Lecture 1: Climate Change + Me GEOG 104 PDF

Lecture 1: Climate Change + Me GEOG 104 MAKE A NAME PLATE Use your preferred name and pronouns Write your Columbia College ID on the bottom corner THE PLAN Introductions to each other Syllabus: Course Outline Reflection 1 What is climate?...

Lecture 1: Climate Change + Me GEOG 104 MAKE A NAME PLATE Use your preferred name and pronouns Write your Columbia College ID on the bottom corner THE PLAN Introductions to each other Syllabus: Course Outline Reflection 1 What is climate? You will need to take notes, and hand in material, during this class. Bring a pen/pencil and paper. Tablets are also great for making notes. **Laptops and cellphones are NOT useful in class. Please leave them in your bags.** What is climate? What is climate? What is weather? Atmospheric conditions that occur locally over short periods of time Rain, snow, clouds, wind What is climate? Long-term (regional or global) average of temperature, humidity and rainfall patterns over seasons, years, decades Time and space patterns of precipitation, temperature, and wind – which means they vary across areas and over time Q: Which one is more predictable? What is climate change? Patterns of climate change in time and space Time: winter starts to become warmer or cold Space: rains happen less frequent in one area but more frequently in another area Climate changes naturally on a range of timescales Over decades, centuries, millennia Or longer – Ice Ages Climate changes naturally on a range of spatial scales locally, regionally, even globally Climate change or Climate variability? Climate variability Year to year changes in the climate of a region Drier to wetter to drier, warmer to cooler to warmer Long term average doesn’t vary Can include anomalies Difference between long term average and a value (ie temp) at a given time Think about some anomalies that you have seen recently in Vancouver or your home region? So, climate change must include changes in long term averages Why is predictable climate important? Humans rely on predictable climate for… Agriculture Predictable rains for seeding + plant growth, dry for harvest Water availability Built environment + physical infrastructure Roads Water systems Housing + built environment Mitigating severity of droughts, storms and floods Predication of flooding Many coastal regions around the world will experience flooding Predication: Vancouver Area at 2C rise in temperature Where do you live? Q: What is the impact of this potential flooding on human systems? Ref: https://seeing.climatecentral.org  You will be climate literate Understands at the end of the essential principles of the course Is able to make Earth's climate informed and system responsible decisions with What is regards to actions climate that may affect climate literacy? Knows how to access scientifically credible information about climate Communicates about climate and climate change in a meaningful way Learning Objectives Define climate. Distinguish between climate and weather. Define each. Distinguish between climate variability and climate change. Recognize the importance of predictable climate. List the 4 factors of climate literacy. Reflect on your base knowledge of climate change and climate science.