The climate system, its components and their interactions. 5%
Energy balance and the natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect. 5%
Climate change: external and internal causes, time scales, and feedback effects. 10%
Basic structure of the climate/circulation of the atmosphere and the ocean. 20%
-Tropical vs. extratropical atmospheric circulations
-Monsoons
-Surface and deep ocean circulations
History of Earth’s climate including its impact on the development of civilization. 10%
Historic climatic influences on human cultures. 10%
Modern climate change: anthropogenic causes and impacts. 10%
Human response to the changing climate: the IPCC, mitigation strategies, adaptation strategies. 15%
Projections of future climate change: science, policy and the role of uncertainty. 15%