Content

1.1.     Introduction to Climate Change (GM)

Here we will introduce some of the guiding principles of “change”, which are often only superficially understood by the general public. We will also discuss spatial and temporal scales, regional vs. global aspects, global vs. climate change (CC) distinctions, as well as the most important CC concepts. We will also touch on some of the key topic issues to be addressed later in the course. The concept of linkage between global climate change (e.g. recent warming) and the Earth’s seasonal monsoon climate system will be explored, especially from the standpoint of SE Asia where it is most dramatic.

1.2.     Archives and Proxies as recording systems and tracing tools (GM)

Here we will discuss a range of Earth “repository” recording systems of change, considering archives vs. proxies and basic geological and biological guiding principles. We will also get into the actual proxy mechanisms from several important archives (ice cores, marine sediments, corals, trees, and more), considering some geochemical, micropaleontological, physical, and biological “tools” to track change over many temporal and spatial scales.

1.3.     El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as a globally relevant case study concept (GM)

ENSO will serve as a Pacific-born, yet globally relevant phenomenon to consider a plethora of impacts, including climate, marine and terrestrial biology, agriculture, drought, economies, fisheries, water supply, human health, and more.

1.4.     Hurricanes and Atlantic warming of recent decades (GM)

Recent events (Typhoon Haiyan, Superstorm Sandy, etc.) will be placed into a temporal context of recent decades, especially with Atlantic focus, to try and delineate how global climate change may be impacting storms. We will consider the evidence, knowledge shortfalls, and even paleoceanographic suggestions at the “link”.

1.5.     Ocean Acidification (OA) (GM)

OA will be explored in the context of a “sister” issue to CO2 emissions and anthropogenic climate change. Both broad-based concepts will be considered, including simplified chemistry, as well as newly acquired knowledge of the most vulnerable regions. Particular focus on the Mediterranean Sea and the newly acquired results will be presented. Arenas of impact touch on seawater chemistry, marine ecosystems (both planktonic and benthic) and marine ecosystem services (tourism, socioeconomics) and more.

1.6 Land Surface / Atmosphere interactions (Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems) (JAM).

We will consider the Biogeochemistry of the production of organic matter, respiration, and anaerobic situations in relation to the distribution of sinks and sources of greenhouse gases.

1.7 Local and Regional Area of Influence: Adding up emissions and their signal along the Atmospheric Transport (JAM).

Discrete air masses have concentrations of greenhouse gases that are a function of the processes that occur in the ecosystems with which they interact. We will outline a survey on the basic models for quantifying it.

1.8 The Urban Systems as main drivers of the atmospheric composition in the context of Climate Change (JAM).

Large cities are considered the main actors responsible for the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Consider what role they play compared to the change in land uses, intensive agriculture and the energy consumed in industry. The role of the national attribution of GHG emissions will be discussed.

1.9 Geoengineering vs. Management, or Mitigation vs. Adaptation? (JAM)

The problems caused by climate change have usually been focused on extreme temperatures and phenomena, as well as on the variability of precipitation (droughts and floods). We will look at the magnitude of the great changes promoted by the management of large areas of natural systems against climate change.

1.10. Earth observation systems of greenhouse gases through research and monitoring networks (JAM).

Current research on "ground surface / atmosphere interactions" will be accounted to assess how remote sensing observation systems are combined with surface infrastructures. Role of spatial and temporal resolution of measurements (bottom-up) with regard to the modeling of the top-down atmospheric dynamics in the operational prediction of atmospheric weather.

1.11. Answers to some questions in the light of the investigation (JAM):

"What does human-induced climate change mean?", "What are the current trends in the greenhouse gas budget (marine, terrestrial and atmospheric)?"