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Professional Training

Climate Change in Arctic Environments

edX, Online
Length
4 weeks
Next course start
Start anytime See details
Course delivery
Self-Paced Online
Length
4 weeks
Next course start
Start anytime See details
Course delivery
Self-Paced Online
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Course description

Climate Change in Arctic Environments

  • You will learn from researchers and staff from a variety of disciplines at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ International Arctic Research Center and its collaborators.
  • An introduction to a variety of areas of expertise, from atmospheric science to traditional knowledge on subsistence calendars, will equip you to understand these complex systems and the knowledge-holders who examine them in detail.
  • You will develop a basic understanding of climate change in the circumpolar arctic through examining four primary systems: atmospheric systems, marine systems, terrestrial systems, and human systems.
  • Key concepts will be explained with practical Arctic-focused examples including Arctic climate modelling, climate policy, physical properties of the ocean, and more.
  • You will learn to trace impacts through those complex systems from physical science, through the biodiversity of flora and fauna, and on to the societies that depend on those resources.
  • Key texts to understanding environmental change will be made available to participants with guidance, giving you the skills to understand reports and policies impacting the region.

Upcoming start dates

1 start date available

Start anytime

  • Self-Paced Online
  • Online
  • English

Suitability - Who should attend?

Prerequisites

High school science and math skills are necessary for understanding the concepts contained within this course.

Outcome / Qualification etc.

What you'll learn

  • Develop an understanding of climate and Arctic terminology
  • Compare the four featured systems in the Arctic: atmospheric, terrestrial, marine, and human
  • Demonstrate the connected nature of Arctic systems
  • Analyze how those systems interact and affect one another
  • Interpret climate science reports such as the US Arctic Report Card, Alaska’s Changing Environment, and others

Training Course Content

Change in our Arctic Atmosphere

  • Atmospheric systems and how climate change affects them across the Arctic
  • Temperature and precipitation
  • Snow, storms, extreme events, and air quality
  • Modeling and climate model projections, downscaled projections

Change On and Under the Waves

  • Ocean temperature & salinity
  • Changes in Arctic sea ice concentration, formation, and thickness
  • Ocean currents
  • Ocean acidification and ocean change
  • The marine food web: algal blooms, fish, marine mammals
  • How changes in physical properties impact the entire marine food web

Our Changing Terrestrial Environment

  • Permafrost and terrestrial snow cover
  • Glacial ice
  • Vegetation
  • Wildfire impacts
  • Terrestrial animals and ecosystems
  • Birds
  • Future changes

The Human Element

  • History of humans in the Arctic
  • Food security
  • Governance: local and global policy
  • Risk and vulnerability assessments
  • Infrastructure
  • Adaptation actions and multiple stressors

Course delivery details

This course is offered through University of Alaska Fairbanks, a partner institute of EdX.

3-5 hours per week

Expenses

  • Verified Track -$139
  • Audit Track - Free
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