Polar bear on arctic sea ice. (Image courtesy of Kathy Crane, NOAA Artic Research Program.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Kerry Emanuel
Prof. Sara Seager
Prof. Daniel Cziczo
Prof. David McGee
MIT Course Number
12.340
As Taught In
Spring 2012
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course provides students with a scientific foundation of anthropogenic climate change and an introduction to climate models. It focuses on fundamental physical processes that shape climate (e.g. solar variability, orbital mechanics, greenhouse gases, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and volcanic and soil aerosols) and on evidence for past and present climate change. During the course they discuss material consequences of climate change, including sea level change, variations in precipitation, vegetation, storminess, and the incidence of disease. This course also examines the science behind mitigation and adaptation proposals.