Global Warming Course

Lesson 1 • Structure of the Atmosphere

Examines atmospheric layers, composition, and vertical temperature profiles. Provides the physical context needed to understand greenhouse gas behavior.

Lesson 2 • The Carbon Cycle Overview

Maps carbon flows among atmosphere, oceans, land, and biosphere. Grounds students in the biogeochemical system that regulates CO₂ concentrations.

Lesson 3 • Natural Climate Variability Drivers

Identifies volcanic eruptions, solar cycles, and orbital variations as natural forcings. Distinguishes natural baselines from anthropogenic signals.

Lesson 1 • Feedback Mechanisms Amplifying Warming

Analyzes water vapor, ice-albedo, and cloud feedbacks that amplify or dampen initial forcing. Introduces climate sensitivity as a key parameter.

Lesson 2 • Key Greenhouse Gases and Sources

Profiles CO₂, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases by source and concentration. Connects emission sources to industrial and agricultural activities.

Lesson 3 • Radiative Forcing and Global Warming Potential

Defines radiative forcing in watts per square meter and global warming potential metrics. Enables quantitative comparison of different greenhouse gases.

Lesson 1 • Paleoclimate Proxies and Ice Cores

Uses ice cores, tree rings, and sediment records to reconstruct past climates. Places modern warming in a multi-thousand-year context.

Lesson 2 • Surface Temperature Records

Examines global land and ocean temperature datasets and their construction. Teaches quality control, homogenization, and trend interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Satellite and Remote Sensing Data

Introduces satellite-based temperature, sea-level, and ice-extent measurements. Demonstrates how remote sensing extends observational coverage globally.

Lesson 4 • Ocean Heat Content and Sea-Level Rise

Quantifies heat stored in oceans and its contribution to sea-level rise. Connects thermal expansion and ice melt to coastal risk.

Lesson 1 • Types of Climate Models

Distinguishes energy balance models, regional models, and coupled general circulation models. Explains trade-offs between complexity and computational cost.

Lesson 2 • Interpreting Projected Temperature Ranges

Guides reading of probability distributions and likely ranges in projection reports. Prepares students to communicate uncertainty to non-specialist audiences.

Lesson 3 • Model Validation and Uncertainty

Covers hindcasting, ensemble methods, and sources of model uncertainty. Teaches critical evaluation of model skill and limitations.

Lesson 1 • Ocean Warming and Acidification

Covers thermal stratification, coral bleaching, and CO₂-driven pH decline. Connects ocean chemistry changes to marine food web disruption.

Lesson 2 • Extreme Weather Event Attribution

Applies probabilistic attribution to link warming to heat waves, floods, and storms. Builds capacity to interpret event attribution studies.

Lesson 3 • Hydrological Cycle Intensification

Explains how warming accelerates evaporation, precipitation extremes, and drought. Connects hydrological shifts to freshwater availability.

Lesson 4 • Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Examines species range shifts, phenological changes, and forest dieback. Links temperature and precipitation changes to biodiversity loss.

Lesson 1 • Human Health Consequences

Covers heat-related mortality, vector-borne disease expansion, and air quality degradation. Links climate variables to public health burden.

Lesson 2 • Climate Justice and Equity Dimensions

Examines disproportionate impacts on low-income and vulnerable communities. Frames equity as central to effective climate response design.

Lesson 3 • Food and Water Security Risks

Analyzes crop yield projections, fishery declines, and freshwater stress under warming. Connects biophysical impacts to food system vulnerability.

Lesson 4 • Coastal and Urban Vulnerability

Evaluates sea-level rise exposure, urban heat islands, and infrastructure risk. Identifies populations and assets most at risk from warming.

Lesson 1 • Transportation and Industry Decarbonization

Examines electrification of transport, green hydrogen, and industrial process changes. Addresses hard-to-abate sectors requiring deep innovation.

Lesson 2 • Carbon Capture and Removal Technologies

Evaluates direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture, and enhanced weathering. Assesses the role of carbon removal in net-zero pathways.

Lesson 3 • Land Use and Agricultural Mitigation

Analyzes reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, and livestock emission reduction. Connects land management to both mitigation and food security.

Lesson 4 • Mitigation Cost and Abatement Curves

Uses marginal abatement cost curves to rank mitigation options by cost-effectiveness. Builds analytical skills for comparing mitigation portfolios.

Lesson 1 • Net-Zero Targets and Transition Pathways

Analyzes national and corporate net-zero commitments and their credibility criteria. Prepares students to assess transition plans against science-based benchmarks.

Lesson 2 • Climate Finance and Carbon Markets

Examines public climate finance flows, green bonds, and carbon pricing instruments. Connects financial mechanisms to mitigation and adaptation investment.

Lesson 3 • Sectoral Adaptation Strategies

Applies adaptation principles to agriculture, water, health, and coastal sectors. Demonstrates sector-specific planning tools and decision frameworks.

Lesson 4 • Adaptation Planning Principles

Introduces risk-based adaptation frameworks, no-regret options, and maladaptation risks. Connects vulnerability assessment to actionable adaptation plans.