- Sciences
Semester-length class
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Integrated Science I
Climate Science students study the Earth's climate past, present, and predicted future. We conduct research on the effect of temperature on living systems, such as lilacs, insects, and aquatic ecosystems, and students share research with citizen science projects such as the National Phenology Network and GLOBE. Using living systems and examples from our own region, we study the carbon cycle and biogeochemical processes that determine the carbon balance in the biosphere, ocean, and atmosphere. We use chemistry and physics to evaluate the properties of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. Once students understand how human activities and natural processes impact Earth's climate, we examine how climate change affects different parts of the world, including the Great Basin, the Arctic, island nations, and coastal states. We work with local groups to better understand climate science, policy options, and policy debates so that students are prepared to engage with climate questions we will face for the foreseeable future.