Understand the Earth's climate system and the role of Greenhouse Gases. Learn the emission reduction systems and the basis for the interpretation of climate projections of the Earth System. Frame Climate Changes in the European socio-political-economic context and explore the strategies to counteract these changes.

Syllabus: Fundamental processes of the dynamics of the climate and of the dynamics of the Earth System. Climate-biosphere interactions. Biogeochemical cycles and carbon cycle (short-term and long-term carbon cycle). Interaction between geodynamic cycles and carbon cycle. Climatic modeling. Emissions reduction and CO2 storage methods. Climate change and its impacts. Geopolitical aspects related to ongoing climate change and IPCC scenarios.


Program
Introduction to the Earth's climate system and energy balances. The role of greenhouse gases with a focus on CO2 and methane. Global circulation of the atmosphere and the ocean. The biogeochemical cycles and the carbon cycle and its variations at different time scales. The geological carbon cycle and the influence of the geodynamics and plate tectonics. The biological carbon cycle and the geosphere-biosphere interactions in the "critical zone". The anthropogenic impact. Global climate models. Methods of emission reduction and geological and mineralogical CO2 storage. IPCC scenarios and post-Kyoto mitigation and adaptation policies.