Apr 17, 2026  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog-June 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog-June [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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SCI 3610 - Science of Climate Change

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
Climate trends are governed by complex relationships between solar radiation, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, greenhouse gases, particulates, and living creatures. Human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, are causing rapid changes to climates on Earth. This course covers the interconnected physical, chemical, and biological systems that influence climate, and how they respond to perturbations. Models of past and future climate change will be discussed, as will the science behind mitigation and adaptation strategies. Throughout the course, students will learn to critically evaluate the data quality and assumptions underpinning climate models and predictions. 
Prereq: (CHM 1010  or CHM 1050 ) and (MTH 2480  or MTH 2450  or MTH 2430  or MTH 2410 ) (quarter system prereq: CH 200 or CH 2050 or CH 103, and MA 262 or MA 315 or MA 340)
Note: None
This course meets the following Raider Core CLO Requirement: Think Critically
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Diagram the solar radiation spectrum, both above and below the Earth’s atmosphere, and account for the differences
  • Apply chemical and physical principles to quantitatively explain the greenhouse effect
  • Describe the global carbon cycle, including human influence and physical and biological carbon pumps
  • Use radiative forcing as a tool to illustrate the direction and magnitude of climate impacts
  • Explain and evaluate the evidence for past and current climate change, including scientific uncertainties
  • Account for regional differences in the effects of climate change (fires, hurricanes, drought, flooding)
  • Illustrate the existing and anticipated local (Wisconsin/Illinois) impacts of climate change
  • Assess the feasibility and efficacy of proposed mitigation strategies
Prerequisites by Topic
  • None
Course Topics
  • Solar radiation, radiative forcing, and global energy balance
  • Atmospheric chemistry and physics
  • Greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases
  • Global carbon cycle and human influence
  • Albedo and aerosol effects
  • Oceanic and atmospheric circulation
  • Paleoclimate records
  • Climate modeling: feedback loops, tipping points, hysteresis, resolution, downscaling
  • Current and predicted impacts of climate change on humans and ecosystems
  • Mitigation and adaptation strategies
Coordinator
Dr. Anne Alexander


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