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Mark C. Serreze
This course takes a detailed look at the remarkable changes unfolding in the Arctic environment, including the shrinking Arctic sea ice cover, shrinking land ice, thawing permafrost and cascading impacts on Arctic ecosystems. After a review of Arctic climates of the past, attention turns to the possible future of the Arctic’s climate and environment.
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What's inside
Syllabus
Visible Indicators of Change
The Arctic is home to some of our planet's most visible indicators of climate change and we'll learn all about them in this module. Notable among these are the shrinking Arctic sea ice cover and the stronger warming of the Arctic compared to the rest of the globe, a phenomenon known as "Arctic Amplification". We'll then look at how the Arctic permafrost - perennially frozen ground - is warming and thawing. Finally, attention will turn to a direct threat to Arctic residents - coastal erosion and how it is tied to sea ice loss, ocean warming and warming permafrost.
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Syllabus
Visible Indicators of Change
The Arctic is home to some of our planet's most visible indicators of climate change and we'll learn all about them in this module. Notable among these are the shrinking Arctic sea ice cover and the stronger warming of the Arctic compared to the rest of the globe, a phenomenon known as "Arctic Amplification". We'll then look at how the Arctic permafrost - perennially frozen ground - is warming and thawing. Finally, attention will turn to a direct threat to Arctic residents - coastal erosion and how it is tied to sea ice loss, ocean warming and warming permafrost.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Explores the remarkable changes unfolding in the Arctic environment, which is highly relevant in environmental science and climate studies
Taught by Mark C. Serreze, who is recognized for their work in the topic that the course teaches
Covers unique perspectives and ideas that may add color to other topics and subjects such as paleoclimatology and its significance in understanding recent climate change in the Arctic
Teaches skills, knowledge, and/or tools that are highly relevant to industry
Takes a creative approach to an otherwise established topic, field, or subject
Develops professional skills or deep expertise in a particular topic or set of topics
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Reviews summary
Comprehensive look at arctic climate change
According to students, Polar Peril offers a fascinating and comprehensive overview of Arctic climate change, praised for its up-to-date content and the instructor's brilliance and passion. Learners appreciate the clear explanations of complex topics like Arctic amplification and permafrost carbon feedback. The course effectively highlights visible indicators of change and their cascading impacts. However, some learners note the dense material and fast pace, suggesting it assumes a scientific background. While providing a strong foundation, some found it challenging for true beginners and desired more interactive elements or policy focus.
Provides a detailed and up-to-date look at Arctic climate changes.
"A very informative course on Arctic climate change. The syllabus covers key topics comprehensively, from sea ice dynamics to paleoclimatology."
"Excellent course for anyone interested in environmental science. The 'Visible Indicators of Change' module was particularly eye-opening, showing real-world impacts."
"I found the discussion on the Greenland ice sheet's mass balance to be very insightful. The content is up-to-date and the instructor is very knowledgeable."
"Good general overview of Arctic climate change. The modules on sea ice and permafrost were very clear."
Instructor's passion and clarity make complex science accessible.
"Absolutely fascinating! The instructor, Professor W.T. Pfeffer, is brilliant and explains complex topics like Arctic amplification and permafrost carbon feedback with such clarity."
"Fantastic course! The instructor's passion for the subject shines through every lecture. ... This course is a must-take for anyone who wants to understand the Arctic’s role in global climate."
"Mind-blowing insights into the Arctic. The permafrost carbon feedback loop explanation was incredibly clear and vital. The instructor's expertise is evident throughout."
Suggestions for more interactivity, deeper dives, or policy.
"While the content is strong, I wished for more interactive elements or perhaps some optional readings for deeper dives into specific research papers."
"I think a bit more time could have been spent on policy implications or mitigation strategies, as the course felt heavily focused on the 'what' and 'why' rather than the 'what now'."
"I struggled to keep up with the scientific jargon, even with some prior exposure to environmental topics."
Dense and fast-paced, suitable for those with scientific background.
"The subject matter is incredibly important, and the course covers a lot of ground. However, I sometimes struggled with the density of information... It's geared more towards an academic audience..."
"Content is solid but very academic. I felt like some of the lectures assumed a higher level of prior knowledge than I possessed."
"Found this course quite challenging and at times overwhelming. The material felt very dense and moved quickly. ... Not for true beginners."
"I felt the pace was a bit too fast for someone without a strong science background. More detailed explanations on some of the scientific terminology would be beneficial."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Polar Peril with these
activities:
Learn the basics of Arctic geography and climate
Show steps
Review the basics of Arctic geography and climate to build a strong foundation for the course.
Show steps
-
Read an introductory article or book on Arctic geography and climate.
-
Locate the Arctic on a world map and identify its major geographic features.
-
Research the different climate zones of the Arctic and their characteristics.
Review 'The Arctic: A History' by Peter Wadhams
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive historical perspective on the Arctic region, its exploration, and the challenges it faces.
View
A Farewell to Ice: A Report from the Arctic
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read 'The Arctic: A History' by Peter Wadhams.
-
Take notes and highlight key passages.
-
Summarize the main arguments and insights of the book.
Explore NASA's Arctic Sea Ice Data Portal
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience with Arctic sea ice data and visualize trends to understand the impact of climate change.
Browse courses on
Arctic Sea Ice
Show steps
-
Visit the NASA Arctic Sea Ice Data Portal.
-
Follow the tutorials to explore different data visualizations.
-
Analyze trends in sea ice extent and thickness over time.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Host a study group on Arctic permafrost
Show steps
Collaborate with peers to exchange knowledge and insights on the topic of Arctic permafrost and its implications.
Browse courses on
Climate Change Impacts
Show steps
-
Identify a topic related to Arctic permafrost.
-
Prepare materials and questions for discussion.
-
Lead the study group and facilitate discussions.
-
Summarize the key points and takeaways.
Solve problems on Arctic climate change impacts
Show steps
Apply your knowledge to solve real-world problems related to the impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems.
Browse courses on
Climate Change Impacts
Show steps
-
Identify a problem related to climate change impacts on Arctic ecosystems.
-
Research and gather data on the problem.
-
Develop and evaluate potential solutions.
-
Present your findings and recommendations.
Create a video explaining the causes and consequences of Arctic amplification
Show steps
Deepen your understanding by creating a visual explanation of the phenomenon of Arctic amplification and its consequences.
Show steps
-
Research Arctic amplification and its causes.
-
Develop a storyboard for your video.
-
Record and edit your video.
-
Share your video with others.
Create a website or blog about the changing Arctic
Show steps
Share your knowledge and insights by creating a digital platform to inform others about the impacts and challenges facing the Arctic.
Show steps
-
Choose a platform for your website or blog.
-
Develop content on various aspects of the changing Arctic.
-
Design and customize the layout and appearance.
-
Publish and promote your website or blog.
Develop a model to predict the future of Arctic sea ice
Show steps
Challenge yourself by creating a predictive model to forecast the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice in the coming years.
Browse courses on
Arctic Sea Ice
Show steps
-
Gather data on historical Arctic sea ice extent and thickness.
-
Choose a statistical or machine learning model.
-
Develop and train your model.
-
Test and evaluate your model's accuracy.
-
Make predictions about future Arctic sea ice conditions.
Learn the basics of Arctic geography and climate
Show steps
Review the basics of Arctic geography and climate to build a strong foundation for the course.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read an introductory article or book on Arctic geography and climate.
- Locate the Arctic on a world map and identify its major geographic features.
- Research the different climate zones of the Arctic and their characteristics.
Review 'The Arctic: A History' by Peter Wadhams
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive historical perspective on the Arctic region, its exploration, and the challenges it faces.
View
A Farewell to Ice: A Report from the Arctic
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read 'The Arctic: A History' by Peter Wadhams.
- Take notes and highlight key passages.
- Summarize the main arguments and insights of the book.
Explore NASA's Arctic Sea Ice Data Portal
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience with Arctic sea ice data and visualize trends to understand the impact of climate change.
Browse courses on
Arctic Sea Ice
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Visit the NASA Arctic Sea Ice Data Portal.
- Follow the tutorials to explore different data visualizations.
- Analyze trends in sea ice extent and thickness over time.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Host a study group on Arctic permafrost
Show steps
Collaborate with peers to exchange knowledge and insights on the topic of Arctic permafrost and its implications.
Browse courses on
Climate Change Impacts
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a topic related to Arctic permafrost.
- Prepare materials and questions for discussion.
- Lead the study group and facilitate discussions.
- Summarize the key points and takeaways.
Solve problems on Arctic climate change impacts
Show steps
Apply your knowledge to solve real-world problems related to the impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems.
Browse courses on
Climate Change Impacts
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a problem related to climate change impacts on Arctic ecosystems.
- Research and gather data on the problem.
- Develop and evaluate potential solutions.
- Present your findings and recommendations.
Create a video explaining the causes and consequences of Arctic amplification
Show steps
Deepen your understanding by creating a visual explanation of the phenomenon of Arctic amplification and its consequences.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research Arctic amplification and its causes.
- Develop a storyboard for your video.
- Record and edit your video.
- Share your video with others.
Create a website or blog about the changing Arctic
Show steps
Share your knowledge and insights by creating a digital platform to inform others about the impacts and challenges facing the Arctic.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a platform for your website or blog.
- Develop content on various aspects of the changing Arctic.
- Design and customize the layout and appearance.
- Publish and promote your website or blog.
Develop a model to predict the future of Arctic sea ice
Show steps
Challenge yourself by creating a predictive model to forecast the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice in the coming years.
Browse courses on
Arctic Sea Ice
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather data on historical Arctic sea ice extent and thickness.
- Choose a statistical or machine learning model.
- Develop and train your model.
- Test and evaluate your model's accuracy.
- Make predictions about future Arctic sea ice conditions.
Career center
Learners who complete Polar Peril will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Glaciologist
Glaciologist
Glaciologists study glaciers and ice sheets to understand their properties, dynamics, and responses to climate change. Polar Peril can help build a strong foundation for a career in this field, providing a broad overview of the changes occurring in the Arctic ice cover and the potential impacts of these changes on the Earth's climate.
Paleoclimatologist
Paleoclimatologist
Paleoclimatologists study past climates to understand how the climate has changed over time and what factors have contributed to these changes. Polar Peril will help build a foundation for a career in this field by providing a thorough understanding of how the Arctic climate has changed in the past and how these changes can inform our understanding of the impacts and causes of modern climate change.
Climate Scientist
Climate Scientist
A Climate Scientist studies and predicts how the Earth's climate system works. Work in this field requires a foundation of knowledge about how climate works, how climate has changed in the past, and how it is expected to change in the future. Polar Peril helps build this foundation by providing an understanding of climate change in the polar regions. This is important because the Arctic has one of the fastest-changing climates on the planet and serves as an indicator of broader climate changes.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientists help find solutions to environmental problems. They study the harmful effects of human activities on the environment and work to develop solutions that enable a sustainable relationship between human activity and the environment. Polar Peril can help build a strong foundation for this work by providing an understanding of climate change as an environmental problem, and by exploring the effects of human activity on the environment in specific.
Physical Geographer
Physical Geographer
Physical Geographers study the physical features of the Earth, including landforms, soil, water, and the atmosphere. Polar Peril can help build a foundation for a career in this field by providing a detailed overview of the physical changes occurring in a region that is particularly impactful and impacted by climate change.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineer
An Environmental Engineer focuses on improving the environment. Environmental Engineers may work with city planners and architects to design eco-friendly structures, work with farmers to help them reduce pollution, and even perform testing to understand how pollution moves through ecosystems. Polar Peril can help build a foundation for this career by providing insights into how climate change impacts ecosystems, including the movement of pollutants through arctic ecosystems.
Ecologist
Ecologist
Ecologists study the interactions between organisms and their environment. Polar Peril can help build a foundation for a career in this field by providing an understanding of the effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems.
Geochemist
Geochemist
Geochemists study the chemical composition of the Earth. This work helps us better understand the Earth's history and can be used to inform decisions about how we use the Earth's resources. Climate change may cause significant changes in the Earth's geology, particularly through the impact of warming on permafrost. Thus, Polar Peril may be a useful course for someone looking to enter this field.
Meteorologist
Meteorologist
Meteorologists study and predict the Earth's weather. Polar Peril can help build a foundation for a career in this field by providing a thorough understanding of the changing climate in the polar regions and the dynamics that drive these changes. This information is critical to accurately understanding and predicting weather patterns.
Soil Scientist
Soil Scientist
Soil Scientists study the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil to understand how soil is formed, how it changes over time, and how it can be used sustainably. Polar Peril can help build a foundation for a career in this field by providing a detailed understanding of how warming permafrost impacts soil in the Arctic.
Hydrologist
Hydrologist
Hydrologists study the movement and quality of water on Earth, including water in the atmosphere, on the surface, and underground. Polar Peril may be a useful course for a student looking to enter into the field of hydrology, as it provides an understanding of water in the atmosphere and on the surface, and how water in these places in the Arctic is changing as the climate changes.
Water Resources Engineer
Water Resources Engineer
Water Resources Engineers focus on developing innovative strategies for managing the Earth's water resources. Polar Peril can help build a foundation for a career in this field by providing an overview of how climate change impacts the movement of water through the planet's coldest, driest region.
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Biologists study the behavior, ecology, and conservation of wild animals. Polar Peril may be a useful course for someone looking to enter into the field of wildlife biology, as it focuses heavily on the impacts of climate change on wildlife in the Arctic.
Climatologist
Climatologist
Climatologists study climate and its long-term changes. Polar Peril may be a useful course for someone looking to enter into the field of climatology with a focus on polar regions. The course provides an overview of what climate change looks like in the region with the most rapidly changing climate on Earth.
Oceanographer
Oceanographer
Oceanographers study the world's oceans, including their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Polar Peril may be a useful course for someone looking to enter into the field of oceanography, providing a foundation of knowledge about the ocean in polar regions and how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere in these regions.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/6w7yo3/the
Reading list
We've selected ten books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Polar Peril.
Save
Comprehensive overview of the Arctic climate system, covering topics such as the Arctic atmosphere, ocean, sea ice, and land ice. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the Arctic climate system and its role in the global climate system.
Save
Provides a comprehensive history of the Arctic, from its geological origins to the present day. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the Arctic and its people.
Collection of essays that explore the future of the Arctic in light of climate change. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing the Arctic in the coming decades.
Comprehensive assessment of the impacts of climate change on the Arctic. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the challenges facing the Arctic and its people.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Arctic climate system, and how it has changed over time.
Save
Lyrical and personal exploration of the Arctic, its people, and its wildlife. It beautiful and evocative work that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Arctic sea ice, and how it is changing in response to climate change.
Provides a concise overview of the Arctic, including its history, climate, and people.
Discusses the sea ice in the Arctic, and how it is affected by climate change.
Discusses the geophysics of the Arctic, and how it is affected by climate change.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/6w7yo3/the
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Rating
4.9
Effort
6 hours to complete
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
Instructor
Mark C. Serreze
Language
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Arctic Meltdown. It's comprised of three courses:
- Intro to the Arctic
- Polar Peril (viewing)
- The North Awakens
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