Here is a list of suggested readings for each of our topics. You may read these before or after the lecture. Remember that my exams are based entirely on my lectures, however, these readings might further facilitate understanding. Check the schedule to learn when to read these.
Assessment Report 4 FAQ (Click this download)
FAQ 1.1 – What Factors Determine Earth’s Climate?
FAQ 1.2 – What is the Relationship between Climate Change and Weather?
FAQ 6.1 – What Caused the Ice Ages and Other Important Climate Changes before the Industrial Era?
FAQ 6.2 – Is the Current Climate Change Unusual Compared to Earlier Changes in Earth History?
FAQ 7.1 – Are the Increases in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse Gases During the Industrial Era Caused by Human Activities?
FAQ 11.1 – Do Projected Changes in Climate Vary from Region to Region?
Assessment Report 5 FAQ (Click this to download)
FAQ 1.1 – If Understanding of the Climate System has Increased, Why Hasn’t the Range of Temperature Projections Beed Reduced?
FAQ 2.1 – How Do We Know the World Has Warmed?
FAQ 2.2 – Have There Been Any Changes in Climate Extremes?
FAQ 3.1 – Is the Ocean Warming?
FAQ 3.2 – Is There Evidence for Changes in the Earth’s Water Cycle?
FAQ 3.3 – How does Anthropogenic Ocean Acidification Relate to Climate Change?
FAQ 4.1 – How Is Sea Ice Changing in the Arctic and Antarctic?
FAQ 4.2 – Are Glaciers in Mountain Regions Disappearing?
FAQ 5.1 – Is the Sun a Major Driver of Recent Changes in Climate?
FAQ 5.2 – How unusual is the current sea level rate of change?
FAQ 6.1 – Could Rapid Release of Methane and Carbon Dioxide from Thawing Permafrost or Ocean Warming Substantially Increase Warming?
FAQ 6.2 – What Happens to Carbon Dioxide After It Is Emitted to the Atmosphere?
FAQ 7.1 – How Do Clouds Affect Climate and Climate Change?
FAQ 7.2 – How Do Aerosols Affect Climate and Climate Change?
FAQ 7.3 – Could Geoengineering Counteract Climate Change and What Side Effects Might Occur?
FAQ 8.1 – How Important Is Water Vapor to Climate Change?
FAQ 8.2 – Do Improvements in Air Quality Have an Effect on Climate Change?
FAQ 9.1 – Are Climate Models Getting Better, and How Would We Know?
FAQ 10.1 – Climate is Always Changing. How Do We Determine the Causes of Observed Changes?
FAQ 10.2 – When Will Human Influences on Climate Become Obvious on Local Scales?
FAQ 11.1 – If You Cannot Predict the Weather Next Month, How Can You Predict Climate for the Coming Decade?
FAQ 11.2 – How Do Volcanic Eruptions Affect Climate and Our Ability to Predict Climate?
FAQ 12.1 – Why Are So Many Models and Scenarios Used to Project Climate Change?
FAQ 12.3 – What Would Happen to Future Climate if We Stopped Emissions Today?
FAQ 13.1 – Why Does Local Sea Level Change Differ from the Global Average?
FAQ 13.2 – Will the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets Contribute to Sea Level Changes over the Rest of the Century?
Assessment Report 6 FAQ (Click this download)
FAQ 1.3 – What can past climate change teach us about the future?
FAQ 2.1 – The Earth’s Temperature Has Varied Before. How Is the Current Warming Any Different?
FAQ 3.1 – How Do We Know Humans Are Responsible for Climate Change?
FAQ 3.3 – Are Climate Models Improving?
FAQ 5.2 – Can Thawing Permafrost Substantially Increase Global Warming?
FAQ 8.1 – How Does Land Use Change Alter the Water Cycle?
FAQ 8.3 – What Causes Droughts, and Will Climate Change Make Them Worse?
FAQ 9.2 – How Much Will Sea Level Rise in the Next Few Decades?
FAQ 9.3 – Will the Gulf Stream Shut Down?
FAQ 11.3 – Did Climate Change Cause That Recent Extreme Event In My Country?
