from The Open University
Alternatively you can skip the navigation by pressing 'Enter'.
Global warming
This unit provides an introduction to global warming. We will be considering...
This unit provides an introduction to global warming. We will be considering the history of global warming by looking at the pattern of ice ages and analyisis of recorded temperatures. We will aim to gather meaningful information from this data. We will briefly assess the impact and influence of humans on global warming and, finally, we will examine climate models and how to predict future changes.
The learning outcomes for this unit are to:
- Develop an understanding of the current evidence for global warming.
- Model and apply the techniques of ‘measuring’ the Earth's temperature.
- Understand the current warming in relation to climate changes throughout the Earth's history.
- Explain factors forcing climate change, and the extent of anthropogenic influence.
- Assess the ‘best predictions’ of current climate models.
- Duration: 5 hours
- Published on: Friday 1st July 2011
- Level: Introductory
- Posted under: Environmental Science
Global warming
Introduction

This unit provides an introduction to global warming. We will be considering the history of global warming by looking at the pattern of ice ages and analysis of recorded temperatures. We will aim to gather meaningful information from this data. We will briefly assess the impact and influence of humans on global warming and, finally, we will examine climate models and how to predict future changes.
Archive content
This is an extract from an Open University course which is no longer available to new students. If you found this interesting you could explore more free Environmental Science course units or view the range of currently available OU Environmental Science courses.
Other pages You might like

Explore: Water, water everywhere and not a drop...
Pack ice and a shortage of fresh water cause problems for the RRS James Clark Ross.

Try: Environment: journeys through a...
Genetically, mountain gorillas are amongst our closest living relatives, and also one of...

Try: Transport and sustainability
This unit explores the issues around sustainable transport and how the role of technology...

Study: Cell biology
Cell biology explores the origins of cells and the generation of cell diversity, as well...

Explore: History lessons: Part 2
What can we actually learn from history - besides history itself? Does the story of...

Try: Mediating Change: Culture and Climate...
Every generation faces challenges that previous generations could scarcely imagine....

Try: Environment: Following the flows
What affects the atmospheric and ocean flows? This unit explores the mechanisms that are...

Study: Certificate of Higher Education in...
This certificate combines aspects of science, technology and social science to explore...

Explore: Can we live without oil?
Experts predict reserves of crude oil won’t last the century. Over the next few...

Try: Introducing environment
Have you ever thought about how far the contents of your supermarket basket have...

Try: Modelling pollution in the Great Lakes
This unit is the first in the MSXR209 series of five units that introduce the idea of...

Study: Environment: sharing a dynamic planet
Gain an understanding of today’s challenging environmental issues by exploring key...
Comments
Be the first to post a comment
Copyright & revisions
Copyright information
- Creative-Commons: The Open University is proud to release this free course under a Creative Commons licence. However, any third-party materials featured within it are used with permission and are not ours to give away. These materials are not subject to the Creative Commons licence. See terms and conditions. Full details can be found in the Acknowledgements section.
Feeds
If you enjoyed this, why not follow a feed to find out when we have new things like it? Choose an RSS feed from the list below. (Don't know what to do with RSS feeds?)
Remember, you can also make your own, personal feed by combining tags from around OpenLearn.
Alternative Formats
Tags, Ratings and Social Bookmarking
Page Tags
Sign in or create a free account to add tags to your personal tag cloud using:
Have you tried our free courses?
Back on the streets
More Or Less returns
OU TV & Radio
-
Keeping Britain Alive - Ep 8BBC Two (Northern Ireland only)
Saturday 0:10 -
Life In The UndergrowthEden
Saturday 9:00 -
History Of ScotlandBBC Two
Saturday 10:00 -
More Or LessBBC Radio 4
Sunday 20:00 -
Thinking Allowed: Plenty & stammeringBBC Radio 4
Monday 0:15
Views
Votes
Comments
Tags
- climate change (373)
- business (277)
- diaries (194)
- bottom line (169)
- food (168)
- Rough Science (162)
- internet (147)
- BBC Two (145)
- BBC Radio 4 (140)
- BBC (133)
- Scotland (121)
- listings (120)
- points for debate (120)
- Bang goes the Theory (116)
- Creative Climate (116)
- children (116)
- English Civil War (115)
- astronomy (108)
- Thinking Allowed (104)
- religion (98)
- marketing (94)
- 20th century (94)
- Charles I (93)
- evolution (92)
- communication (92)
- sustainability (89)
- research (89)
- architecture (86)
- energy (83)
- National Health Service (NHS) (78)
OpenLearn Links
Copyrighted imageCredit: Background image Lucian Milasan | Dreamstime.com 

