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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Climate Change: Causes & Consequences
Module Code GY218 (ITS) / GEO1003 (Banner)
Faculty Humanities & Social Sciences School History & Geography
Module Co-ordinatorSusan Hegarty
Module TeachersDarren Clarke, Gránia Shanahan
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

The purpose of this module is to give the student a sound introduction to climate change and climate change science. In this module students develop knowledge on the basics of climate change, the history of climate science, the current state of the knowledge of climate change and how climate science is used to develop projections of the future and how it can be used to inform national, supra-national and global policy. The 2013 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report is examined to assess anthropogenic climate forcing, indicators of climate change, observations in climate system, climate models as well as an examination of COP21 and its impact on human activities and climate change.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the causes of climate change and describe and explain climate forcing factors
2. Describe and interpret observations of change in the climate system
3. Critically assess the role of human activities in modern climate change
4. Assess future climate change scenarios and their potential impact on the Earth
5. Conclude how climate change science informs the agenda and how this agenda impact on policy



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24Formal Lectures
Assignment Completion20MCQ preparation and completion
Independent Study55Work through class material outside class time
Independent Study26Preparation and completion of formal exam
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Methods of analysing climate change and archival data

Climate forcings and feedbacks

Biogeochemical cycles and their influence on climate through time

Examination of observations of change in the climate system

Near-Term Climate Change

Long Term Climate

Climate Models

Anthropogenic impact on climate change

Climate change policy

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment50% Examination Weight50%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Short Answer QuestionsMCQs x210%As required
AssignmentEssay40%As required
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • William F. Ruddiman: 2013, Earth’s Climate, Past and Future, W. H. Freeman and Company,
  • Barry R. G. and E.A. Hall-McKim: 2014, Essentials of the earth's climate system, Cambridge University Press,
  • O’Hare, G., Sweeney, J., Wilby, R.L. .: 2014, Weather, Climate, and climate change: Human Perspectives,
  • Dessler, A. E.: 2015, Introduction to Modern Climate Change. (2nd Edition)., Cambridge University Press,
  • Middleton, N..: 2013, The Global Casino: An Introduction to Environmental Issues 5th Ed., Routledge,
Other Resources

46406, Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.), 0, IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, 46407, Dwyer, N., 2012, The Status of Ireland’s Climate, EPA. Johnstown Castle., http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/climate/ccrpreport26.html#.Vm6sjbiyOko, 46408, Sweeney, J., 2008, Climate Change – Refining the impacts for Ireland. EPA. Johnstown Castle., https://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/climate/sweeney-report-strive-12-for-web-low-res.pdf, 46409, 0, Additional resources including journal articles will be made available on Loop.,

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