Although climate change is a global phenomenon, the varying impacts of climate change are experienced at regional scales. Because many long-term planning decisions - decisions that often rely on climate information - are made locally, we are entering an era when the availability of future projections of regional climate information at appropriate spatial scales and in accessible forms is critical. Thus, this course describes how climate information can and is being used to assess the impacts of climate change and, ultimately, inform local decision-making and adaptation strategies. The course begins by reviewing global climate change over the last 150 years and the projections of future climate change using Global Climate Models (GCMs)/Earth System Models (ESMs). The climate change impact assessment (CCIA) framework is then introduced and applied to several case studies. Downscaling of GCM/ESM data is a key component of CCIA; both statistical and dynamical downscaling techniques will be discussed in class and explored in the computer labs. Finally, students will gain practical experience in CCIA by applying the techniques discussed in class to a final project.
Note: This is a mandatory course for the students in the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation field of study.