About this course: The University of Alberta, the University of Tromso and the University of the Arctic invite you to explore this four week course that examines the environment and climate of the circumpolar North. This course is the result of an international collaboration and provides you with an insight into our planet's North. Following an overview of regional geography, we will focus on the cryosphere (ice), as well as the atmosphere and ocean of the region. We will learn why the Arctic is cold and ice covered, and how that impacts its climate and ecosystems. We will also consider how the Arctic is connected to the rest of the world. Finally, we will examine present day climate change, the processes driving it, and evidence for it in the Arctic, before looking at the implications in the rapidly evolving North. Watch a preview of the course here: https://uofa.ualberta.ca/courses/arctic-climate
Created by: University of Alberta
Taught by: Paul Myers, Ph.D, Professor
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Arctic Environments
This course is about the remarkable northern regions of the earth, the Arctic! Although sometimes considered remote and dangerous, the Arctic is home to many peoples, along with the ecosystems that they coexist with. Researchers from many fields, both scientists and non-scientists, study this vast circumpolar region to understand the environment, peoples, animals, economies, and resources. You’ll soon learn about the environments (the characteristics of the natural world) and climate (the prevailing atmospheric, oceanic and ice conditions) of the world’s North.
4 videos, 6 readings
- Video: Course Preview Video
- Reading: Instructional Staff
- Reading: Meet Your Presenter: Roy Coulthard
- Reading: Course Glossary
- Reading: Additional Resources
- Reading: Acknowledgements
- Reading: Lesson 1 Course Notes
- Video: 1.1 Introduction to Arctic Environments and Climate
- Video: 1.2A What is Climate?
- Video: 1.2B What is Climate?
Graded: Module 1 (Graded)
WEEK 2
Climate Systems
In this lesson we’ll learn about the climate of the Arctic, and the way the climate interacts with the rest of the Earth system. In Lesson 1, we saw how the Earth receives energy from the sun and how heat is trapped on our planet through the natural greenhouse effect. We will now discuss how this energy is distributed throughout the globe and how it is transferred from the tropics to the poles via the large-scale circulation systems of the atmosphere and the ocean. We’ll learn the difference between the natural and the human-induced greenhouse effect - driven by the input of greenhouse gases created by burning fossil fuels, such as carbon dioxide and methane - and discuss what the future holds for the Arctic’s climate. As you will see, the global climate system is tightly linked and climate change in the Arctic also strongly affects temperate latitudes.
6 videos, 2 readings
- Reading: Lesson 2 Course Notes
- Video: 2.1A Climate and Atmosphere
- Video: 2.1B Climate and Atmosphere
- Video: 2.2A Ocean Circulation and the Arctic Ocean
- Video: 2.2B Ocean Circulation and the Arctic Ocean
- Video: 2.3 Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gasses
- Video: 2.4 Back to the Arctic
- Reading: Hadley, Ferrell and Polar Cells
Graded: Module 2 (Graded)
WEEK 3
The Cryosphere
In this lesson, we’ll be learning about the Arctic cryosphere, which is the portion of the Earth’s surface where water occurs in solid forms. Such as snow and ice! In Lesson 2, we talked about atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Now we will learn about when and how ice forms on the surface of the Earth, including such topics as: sea ice, river ice, glaciers , and permafrost. How all this ice formed on the ocean and on (and in) the land? How it relates to the atmosphere and ocean?
4 videos, 1 reading
- Reading: Lesson 3 Course Notes
- Video: 3.1 Forms of Ice in the Polar Regions
- Video: 3.2 River and Lake Ice
- Video: 3.3A Ice Sheets and Permafrost
- Video: 3.3B Ice Sheets and Permafrost
Graded: Module 3 (Graded)
WEEK 4
Implications of Climate Change
In this lesson, we’ll be learning about the implications of climate change. Through the first 3 lessons, we’ve learned a great deal about the Arctic environment. This environment is rapidly changing, largely due to industrial human activity throughout the world. You’ll remember the natural greenhouse effect that we discussed in Lesson 1. Carbon dioxide and water vapour are among the naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They trap outgoing longwave radiation, raising the average temperature of the Earth. We will learn and discuss how sea ice and glaciers react to changes in our atmosphere and oceans. We will then discuss the implications of the changing environment on ecosystems, wildlife and humans.
4 videos, 1 reading
- Reading: Lesson 4 Course Notes
- Video: 4.1 Climate Change
- Video: 4.2A The Impacts of Climate Change
- Video: 4.2B The Impacts of Climate Change
- Video: 4.2C The Impacts of Climate Change
Graded: Module 4 (Graded)
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Ratings and Reviews
Great
Excellent initial overview course for people without a knowledge of the Arctic or Environmental Science.
The content was good and very instructive but the videos and graphic material could be more dynamic and interactive.
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Great introduction to the artic region, its people, economy, environment and global importance.