- Docente: Giovanni Liguori
- Credits: 6
- SSD: GEO/12
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
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Corso:
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in
Geology and Territory (cod. 9073)
Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Sciences and Management of Nature (cod. 9257)
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from Feb 27, 2023 to May 29, 2023
Learning outcomes
The factors determining the Earth’s climate will be explored, such as the geographic constraints, energy and water, and oceanic and atmospheric circulation, solar heating, tropical variability, ice ages, and greenhouse gases. Then we will look at how the climate expresses itself in terms of phenomena, including heat waves, tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons) and floods. The potential consequences of human-induced climate change and their implications for policy formulation will then be analyzed, focusing on risks to people, societies, and ecosystems. We will also look at the international policy initiatives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and to adapt to climate change.
Course contents
- The climate system.
- The radiation balance
- Energy and water
- The forces shaping the climate system
- Earth’s General Circulation (I)
- Earth’s General Circulation (II)
- The cryosphere
- The emergence of a scientific approach to climate.
- Numerical General Circulation Models
- The simulations approach
- Scenarios, predictions and projections.
- From weather to climate
- Climate variability: the ice ages.
- Interannual and decadal variability
- The tropical engine and Teleconnections
- Extreme Events
- Climate change and global change
- Climate change is not just temperature and precipitation
- Climate becomes policy: the international negotiations.
- The IPCC
- It is really all about risk.
- Climate resilience and vulnerability
- Climate change and the human role
- The challenge of geoengineering.
Readings/Bibliography
J. Houghton, Global Warming, The Complete Briefing, 5ed, Cambridge University Press, 2015
Notes to be distributed
Teaching methods
All lectures and exercises are done in the classroom (all frontal lectures)
Assessment methods
The assessment will be carried out by an oral exam.
Teaching tools
The lectures are given at the blackboard and other material is distributed through the Web
Links to further information
Office hours
See the website of Giovanni Liguori