UNIVERSITY of GUYANA

Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy

COURSE CODE: GEO3206

COURSE TITLE: Fundamentals of Climate Change

CREDITS: 3

Prerequisites: GEO2205 Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

Course Description
This course introduces students to the science of climate change and the debates, policy issue,
and measures designed to mitigate and adapt to global warming and increased climate variability.
Changes in climate and climate variations in the past and present are explained in relation to
natural and anthropogenic causes, while environmental, economic and social impacts are
considered at a variety for geographical scales and for selected mitigation and adaptation options.

The first section examines how weather patterns are changing today, and how such changes can
affect natural systems, human society and the economy. Scientific and proxy evidence for
climate change both in the past and present are examined in detail. The Ice Age is used as an
example of the dramatic impact of past climates on the planet, while climate modelling and
climate change projections offer scenarios for the future. The modern climate system is
examined in relation to spatial and temporal oscillations such as El Niño. The Earth's natural
greenhouse effect introduces an analysis of global warming and it likely impacts, while the
increase in the magnitude of extreme weather events such as drought and tropical storms
suggests increasing variability of climate. The climate change debate covers issues relating to
science and political economy and the arguments of climate change sceptics. Specific mitigation
policies such as carbon markets and carbon trading are examined in the context of natural carbon
reservoirs and carbon recycling, while case studies of Caribbean examples of climate mitigation
and adaptation conclude the course.

The course builds upon sections of GEO 2205 Physical Geography: Weather and Climate and
provides a foundation for aspects of GEO 4108 Natural Hazards and Disaster Management. The
course provides an important knowledge base for students wishing to pursue careers such as
planning and resource management, where climate changes issues are becoming increasingly
 UNIVERSITY of GUYANA
Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy
significant. The curriculum is learner-centred and exposes students to critical thinking and
effective communication. It provides students with opportunities for collaborative group work in
practical classes which access web-based data on climate and climate change projections and
through field classes.

Student Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Review the evidence for climate change past and present, and describe how global
climates have changed during the recent geological past.
2. Explain the main meteorological processes which determine the earth's modern climate
system and account for spatial and temporal oscillations such as El Niño.
3. Explain the physical processes which create the natural greenhouse effect, evaluate the
impact of industrialization on greenhouse gas emissions, and use data to show how they
are contributing to global warming.
4. Show how climate modelling is used to derive climate change projections and describe
some of the limitations of current models.
5. Examine the impacts of global warming and increasing climate variability on
environmental, economic and social systems at different geographical scales.
6. Discuss climate policy interventions, review the main arguments in the climate change
debate and assess contributions of the IPCC Reports.
7. Explain carbon cycling and carbon reservoirs and show how these ideas have influenced
global mitigation policies such as carbon markets and emissions trading.
8. Suggest how climate change mitigation and adaption projects can be mobilized at the
local community level in Guyana and the wider Caribbean region.

Course Content

Past, present and future climates

 Introduction: the earth’s changing weather and how it affects natural systems, human
society and the economy
 Evidence for climate change: instrument-based climate records, sea-level changes,
proxy-based evidence of change and reconstruction of past climates
 Past climates: the Ice Age and more recent climate fluctuations sea level change
 Predicting future climates: climate modeling and climate model projections
 Climate projection scenarios for Caribbean region and South America
 Policy responses to climate change

Global warming and increasing climate variability

 The natural physical processes influencing Earth’s modern climate system
 Temporal and regional oscillations: El Niño and the Southern Oscillation
 UNIVERSITY of GUYANA
Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy
 Earth's natural greenhouse effect: radiation and energy balance
 Human impacts on climate: The Industrial Revolution and industrialization
 The Greenhouse gases; global warming and increase in greenhouses gases
 The effects of global warming: extreme weather systems; storms and drought
 The impacts of global warming and climate variability on environmental systems
 The impacts of global warming and climate variability on economic and social systems

The climate change debate and climate change policy

 The climate change debate:, science, politics and business, climate change sceptics
 The contributions of the IPCC Reports
 Climate change policy and International negotiations on carbon emissions
 The Earth's carbon reservoirs and the carbon cycle
 Carbon markets, carbon finance and emissions trading
 Local approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation: Guyana and Caribbean
case Studies

Revision classes (2 hours)

Methods of Teaching
 Presentational and interactive Approaches
o Interactive Lectures and Seminars
 Problem-Based and Collaborative Approaches
o Case Studies: project-based learning
o Interactive group work
 Experiential and Observational Learning Approaches
o Practical Sessions
 Twenty-First Century Technologies Engagement Approaches
o Internet Research

Interactive teaching and learning activities (45 hours) comprising, lectures, practical classes,
tutorials, seminars, and other interactive teaching and learning arrangements and strategies.
Technical skills are learned in practical classes through independent and group assignments, and
seminars are used for self-directed learning through internet research to compile information
from dynamic web-based maps, charts, and databases. Also web-based climate projection
models, and presentation of findings, especially in relation to discussion of policy issues.

Six practical classes = 18 contact hours = 9 credit hours

Ten tutorial/seminar classes = 10 hours
 UNIVERSITY of GUYANA
Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy

Methods of Assessment
Practical Examination 50%
Practical classes 20%
Mid semester test 10%
Group project 20%
Modes of Delivery
That Courses will be delivered through face-to-face, blended and/or hybrid modes.

Online Delivery Mode:

Technology Requirements and Skills Needed

That For the online delivery mode, students will require access to a computer or a
device with:

 Internet access, preferably with a high-speed connection

 A web browser (For the best experience, use Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or
Safari. Internet Explorer is not recommended.)
 Adobe Acrobat Reader (free)
 Adobe Flash Player (free)
 Microsoft Office, or the ability to work with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
documents
 Skype/Zoom video conferencing software for potential use during office hours
(free at http://www.skype.com/http://www.zoom.us)
 Speaker, microphone, and webcam
 Access to technology to create and upload videos for assessment and feedback
 Sending and receiving emails and/or attachments via emails
 UNIVERSITY of GUYANA
Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy

Minimum Software Requirements

• Windows 8 or Above
• OS 19.13 or Above
• Additional software may be required (See the course syllabus)

Technology Backup
That it is the students’ responsibility to have a backup mechanism to secure their
work and ensure that course assignments are saved at all times.

Plagiarism for the Graduate Level

The University of Guyana has a zero tolerance policy on plagiarism particularly at
the graduate level. Students who engage in plagiarism may be placed before the
disciplinary committee where the penalty of expulsion is a possibility (see p. 25 of
The University of Guyana Student Guide). The Faculty supports this policy and
students who submit assignments with plagiarism reports above 10% follows a three
(3) strike rule:
Strike 1
The University of Guyana Student Guide and the Course Outline will serve as a
warning.

Strike 2
The assignment that is above the limit will earn zero.

Strike 3
 UNIVERSITY of GUYANA
Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy
If this recurs again, then the student will be placed before the Disciplinary
Committee of the University of Guyana.
BSc. Grading Scheme

GRADING SCHEME
Final Examination
General
A - 75 - 100
B - 65 - 74
C - 55 - 64
D - 45 - 54
F - < 45

Recommended Readings
Aspinall, J. (ed) (2015) The Geography of Climate Change, London: Routledge

Burroughs, W.J. (2007) Climate Change: A multidisciplinary approach, 2 nd ed. Cambridge, UK:
CUP

Dressler, A.E. (2012) Introduction to modern climate change, Cambridge, UK: CUP

Eggleton, T. (2012) A short introduction to climate change, Cambridge, UK: CUP

Houghton, J (2009) Global Warming: the complete briefing 4th ed. Cambridge, UK: CUP

IPCC (2013) The Physical Science basis: Working Group I, Fifth Assessment Report

IPCC (2014) Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: Working Group II, Fifth Assessment Report

IPCC (2014) Mitigation of Climate Change: Working Group III, Fifth Assessment Report

Neelin, J.D. (2010) Climate Change and Climate Modeling, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press

Ruddiman, W.F. (2008) Earth’s Climate: Past and Future, 2nd ed. New York: Freeman
 UNIVERSITY of GUYANA
Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Tel #: (592) 222-4180/222-2463 Email: geography.fees@uog.edu.gy

On-line Resources
http://unccelearn.org/
http://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/25/
https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/links.html
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/climate-change/climate-change-promos/for-educators/climate-
change-online-resources/
http://www.aag.org/cs/teachingclimatechange

http://www.geoknow.net/anthroposphere/climatechange.html