School of Physical and Geographical Sciences  
 
 
ESC-10032 Global Warming or a New Ice Age?  
Co-ordinator: Dr Katie Szkornik    Room: WSF28, Tel:33614  
Teaching Team:  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Geography Single Honours (Level 1)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description

This module aims to provide non-specialists with a scientific context for contemporary debates about climate change. There are many myths and misunderstandings surrounding the topic of climate change and this module seeks to provide students with a scientific perspective on some of these issues. The module will provide students with basic information about climate change, global warming, and the impacts of both past and future climate change on sea level, glaciers, the oceans and terrestrial regions of the world. We will also address the ways in which styles of scientific communication, and the reporting of science in popular media, affect public understanding and peoples&© perceptions of climate change.

Aims

To provide non-specialists with a scientific context for contemporary debates about environmental change. The module will address the question of whether future climate change is likely to involve global warming, a new ice age, or both. The module will provide students with basic information about global environmental change, about global warming, and about the possible consequences of global warming for future climate and sea level.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of the history and causes of past global environmental change, and of the main controls on future environmental change, with particular reference to climate and sea-level change at a range of time scales. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Demonstrate knowledge of the dynamic and contested nature of the science of global environmental change, and an ability to apply that knowledge to discussions about possible future environmental change. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
Demonstrate an appreciation of how the understanding of environmental issues by non-scientists depends on the ways in which science is communicated and reported in different media. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3

Study hours

10 hours of lectures
10 hours of independent study
20 hours of set reading
50 hours directed study with online support
30 hours researching and completing online assessments
30 hours researching and completing coursework essay




Description of Module Assessment

01: Webct weighted 24%
Portfolio of WebCT exercises based on set reading


02: Webct weighted 24%
Portfolio of WebCT exercises based on lecture material


03: Essay weighted 52% (min pass mark of 25)
2000 word essay plus reference list



Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.