Vår 2019

FYS-2018 Global climate change - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for fysikk og teknologi

Type of course

The course is available as a singular course. The course is also available to exchange students and Fulbright students.

Course contents

The course gives a general introduction to the physical causes of climate change. The course discusses climate changes in the past, the current climate change, and the predictions for the coming century. It also discusses impacts on society of global warming. Simple radiative-balance models of the climate system are introduced, and the concept of radiative forcing and the role of the greenhouse effect are discussed. The course provides an introduction to climate models and discusses their strengths and weaknesses as well as the uncertainty of their predictions of future climate change. The course also gives an introduction to fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans. The course introduces the Navier-Stokes equations, the hydrostatic and geostrophic approximations, and concepts of dry and moist-static stability. Based on this knowledge, the course provides an overview of the general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements are generell studiekompetanse + REALFA.

Local admission, application code 9336 - enkeltemner i realfag.

Objective of the course

Knowledge - The student can:

provide a simple radiative-balance model of the climate system based on the radiative balance at the top of the atmosphere
describe the role of the greenhouse effect in the climate
explain natural and anthropogenic courses of climate change
describe the impact of global warming
provide and overview of climate change in the past
identify the basic equations relevant for the circulation in the atmosphere and oceans
based on physical arguments, describe the concept of static stability and potential temperature
describe the concepts of hydrostatic and geostrophic approximations and the thermal wind balance
based on physical arguments, provide an overview of the general circulations of the atmosphere and oceans

Skills - The student can:

understand and interpret relevant arguments and new theories concerning global climate change
solve basic problems within atmosphere and ocean fluid dynamics
perform basic climate model simulations

General expertise - The student can:

incorporate current knowledge and new scientific information into critical thinking
communicate theories, problem descriptions and solutions regarding global climate change

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 48 hours Project work and supervision: 24 hours

Assessment

Portfolio assessment of up to 3 assignments counting about 30 % and a final 4 hour written examination counting about 70 %. All components in the portfolio are assessed as a whole and one combined grade is given. Assessment scale: Letter grades A-F. Postponed examination (sections 17 and 21): Students with valid grounds for absence will be offered a postponed examination early in the following semester. See indicated sections in Regulations for examinations at the UiT The arctic university of Norway for more information.

Coursework requirements:

Access to the final examination requires submission of up to 3 assignments.

Date for examination

One written exam 27.05.2019;Portfolio assessment hand out date 01.02.2019 hand in date 14.02.2019

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.