Climate change has been identified as one of the biggest challenges facing humankind. The goal of this course is to provide students with the scientific principles and empirical evidence that underpin the modern understanding of anthropogenic climate change. We will develop a quantitative understanding of the fundamental physics (radiation and surface energy balance, dynamics) governing the earth system. We will examine the synthesis of climate observations to discern current global trends and investigate past climates. In particular, we will analyse uncertainties in the current predictions and outline ways in which the scientific community is moving to refine these predictions. Key components of the course will be informed using insights from ongoing research within the ARC Centre of Excellence in Climate System Science.

Note: Graduate students in this course attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Apply fundamental physics to the theory of global warming;

2. Describe the historical development of the scientific underpinnings of the theory of global warming;

3. Explain current constraints on (i) our understanding of climate change, (ii) climate observations and (iii) climate models;

4. Evaluate the uncertainties in climate predictions;

5. Discuss and evaluate the accuracy of public statements on climate change in the popular press.

Assessment will be based on:

• Assignments (70%, LO 1-5)
• Laboratory Classes (30%, LO 1 and 3)

Five contact hours per week comprising lectures and practicals/tutorials. Students are expected to spend an average of a further 5 hours per week on work related to the course.

Bachelor degree with a first year Calculus course equivalent to MATH1013.

EMSC3029/PHYS3029 and EMSC2021

Elementary Calculus

Pierrehumbert, R. T. (2010), Principles of Planetary Climate, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.