| 4/18/2024 6:34:40 AM |
| New Course (First Version) |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
ENVS 8 | Title:
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE |
|
| Full Title:
Introduction to Global Climate Change |
| Last Reviewed:4/10/2023 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 3.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 3.00 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 52.50 |
| Minimum | 3.00 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 6 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 3.00 | | Contact Total | 52.50 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 105.00 | Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Applicable
Grading:
Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
Catalog Description:
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This course will explore the science of climate change including: evidence for climate change, global atmospheric and sea circulation, the factors causing climate to change, how climate has changed and how scientists study past climates and use models, observations, data, and theory to make predictions about future climate, and the possible consequences of climate change for our planet.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A and: Course Completion of one or more of the following courses: ENVS 12, GEOG 4, GEOL 1 or METRO 10
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
Untitled document
This course will explore the science of climate change including: evidence for climate change, global atmospheric and sea circulation, the factors causing climate to change, how climate has changed and how scientists study past climates and use models, observations, data, and theory to make predictions about future climate, and the possible consequences of climate change for our planet.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A and: Course Completion of one or more of the following courses: ENVS 12, GEOG 4, GEOL 1 or METRO 10
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
| Associate Degree: | Effective: | Fall 2019
| Inactive: | |
| Area: | C
H
| Natural Sciences
Global Perspective and Environmental Literacy
|
| |
| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | B1 | Physical Science | Fall 2019 | |
| |
| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | 5A | Physical Sciences | Fall 2019 | |
| |
| CSU Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 2019 | Inactive: | |
| |
| UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 2019 | Inactive: | |
| |
| C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Major Applicable Course
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Describe the global climate system and how Earth's systems function interdependently
2. Employ critical thinking to evaluate observable climate data
3. Explain the consequences, risks, and uncertainties of climate change
Objectives:
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During this course, students will:
1. Assess and describe the evidence for climate change
2. Explain the relationship between global warming and climate change
3. Differentiate between natural and anthropogenic climate change
4. Discuss Earth's energy balance, demonstrating an understanding of the enhanced greenhouse
effect and radiative forcing
5. Interpret real-world data to explain global oceanic and atmospheric heat transfer and changes
to atmospheric processes caused by a warming atmosphere
6. Describe how paleoclimate proxies such as ice cores, sediments, tree rings, and corals can be
used to interpret past climates
7. Analyze how climate models work and the role that paleoclimate proxies play in modeling
8. Evaluate the impacts of climate change on humans and describe methods for mitigation and
adaptation to those impacts
Topics and Scope
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I. Introduction to Earth's Systems and Climate Change
A. Interactions among Earth's systems
B. Definitions of weather, climate, and climate change
II. Understanding Weather and Climate
A. Orbital cycles
B. Earth's atmosphere
C. Global heat transfer
III. The Global Ocean System
A. Structure of the oceans
B. Circulation of the oceans
C. Interaction between oceans and the atmosphere
IV. Energy and Earth's Climate
A. Solar energy
B. Earth's energy balance
C. Greenhouse gases
D. The enhanced greenhouse effect
E. Radiative forcing
V. The Evidence for Climate Change
A. Global temperature data
B. Changes in sea level
C. The melting cryosphere
D. Historical evidence
VI. Time Scales of Climate Change
VII. Earth's Climate History
A. Climate proxies
B. Ancient climate
C. The recent past
VIII. Modeling the Climate
IX. Global Impacts of Climate Change
A. Global warming
B. Sea level rise
C. Ocean acidification
D. Changing climate and weather patterns
X. Solutions for Managing Climate Change
A. Fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable energy solutions
B. The politics of change
C. Mitigation and adaptation
Assignments:
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1. Assigned readings (20-30 pages per week)
2. Problem-solving homework assignments (5-20)
3. Research/Analysis paper 2 - 8 pages in length requirement (0-1) and/or 1 - 2 page reaction
papers or essays in length requirement (1-3)
4. Exams (3-5); quizzes (0-30)
5. Class participation: discussions, group work (0-30)
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
10 - 50% |
| Research paper, reaction papers | |
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
10 - 30% |
| Homework assignments | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
30 - 80% |
| Exams and quizzes | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 30% |
| Class participation, discussions, group work | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Introduction to Modern Climate Change. 2nd ed. Dressler, Andrew. Cambridge University Press. 2016
Our Changing Climate: Introduction to Climate Science. Kauffman, Chad. American Meteorological Society. 2014 (classic)
Climate Change: What the Science Tells Us. Fletcher, Charles. Wiley. 2013 (classic)
Global Climate Change: Turning Knowledge into Action. Kitchen, David. Routledge. 2013 (classic)
Global Climate Change: Convergence of Disciplines. Bloom, Arnold. Sinauer Associates, Inc. 2009 (classic)
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