Introduction to Climate Change

Explore the science of climate change: from atmospheric composition and radiative forcing to predicting future climates and understanding extreme events. Gain essential knowledge to grasp the complexities of our changing world and its impact.

Introduction to Climate Change

1 Atmospheric Structure and Composition

  1. Weather and Climate
  2. Climate – Global, Regional and Local
  3. The Atmosphere
  4. Structure of the Atmosphere
  5. Climate Change and Climate Variability

2 Solar Radiation and Global Energy Budget

  1. Solar Radiation
  2. The Greenhouse Effect
  3. Greenhouse Gases
  4. Global Warming Potential
  5. Trends in Greenhouse Gases Emissions

3 Radiative Forcing

  1. Natural Drivers’ of Climate Change
  2. Anthropogenic Drivers’ of Climate Change
  3. What is Radiative Forcing?

4 Climate Feedbacks

  1. What is a Climate Feedback?
  2. Water Vapour Feedback
  3. Snow and Ice Albedo Feedback
  4. Cloud Feedbacks
  5. Lapse-Rate Feedback
  6. Ocean-circulation Feedback

5 Account of Past Climate

  1. Palaeoclimate
  2. Glimpse of Earth’s Climate through Ages
  3. Sources of Palaeoclimatic Data
  4. Climate of the Quaternary Period

6 Environmental Indicators and Instrumental Records

  1. Factors affecting the Earth’s Climate System
  2. The Measurement of Climate Change
  3. Annual Resolution Data from Proxy Record
  4. Centennial to Millennial Scale Data from Proxy Records

7 Human Footprints on Global Warming

  1. Human Population Growth
  2. Human Population Growth
  3. Industrialization
  4. Deforestation
  5. Direct and Indirect Impacts of Deforestation
  6. Urbanization
  7. Particulates
  8. Desertification
  9. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

8 Predicting Future Climates

  1. Analogues from Past Climate
  2. Climate Models
  3. Types of Climate Models
  4. Greenhouse Gas Emission Scenarios
  5. Time Dependent Models
  6. Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)

9 Temperature Regime

  1. Introduction
  2. Trends in Temperature
  3. Trends in Precipitation
  4. Trends in Rise in Sea Level
  5. Global Warming and Cyclones
  6. Let Us Sum Up
  7. Keywords

10 Precipitation Regime

  1. The Hydrological Cycle
  2. Monsoon
  3. Global Monsoon System
  4. Climates: Global, Regional and Local
  5. El Niño
  6. Weather Aberrations
  7. Climate Uncertainties
  8. Future Climate in the 21st Century

11 Composition Regime

  1. Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity
  2. Snow Line
  3. Timberline
  4. Permafrost
  5. Methane Clathrates
  6. Forest Fires
  7. Aerosols and Climate Interactions

12 Extreme Climate Events

  1. Introduction
  2. Extreme Events
  3. Relationship Between Climate Change and Extreme Events
  4. Occurrence of Extreme Events – Sea Level Rise
  5. Occurrence of Extreme Events – Melting of Glaciers and Ice Caps
  6. Occurrence of Extreme Events – Drought
  7. Occurrence of Extreme Events – Forest Fires
  8. Occurrence of Extreme Events – Floods
  9. Occurrence of Extreme Events – Cyclones

13 International Initiatives

  1. History of Climate Change Debate
  2. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
  3. UNFCCC
  4. IPCC
  5. Climate Change and the North-South Debate
  6. Kyoto Protocol
  7. Marrakesh Accord
  8. Bali Action Plan
  9. Copenhagen Summit
  10. Paris Agreement on Climate Change
  11. India’s Response Framework

14 National Level Action Plan

  1. Copenhagen Summit 2009
  2. India and Copenhagen Summit
  3. India’s Policy and Action towards Renewable Energy Sources
  4. Paris Agreement
  5. National Action Plan on Climate Change

15 State Level Action Plan

  1. Introduction
  2. Policy Formulation
  3. Agencies involved in Policy Formulation in India
  4. State Governments’ Efforts to Address Climate Change: State Action Plan
  5. Tamil Nadu
  6. Delhi
  7. Jharkhand
  8. Assessment of State Action Plans on Climate Change

16 Local Level Initiatives

  1. Status of Degradation of Natural Resources
  2. Techniques of Natural Resources Management
  3. Case Studies on Natural Resources Management
  4. Climate Change and Socio-Economic Vulnerability to Cyclones and Floods in Coastal Odisha – A Case Study of Women Self Help Group