MTMCLC: Climate Change: Past, Present and Future

Module code: MTMCLC

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Joy Singarayer, email: j.s.singarayer@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Bill Collins, email: w.collins@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 1: Dr Richard Allan, email:

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to develop a conceptual, but also quantitative, understanding of climate variability and change. We will examine observations of changes in atmospheric composition and climate change both in the recent past and over geological timescales. We will critically assess the extent to which these changes are understood and examine the degree to which recent changes are due to human activity and natural variations. 

A key aim will be to investigate predictions of climate change, how they are made, their limitations and uncertainty. The module will look at current and potential future impacts of climate change, what can be done to adapt to these impacts, and to what extent climate policies such as net zero can reduce the magnitude of climate change. With a global outlook, we will explore the implications for policy responses of climate prediction methodologies and their uncertainties. Thus, the module will tie together the scientific understanding to information for policymakers.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe mathematically the concepts of radiative forcing and climate feedbacks, and the application of these concepts to calculating equilibrium and transient climate change; 
2. Explain how the Earth’s climate has changed in recent history and on geological time scales due to natural and human factors; 
3. Demonstrate knowledge of predictions of future climate and the causes of uncertainty in these predictions; 
4. Demonstrate awareness of ways that climate science is used to inform policy responses for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and how the global context in which this takes place influences this. 

Module content

• Observations of recent climate change and palaeoclimates 
• Atmospheric composition 
• Radiative forcing of climate 
• Models of climate change, from simple to state-of-the-art 
• Key uncertainties in climate models 
• Detection and attribution of climate change 
• Projected changes in climate 
• Mitigation of climate change and Net Zero 
• Adaptation to climate change 
• Global perspectives relating to climate change 
• Using science to inform policymakers 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• Lecture–based teaching 
• Computer-based practicals 
• Workshops 

Study hours

At least 46 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Design of a climate mitigation strategy in groups – presentation to class 

Reassessment

Additional costs