First Semester

Module Number: ESW-CLIMET

Qualification Objectives:

Students have expanded their prior knowledge of scientific methods or technical skills relevant to climate studies.

Contents:

Students supplement their prior knowledge from bachelor's degrees in the following topics and methods:

Numerical Solutions of Differential Equations and Programming: Introduction to numerical methods and concepts for evaluating accuracy and uncertainty.
Introduction to Scientific Programming using Python: Basic Python programming and its application in statistics.
Introduction to Statistics: Probability theory, probability density functions, parameter estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, multivariate linear regression, including confidence intervals for extrapolations.
Physical Earth System Processes: Further exploration of concepts from the Physical Earth System Processes lecture through practical examples.
Introduction to Social Science Methods: Designed for students with a background in natural sciences or geography, this course introduces relevant quantitative and qualitative research methods in social sciences.

Teaching Formats (Indicated in Semester Hours per Week - SWS):

• Lecture + Exercise Numerical Solutions of Differential Equations and Programming: 2 SWS
• Exercise Introduction to Scientific Programming using Python: 2 SWS
• Lecture + Exercise Introduction to Statistics: 2 SWS
• Exercise Physical Earth System Processes: 2 SWS
• Lecture + Exercise Introduction to Social Science Methods: 2 SWS

Module Examination:

• Numerical Solutions of Differential Equations and Programming: Coursework completion
• Introduction to Statistics: Term paper
• Introduction to Social Science Methods: Term paper and presentation
• Physical Earth System Processes: Coursework completion

Workload in Individual Module Components (Indicated in Credit Points - CP):

• Lecture + Exercise Numerical Solutions of Differential Equations and Programming: 3 CP
• Lecture + Exercise Introduction to Statistics: 3 CP
• Lecture + Exercise Introduction to Social Science Methods: 3 CP
• Exercise Introduction to Scientific Programming using Python: 3 CP
• Exercise Physical Earth System Processes: 3 CP

Students choose three courses.

Total Workload of the Module: 9 Credit Points

Duration: One semester

Frequency of Offering: Annually in the winter semester

Module Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Jörn Behrens

Module Number: ESW-CLISYS

Qualification Objectives:

Students are familiar with fundamental concepts of the physical and biogeochemical aspects of the climate system. They have detailed knowledge of key physical and biogeochemical processes that are essential for climate dynamics and biogeochemical exchange processes.

Contents:

Physical Earth System Processes: Description of the mean state and circulation of the ocean and atmosphere. Ocean-atmosphere interactions. Radiation balance. Global energy budget and transport. Thermohaline circulation. Climate variability on decadal to paleoclimatic timescales. Observations and modeling of the climate system.

Biogeochemical Earth System Processes: Biogeochemical processes relevant on a global scale. This includes the explanation of hydrological, atmospheric, extraterrestrial, geological, biological, and human-induced causes of environmental changes over timescales ranging from decades to thousands and millions of years.

Teaching Formats (Indicated in Semester Hours per Week - SWS):

• Lecture Physical Earth System Processes: 2 SWS
• Lecture + Exercise Biogeochemical Earth System Processes: 4 SWS

Module Completion:
Module Examination: Oral exam (maximum duration: 30 minutes).

Workload in Individual Module Components (Indicated in Credit Points - CP):

• Lecture Physical Earth System Processes: 3 CP
• Lecture + Exercise Biogeochemical Earth System Processes: 6 CP

Total Workload of the Module: 9 Credit Points

Duration: One semester

Frequency of Offering: Annually in the winter semester

Module Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Johanna Baehr

Module Number: ESW-CLISOC

Qualification Objectives:

Students are familiar with fundamental concepts of economic and social science aspects of the climate system. They possess detailed knowledge of key economic and social science processes and can apply this knowledge to climate-related issues.

Contents:

Climate-related Economics Basics: Principles of economic welfare theory, including the concept of utility functions, social preferences, and social planners; fundamental theorems of welfare economics and types of market failures. Integrated assessment of climate targets, derivation of the costs of political interventions, and greenhouse gas reporting based on IPCC guidelines for AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) within the UNFCCC process. This is demonstrated using the example of negotiations on accounting for GHG mitigation measures in the forestry sector and forest-based industries.
Climate-related Social Science Basics: Introduction to key social science concepts such as social roles, norms, and organizations. The course focuses on climate change communication as a crucial example of science communication. It explores the logic of mass media and the interactions between scientists, journalists, and other stakeholders in public climate change debates. A continuous theme throughout the course is the introduction to social science thinking and how it contributes to an integrated understanding of climate change.

Teaching Formats (Indicated in Semester Hours per Week - SWS):

• Lecture + Exercise Climate-related Economics Basics: 4 SWS
• Lecture + Exercise Climate-related Social Science Basics: 4 SWS

Module Examination:

• Climate-related Economics Basics: Written exam
• Climate-related Social Science Basics: Presentation and term paper

Workload in Individual Module Components (Indicated in Credit Points - CP):

• Lecture + Exercise Climate-related Economics Basics: 6 CP
• Lecture + Exercise Climate-related Social Science Basics: 6 CP

Total Workload of the Module: 12 Credit Points

Duration: One semester

Frequency of Offering: Annually in the winter semester

Module Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Hermann Held