THE ANTHROPOCENE: DETECTION AND ATTRIBUTION OF CURRENT CLIMATE CHANGES IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

This course aims to provide the tools to understand the climate system and the more recent changes through a global perspective. The more recent definition of a novel epoch, named "the Anthropocene", underlines the importance of the anthropogenic influence on the climate. The comprehension of these dynamics will give to the student the ability to better comunicate, promote and participate to the global discussion about climate changes.

At the end of this course, it expected that the student will have a clear comprehension of the meaning of the Anthropocene, defined as a novel epoch. Moreover, it is expected that the stundent will acquire the knowldege of the past climate dynamics and he/she is aware of the future scenarios provided by the climatic models.

This course is a required/elective course offered to students enrolled in the Master Degree in the Environmental Humanities. No prior background in the subject is required.

Definition of the Anthropocene: evidence of potential markers to be used for defining the Anthropocene Epoch as a new geological time unit. Horizons for the Holocene−Anthropocene boundary. The onset of the Anthropocene.

The Last Glacial Maximum. Testing model simulations against biotic data. Comparisons of glacial maximum climates. How cold were the glacial tropics?

Climate during and since the last deglaciation.

Millennial scale climatic oscillations during glaciations and the last interglacial period.

Impacts of climate on human evolution in the pre-industrial era. Climate and early farming. Sea level rise and flood legends.

Early impacts of humans on climate. Climate change during the last 1,000 years. The Little Ice Age.
Proxy records of historical climate. Reconstructing hemispheric temperature trends.

Proposed causes of climate change from 1000 to 1850 CE. Reconstructing sea level changes. Instrumental records and satellite observations. Sources of the recent rise in sea level internal oscillations.

Natural and Anthropic causes of global warming over the last 125 years. Earth’s sensitivity to greenhouse gases. Why has the warming since 1850 been so small?
Future climatic change. Future human impacts on greenhouse gases. Effects of future CO2 increase on climate and the environment.

William F. Ruddiman. Earth’s Climate: Past and Future 2nd Ed. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York. 2008.
Scientific papers provided by the teacher and availbe in Moodle

The exam consists in an oral discussion.

The teaching course is presented by lectures.

English

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development