Course Syllabus
Climate, Glaciers, and Human Impact |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2021 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Core Course - 3 credits |
| Core Course Study Tour: |
Denmark |
| Major Disciplines: |
Biology, Environmental Science, and Geology |
| Faculty Members: |
Susanne Lilja Buchardt - slb@dis.dk |
| Program Director: |
Neringa B. Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk |
Description of Course
In this course we will study the main mechanisms governing climate change in the past, the present, and the future. The motivation is that recent trends of climate and other environmental changes, whether due to human activity or natural variability, have focused societal attention on their potential negative impacts on human and environmental health. An understanding of past climate variability and its underlying causes and mechanisms are the basis for separating natural and anthropogenic climate change and for making useful projections of future climate and assessing its impacts.
To get to this understanding, the course takes a journey from deep time through to the present describing periods when the climate was strikingly different than it is today and revealing the mechanisms and feedbacks that govern the climate system. The historical development of the science of climate change and some of the scientists who made key insights in our present understanding of the dynamics of climate will add flavor to the class.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course students should be able to:
- Use evidence of past climate change in order to contextualize current and projected climate change
- Identify and outline important climate feedbacks
- Apply the notion of time scales when discussing the effects of different climate phenomena
- Identify and explain a selection of climate change causes
- Point out similarities and differences between "natural" and "anthropogenic" climate change
- Have a general understanding of the methods applied in paleoclimatology, including different indirect measurements (proxies) and dating methods
- Discuss climate conditions as a key factor in the evolution of modern civilization
- Understand the basis for climate projections and the source of some of the main uncertainties
Equipment
Students enrolling in this class must bring the following with them to be properly equipped for the activities during the course integrated study tours (these things will also be nice to have for daily life in Copenhagen)
- Water proof outer layer (rain jacket and rain pants)
- Water proof footwear suitable for light hiking (e.g. hiking boots)
- Warm clothes (layers) suitable for outdoor activities in all kinds of weather in Denmark during the spring months
Faculty
Dr. Susanne Lilja Buchardt, Ph.D. (Glaciology, University of Copenhagen, 2009). M.Sc. (Geophysics, University of Copenhagen, 2005). Susanne has 10 years of experience from research involving ice flow models and ice core analysis, and she has participated in ice core drillings and other field operations in Greenland and Antarctica many times.
Readings
All textbooks and readings will be provided by DIS. Textbooks are to be retrieved from book pick-up during the arrivals workshop. The readings for each class are listed in the course calendar and come from the required texts. The abbreviations used in the course calendar events are given in parentheses below.
Main textbooks:
William F. Ruddiman: Earth’s Climate Past and Future, 3rd edition, 2014 (EC)
Chris Turney: Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons from Climates Past, 2008 (IMB)
Other required texts:
IPCC, 2013: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (AR5WG1)
Chris Turney: The forged cloth of Turin. In: Bones, Rocks and Stars, 2006 (BRS)
Denton et al.: The Last Glacial Termination, Science vol. 328, 2010 (Denton)
L.D.D. Harvey: Climate and Global Environmental Change (Harvey)
Readings and notes:
Students are expected to read the assigned readings prior to each class, spending at least 2 hours reading and preparing per meeting. In the classroom, we will not cover all the material in the assigned text, but will focus on key concepts, the understanding of the underlying processes and the similarities and differences between climate changes on different time scales. In order to get the most out of the time in class, we ask you to post the following on the course discussion forum on the DIS Canvas course page no later than 8 pm the day before each class:
- What would you define as the key 1-3 messages of today’s text?
- Mention any specific sections or concepts in today’s text that you find particularly difficult.
- Pose questions that you would like to include as part of the class discussion.
Students are encouraged to write notes to summarize the assigned readings. Self-made notes (one standard paper page per textbook chapter) are the only allowed aids during the tests.
Course Structure:
The plan of topics and assignments is found below, and readings etc. are updated on the Canvas course pages. Assigned readings and other details on the meetings are subject to change but will be updated online with as much notice as possible.
Study tours
Core Course Week and Study Tours
Core Course week and study tours are an integrated part of the core course as we take the classroom on the road and see how theory presented in the classroom is translated to practice in the field. If the corona situation allows for it, you will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours. More information will follow later in the semester.
Expectations for study tours
- Participate in all activities
- Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
- Respect the destination, the speakers, DIS staff, and your fellow classmates
- Represent yourself, your home university, and DIS in a positive light
While on a program study tour, DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.
Travel policies
You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you have to deviate from the group travel plans, you need approval from the program director and the study tours office.
Short study tour in Denmark
Time and destination: TBD
When we know more about when and how corona restrictions are lifted in Denmark, we will give you more information on the long study tour. We are hoping to take you on a 3-day trip to the rural parts of Zealand exploring the signs of past climate conditions that are visible in the landscape. We will also experience local culture and cuisine.
Long study tour in Denmark
Time and destination: TBD
When we know more about when and how corona restrictions are lifted in Denmark, we will give you more information on the long study tour. We are hoping to take you on a 5-day trip to the West Coast of Denmark exploring the nature and landscape through the lense of a climate scientist. We also plan to visit Denmark's international climate center as well as local science and culture institutions. Please note that at this point we can't be sure if this will be possible, but we hope so.
Evaluation
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work. The overall grade will come from the following (the percentages may change if local corona restrictions prevent or postpone the arrival date in Copenhagen):
Grading:
20%: Participation and Canvas Reading Feedback
We expect and encourage active participation in class discussions and require written feedback via DIS Canvas of each lesson’s assigned reading. Here you will summarize the main points of the readings and pose questions that can be covered as part of the class discussion (see above).
45%: Weekly Quizzes
During the online part of the course, there will be short weekly quizzes in Canvas that cover the main points of that week's course material.
10%: Short Assignments
Two short hand-in assignments (~1-2 pages of text or equivalent) where you explore two of the core themes of the course in a little more detail.
25%: Final oral exam
20 min of presentation and discussion of one out of four questions, all known in advance. The questions are based on the entire course content and the exam will take place during finals week.
Academic Regulations
Use of laptops or phones in class: Focused and constructive contribution in class discussions is encouraged and expected. Laptops, phones and other portable electronic devices can be used for taking notes if in silent mode, but please refrain from writing or checking e-mail and text messages, browsing, or using social networks during class hours. During student presentations and group work, we kindly ask you to turn off or put away electronic devices.
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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