Learning Objectives
- Understand Koeppen's Climate Classification system, focusing on its empirical basis using temperature and precipitation data to classify world climates and their correlation with vegetation distribution.
- Analyze the historical and geological evidence of climate change, including glacial and inter-glacial periods, tree rings, and sediment deposits, to comprehend natural climate variability.
- Identify the causes of climate change, distinguishing between astronomical causes such as sunspot activity and Milankovitch cycles, terrestrial causes like volcanism, and anthropogenic effects such as greenhouse gas emissions.
- Explain the greenhouse effect and the role of greenhouse gases like CO2, CFCs, methane, and nitrous oxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
- Evaluate global warming trends by examining temperature records, particularly the significant warming periods in the 20th century, and assess the impact of greenhouse gases.
- Assess the potential impacts of global warming, including rising sea levels, glacial retreat, and socio-economic effects on coastal and island communities.