Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Climate Change Adaptation

Description

This lecture covers the concepts of adaptation to climate change, including the differences between mitigation and adaptation, downscaling for adaptation modeling, and the uncertainties in temperature and sea level rise. It also discusses the economic impacts of climate change, the use of GIS tools for coastal impacts, and the importance of adaptation in the face of cascading uncertainties and future societal challenges.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Climate change adaptation

Climate change adaptation is the process of adjusting to the effects of climate change. These can be both current or expected impacts. Adaptation aims to moderate or avoid harm for people. It also aims to exploit opportunities. Humans may also intervene to help adjustment for natural systems. There are many adaptation strategies or options.They can help manage impacts and risks to people and nature. We can classify adaptation actions in four ways. These are infrastructural and technological; institutional; behavioural and cultural; and nature-based options.

Climate change

In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to Earth's climate. The current rise in global average temperature is more rapid than previous changes, and is primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel use, deforestation, and some agricultural and industrial practices increase greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane.

Measurement uncertainty

In metrology, measurement uncertainty is the expression of the statistical dispersion of the values attributed to a measured quantity. All measurements are subject to uncertainty and a measurement result is complete only when it is accompanied by a statement of the associated uncertainty, such as the standard deviation. By international agreement, this uncertainty has a probabilistic basis and reflects incomplete knowledge of the quantity value. It is a non-negative parameter.

Climate model

Numerical climate models use quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the important drivers of climate, including atmosphere, oceans, land surface and ice. They are used for a variety of purposes from study of the dynamics of the climate system to projections of future climate. Climate models may also be qualitative (i.e. not numerical) models and also narratives, largely descriptive, of possible futures.

General circulation model

A general circulation model (GCM) is a type of climate model. It employs a mathematical model of the general circulation of a planetary atmosphere or ocean. It uses the Navier–Stokes equations on a rotating sphere with thermodynamic terms for various energy sources (radiation, latent heat). These equations are the basis for computer programs used to simulate the Earth's atmosphere or oceans. Atmospheric and oceanic GCMs (AGCM and OGCM) are key components along with sea ice and land-surface components.

Related lectures (30)

Global Climate Issues: Course Overview

Covers global climate issues, impacts, policies, and mechanisms to slow down climate change through group work and project management.

Climate Change Prediction: Linear Response Operators

Explores predicting climate change through linear response operators, focusing on the nonequilibrium nature of the climate system and the challenges of climate predictability.

Global Climate Variables: Essential Components and Observations

Explores essential climate variables, current/future changes, human impact on temperature, and climate projections.

Extreme Events: Understanding Weather and Climate Extremes

Delves into extreme weather events, their definitions, causes, and consequences, emphasizing the importance of understanding climate change in relation to these occurrences.

Climate Sensitivity: Historical Climate Change Overview