Primary Modules
Modules 1-3
Module 1:Introduction to Climate Change
The objectives of this module are: (1) to associate the effects of human activities to the increase in global average temperatures and to climate change, (2) to differentiate the impacts of 1.5⁰C, 2⁰C and 3⁰C changes in global average temperature, and (3) to identify possible ways to address the problem of climate change.
The first part of this module shows the difference between weather and climate, focusing on the timescale. It identifies where, in the troposphere, weather and climate occur.
The second part provides information about the state of the atmosphere which is usually described in terms of observable conditions such as temperature, amount of rainfall, and wind speed and direction. The measurement of atmospheric conditions may be graphically represented as values in time and in space. The following time series plots and graphs show that different representative patterns emerge at different time periods. Thus, the current weather at several locations may be viewed using a weather map, which show the different conditions at separate locations.
The third part gives an overview of the climate system and climate change. It also discusses how human activities contribute to global warming. This includes the concept of the greenhouse effect.
Module 2: Introduction to Climate Extremes
This module has three objectives: (1) to characterize climate extremes, (2) to explain how climate change affects climate extremes and (3) to relate climate extremes to disaster risk
The first part of the module describes the difference between the mean and extreme climate; and how the term “climate extremes” is used to refer to “extreme weather events” and “extreme climate events”. It also discusses how extremes indices are used to describe the magnitude, frequency and duration of extremes.
The second part presents how climate change affects the climate extremes and its impacts. The third part of the module presents the risk framework which links climate to development.
Module 3: Introduction to Temperature Extremes Indices
This module has three objectives: (1) to describe the attributes of temperature extremes which can lead to extreme events, (2) characterize temperature extremes indices; and (3) demonstrate the use of temperature extremes indices in risk analysis
It starts by describing the different attributes of temperature extremes such as its magnitude, frequency and duration, which can lead to extreme events. Then the different annual temperature extremes indices are identified based on the daily minimum and maximum temperature data.
The method for calculating the climate extremes indices for each period is then described. The resulting maps and tables are then discussed.