MTMG16-Climate Change

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: MTMG02 Atmospheric Physics
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Joy Singarayer
Email: j.s.singarayer@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to develop a conceptual, but also quantitative, understanding of climate variability and change.

Aims:
The aim of the course is to develop a conceptual, but also quantitative, understanding of climate variability and change. It will address the application of this understanding to key issues such as the detection of climate changes in the historical record, and the attribution of changes to specific causes such as human activities. A further important aim is to understand the method and limitations of climate prediction. In addition to the core lectures the course includes a series of structured seminars that will introduce students to the cutting edge of climate research in several selected areas, including climate impacts and policy responses.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module the student should be able to:

• Describe mathematically the concepts of radiative forcing and climate feedback, and the application of these concepts to describing equilibrium and transient climate change;


• Explain the use of observations in climate prediction, including detecting climate changes and attributing their cause;


• Describe and explain the major causes and characteristics of internally generated and externally forced climate variability and change;


• Describe the drivers of past climate change;


• Evaluate recent observed changes in climate in the context of changes that have occurred in the past;


• Describe the formulation of climate models, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses;


• Describe the basis, methods, and limitations, of climate prediction;


• Assess the potential impacts of climatic change and optionsfor policy responses.

Additional outcomes:
Students will develop their ability to synthesise and criticise latest research results

Outline content:

The lecture content covers:

• Transient and equilibrium climate change;


• Radiative forcing of climate change: greenhouse gases, solar variability, aerosols and volcanoes;


• Climate feedback mechanisms;


• Causes of climate change on millennial and longer timescales: orbital forcing and ice age cycles;


• Rapid climate change;


• Observations of climate variability and change;


• Internal variability of the climate system, including ENSO;


• Climate modelling: from simple models to Earth system models;


• Projected changes in climate and policy responses;


• Climate extremes and impacts;


• Changes in sea level.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, structured seminars and one problem class.

Reading lists for meteorology modules are available here https://reading.rl.talis.com/departments/mps_met.html.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Practicals classes and workshops		15
Guided independent study:		75
Total hours by term	0	100	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	20
Class test administered by School	80

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Report (20%) - six sides of A4 (not including references or appendices) and is due at the end of week 5 of spring term

Class test (80%) - 2 hour exam with a choice of two from three questions in April

Formative assessment methods:
2 worksheets.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%.

Reassessment arrangements:
For candidates who have failed, an opportunity to take a resit examination will be provided within the lifetime of the course.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023