Climate Change and Its Effects (Virtual Sample Class)

Climate is a defining challenge of the 21st century. Human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of warming since the mid-20th century. The global atmospheric carbon dioxide exceeds 400 parts per million, a level that last occurred about 3 million years ago, when both global average temperature and sea level were significantly higher than today. This period is the warmest in the history of modern civilization. The concern with climate change is not only that it is occurring, but the rate at which change is occurring. In this lecture we will discuss: drivers of climate change, global, U.S., and local climate trends, effects, and future projections. The professor will be Dr. Charles T. Driscoll, University Professor of Environmental Systems and Distinguished Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Following the class portion, Dr. Driscoll will be available to answer questions about the class topic or about studying engineering at Syracuse University. We will encourage you to enable your audio and video to engage with us and ask questions.