tree rings and climate Academic Press, 1976
Pearman G I Greenhouse: Planning for climate change CSIRO, 1988
Strzepek K M and Smith J B AS CLIMATE CHANGES CUP, 1995
Sturman A and Tapper N J The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand OUP, 1996
Williams M A J and others Quaternary environments Edward Arnold, 1993
Wyman R L Global climate change and life on earth Routledge, 1991
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