Climate and Climate Change

Module Identifier: BR16620
Module Title: Climate and Climate Change
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Semester 1
Co-ordinator: Dr Scott Tompsett
Reading List: View on Aspire
Other Staff: Dr Ruth Wonfor; Dr Guilherme A. Bortolotto; Dr Ifat Shah

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Report: Individual report - demonstrating an ability to mine, present and interpret relevant climate model data and discuss trends based on current literature. 1500 Words	50%
Semester Exam	Exam: 2 Hours	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Report: 1500 Words	50%
Supplementary Exam	Exam: 2 Hours	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Explain the roles of the Earth’s orbital characteristics, oceans and tectonic activity as drivers of climate.
Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between weather and climate, and the causes and impacts of extreme weather events.
Describe previous changes in the Earth’s climate, and the tools used to study these changes.
Outline ongoing and future climate change, and the potential to mitigate against these changes.
Demonstrate retained knowledge of factors affecting climate and climate change, and an ability to discuss these.

Brief description

This module will present the science underpinning climate and climate change. The roles of the Earth’s orbital characteristics, oceans and tectonic activity as drivers of climate will be studied. The module will also highlight historical and future climatic change, and identify potential solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Content

1. What is Climate?
2. Atmosphere and Oceans
3. Weather and Climate
4. Extreme Climate
5. Tectonics and Climate
6. Global Climate Cooling
7. Great Ice Ages
8. Future Climate Change
9. Fixing Climate Change
10. Ultimate Climate Change
11. The Climate Change Debate
12. Climate Change Impacts
13. Climate Surprises
14. The Politics of Climate Change

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Application of Number	Analysis of existing literature / data
Communication	Report writing
Improving own Learning and Performance	Literature research and academic writing
Information Technology	Use of literature databases
Personal Development and Career planning	Report writing
Problem solving	Identification of potential challenges posed by climate change.
Research skills	Examination of literature
Subject Specific Skills	Knowledge of existing literature on climate / climate change

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4