The goal of the course is to provide information on fundamental climatic mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the recent climate change (global warming). Students will read most important texts concerning fundamentals and recent developments in climate and climate change research (including key papers in leading scientific journals) and discuss the outcome. Readings will be provided by the lecturer, who will initiate and moderate discussions.
The outline of the course is as follows:
1) Climate vs. weather. Climate system: components and parameters. Climate measurements and observations.
2) Energy balance of planet Earth. Solar constant, planetary albedo, greenhouse effect. Climate forcings and feedbacks.
3) Natural climate forcings and climate changes across geological history of the planet. Anthropocentric climate forcing and actual climate change.
4) Human fingerprints on climate: evidence.
5) Climate modeling: principles, verification, projections. Climate scenarios. Carbon budget.
6) IPCC assessment and special reports.
Human aspect part:
1 Workshop 1 - Climate denialism and disavowal - psychological forms of reluctance to the knowledge of climate change.
2 Workshop 2 - Climate emotions - psychological responses to awareness of climate change.
3 Workshop 3 - Action, acceptance, recovery. Climate selfcare and approaches to action.
Workload of the human part - 30 h - the course requires reading lectures and doing assignments.
