Regional Climate and Climate Impacts

GR5404 Regional Climate and Climate Impacts

This course focused on developing an understanding of climate variability and change and their impacts at regional and local scales, together with the available sources of modern climate information for applications use.

Credit hours: 3

Semester: Spring

Instructors: Michela Biasutti and Andrew W. Robertson

Course Objective:

Many decisions in society are at local scales, and regional climate information considered at appropriate scales and in appropriate forms (e.g., transformed into water stress on crops) is key. Students will build an understanding of the dynamics of climate variability and change at regional and local scales, along with the sources of modern climate information used to help manage climate-related risks and adapt to climate change. These include historical climate data, real-time monitoring, climate forecasts and climate change projections. By providing examples of how the information can and is being used, this course seeks to contribute towards the wise use of climate information.

Skills Developed:

▪       Understanding of the physical mechanisms of regional climate variability and  change.

▪       Working familiarity with climate data, models and forecasts.

▪       Insight into the causes of uncertainty and how it is dealt with

▪       Linking research with policy and risk management