Monday, October 10, 2011

Earth and Its Climate in 2031

Following is the schedule and plans for the fall 2011 Class with the above title at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes:

This will be a workshop style course with participants contributing their ideas. In the first class, Bill will present where he thinks the Earth’s climate will be in 2031 relative to rising sea levels. We will then discuss class interests relative to the Earth and its climate. In this fall’s 5 classes we will focus on what is taking place, and what is forecast to happen relative to Earth’s climate. Next spring, in a planned continuation of this course, we will discuss what can be done to reduce global warming, through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and through potential geoengineering approaches.

Oct 17 – Sea Level Rise
The focus of the first class will be the causes of sea level rise, how it is measured, what the known history is, and what the forecast is. The class will begin with a 45 min. presentation, the same as will be presented to the Friends of Overfalls on Oct 14 (mentioned so you don’t attend both presentations). After that, we will discuss what specific climate topics most interest the class, and finalize a tentative agenda for the remaining 4 weeks (Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7 and Nov 14).

Potential future class topics include, but are not limited to:

1. A hypothetical vision of a warmer Earth in 2031 (and 2100?) relative to:
    a. sea level rise (continued with thoughts from others in the class)
    b. agriculture changes and feeding a growing world
    c. population changes and climate refugees
    d. wildlife changes, on land and in the oceans
2. The role of forests in global warming
3. Tipping points, what are they and how likely is one to occur?
4. Also see index in this blog for more ideas about possible topics.

Bill Fintel
Instructor

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