Unit CLIMATE CHANGE

Course
Geosciences for risk and environment management
Study-unit Code
A002311
Location
PERUGIA
Curriculum
Geosciences for environmental sustainability
Teacher
Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini
Teachers
  • Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini
Hours
  • 42 ore - Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2023
Offered
2023/24
Learning activities
A scelta dello studente
Area
A scelta dello studente
Academic discipline
FIS/06
Type of study-unit
Opzionale (Optional)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
English
Contents
Survey of the Atmosphere: basic concepts. The Earth-Atmosphere’s system: Components of the Earth-Atmosphere’s System and their role in Climate. General circulation of the Atmosphere and the Ocean: basic concepts and equations. The earth’s Carbon Cycle; Climate Sensitivity, Forcings and Feedbacks. The Paleoclimate. The global energy balance. Atmospheric Composition and the Greenhouse. Climate and and Non- Greenhouse-gases. Global warming. Copernicus Data Store (CDS): how to access and use climate data. Global reanalysis data sets: Era5 reanalysis (ECMWF, European Commission), Simple statistical analysis of climate data.
Reference texts
Atmospheric Science: an Introductory Survey 2nd edition by John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs Academic Press, pp 504
Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics. An Introductory Text by John Marshall R. Alan Plumb, Academic Press, pp 344
Educational objectives
This course aims to make students acquire skills needed to understand the basic concepts of the components of Earth-Atmosphere system, its climate and processes related to them: chemical composition, mass vertical structure, winds, convection and precipitation, radiation.
The main knowledge and understanding abilities (Dublin descriptor 1) acquired will be:
¦Knowledge of theoretical base of mechanisms ruling climate and climate feedbacks
¦Knowledge of both traditional methods (statistic, numerical simulations) and innovative ways (COPERNICUS CDS) to use climate data
The main skills acquired (Applying knowledge and understanding, Dublin descriptor 2 and Ability of making judgements, Dublin descriptor 3) will be:
¦Ability to choose, apply and combine numerical climate models and data synergically.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching methods
The Course is divided into theoretical lectures and practical exercises and aimed at application in the context of the course
Learning verification modality
The exam consists of an individual oral exam.
The verification of the educational objectives of teaching (exam) provides an oral exam, which will be carried out on the dates set in the Cds examination calendar .
The oral exam consists of an interview of no more than about 30 minutes conducted on the basis of simplified numerical models and the visualization of Copernicus data, aimed at ascertaining:
i) the level of knowledge of the theoretical contents of the course (Dublin descriptor 1);
ii) the level of competence in presenting their knowledge (Dublin descriptor 2);
iii) autonomy of judgment (Dublin descriptor 3).

The oral exam also aims to verify the ability of the student to respond with language properties to the questions proposed by the Commission, to support a dialectical relationship during the interview and to demonstrate logical skills, deductive and synthetic in the exposure (Dublin descriptor 4). The final evaluation will be drawn up by the Commission out of thirty.
Extended program
Survey of the Atmosphere: Chemical Composition, Mass, The Vertical Structure, Winds, Convection and Precipitation. Radiation: basic concepts. The Earth-Atmosphere’s system: Components of the Earth-Atmosphere’s System and their role in Climate
General circulation of the Atmosphere and the Ocean: basic concepts. Numerical climate models: basic equations. The earth’s Carbon Cycle; Climate Sensitivity, Forcings and Feedbacks
The Paleoclimate: What can the past tell us about the present and future? Past and recent observations. Paleoclimate. Paleotemperatures over the past 70 million years: The d18O record.
The global energy balance. Planetary emission temperature. The atmospheric absorption spectrum. The greenhouse effect: A simple greenhouse model. Atmospheric Composition and the Greenhouse. Climate and and Non- Greenhouse-gases. Global warming.
Copernicus Data Store (CDS): how to access and use climate data. Global reanalysis data sets: Era5 reanalysis (ECMWF, European Commission), Simple statistical analysis of climate data during class.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
The following agenda 2030 goals for sustainable development are in line with the course objectives:
Objective 13: Climate Action.
This course focuses on understanding the components of the Earth-atmosphere system and the mechanisms that regulate climate. This knowledge helps to address climate change and take action to mitigate its impacts.

Goal 4: Quality Education.
The course aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to understand climate-related processes and concepts. This is in line with the goal of providing inclusive and equitable quality education.

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
This course introduces students to innovative methods, such as the use of COPERNICUS CDS, to access and use climate data. This encourages the development of new approaches and techniques for analyzing and interpreting climate information.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Understanding the Earth-atmosphere system and climate processes is critical to creating sustainable cities and communities. Knowledge gained from the course can support informed decision-making in urban planning, resource management, and climate resilience.

Objective 17: Partnerships for Goals.
This course emphasizes the ability to synergistically choose, apply, and combine numerical climate models and data. This skill promotes collaboration and partnerships among diverse stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, and communities, to collectively address climate change.
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