Arctic climate change

Bachelor degree in environmental or related sciences or corresponding knowledge of ecology

After the course the student

• has basic understanding of 1) climate features and processes specific for Arctic areas, 2) Arctic climatic changes during the Holocene and the Anthropocene, including future projections;
• can describe the links between organisms and functioning in different ecosystems and the potential changes that will appear in these links under climate change
• has knowledge of climate impacts on Arctic ecosystems and landscape elements over various time scales;
• can critically assess the role of natural versus human-induced climatic changes and factors involved;
• is prepared for providing evidence and validating his/her arguments when discussing current and future climate change effects on ecosystems;
• can apply the achieved information to environmental management and climate mitigation and adaptation

Completion methods

To complete the course, the students are supposed to listen to the lectures (compulsory attendance at 50% of lectures), write a 1500 word essay based on the lecture series and related literature search, and prepare a document based on the provided IPCC material.

Grading scale

Scale 0-5

Assessment practices and criteria

The course will be graded as 0-5 using the scores achieved from an assignment (50%) based around the IPCC summary, and a 1500-word essay based on the lecture series (50%)

Activities and methods in support of learning

Feedback on course assignments

Target groups

ECGS students, Geology and Geophysics, and other interested students with fitting backgrounds. Open to exchange students

Teaching period when the course will be offered

Period III

Recommended time or stage of studies for completion

1st study year in Master’s

Study module

Compulsory course in “Changing Arctic and northern environments” module

Expiry of studies

Valid for 10 years

Language of instruction

English

Language of learning

English, Finnish or Swedish

Literature and learning material

Course literature is freely available on the internet

Course level

Master’s level, also suitable on Doctoral level 

Responsible persons

David Thomas (david.thomas@helsinki.fi), Kaarina Weckström (kaarina.weckstrom@helsinki.fi)

Other teachers: Atte Korhola, Jussi Eronen, Maija Heikkilä, Jan Weckström, Minna Väliranta, Tarmo Virtanen, Kimmo Kahilainen, Jukka Horppila, Heikki Setälä