❀ Introduction to Climate Science ❀
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will focus on the science that helps us understand how and why the global climate is changing, the impacts of those changes, and the policy options we have to address climate change. By the end of the course students should be able to:
- Understand the scientific method and how it can be utilized for quantitative and qualitative data in climate research.
- Be able to conceptualize and explain physical processes and cycles that play a role in climate change.
- Understand how climate data is used to:
- Detect past changes in the global climate and,
- Attribute these changes to natural and human effects.
- Localize examples of observed and projected climate change impacts within the state of Washington (place-based).
- Articulate adaptation and mitigation policy efforts to address climate change, especially those efforts already implemented by local Indigenous communities.
- Understand how climate models are used to make projections of future climate change.
- Immerse themselves in climate justice to understand:
- How climate change impacts disappropriately impact low socioeconomic and communities of color and,
- Plays a role in climate resilience.
- Interconnects to environmental, food, and energy justice.