Fall 2021 GEOG 510 Seminar in Physical Geography
The Earth System in the Anthropocene: Hot Topics in a Hot World
- Instructor: Luke Trusel
- Semester: Fall 2021
- Class Time: Tuesdays, 2:30–5:30 p.m.
- Contact: trusel@psu.edu, cryospherelab.org
- Credits: 3
- Place: 319 Walker Building
- Section: 001
- Prerequisites: GEOG 454, GEOG 455
Description
The climate system is warming, with broad physical and human consequences. To limit impacts, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced. But what are the big remaining questions? What are climate scientists debating? What can we, as Earth scientists, do to address these important topics?
This graduate seminar examines the response of the Earth system to increasingly human-driven (i.e., anthropogenic) climate forcing. Each week will explore an emerging area of research in contemporary climate science. We will focus on the understanding of recent change across the Earth System, the approaches used to assess and diagnose these dynamics, as well as the techniques and remaining uncertainties regarding potential future change. Topics may include abrupt change, tipping elements, ice sheet instabilities, anthropogenic attribution, links between climate change and extreme events, and climate science communication. Through readings, presentations, and discussions, this seminar will allow students to focus on a component of the climate system or area of climate science most directly aligned with their interests while simultaneously engaging in transdisciplinary climate science topics.
Given this wide scope, this seminar is suited for all graduate students with interests in understanding and discussing climate science. Much like the global climate system itself, this is a rapidly evolving discipline. This course is therefore designed to allow students to remain current with emerging climate-related research, while both deepening and broadening their understanding of contemporary climate science topics.