Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT

Polar Peril
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 7 hours
  • Course by University of Colorado Boulder
  • Offered by

About

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.

Modules

Course Overview

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • The Changing Arctic: Course Overview

Lectures

    • 4 Videos
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • The Shrinking Sea Ice Cover
  • Arctic Amplification of Recent Warming
  • Warming and Thawing Permafrost
  • Coastal Erosion

Week 1 Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Visible Indicators of Change

Lectures

    • 4 Videos
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Arctic Land Ice and Sea Level Rise
  • The Greenland Ice Sheet: Surface Mass Balance
  • The Greenland Ice Sheet: Dynamic Mass Balance
  • Death of the St. Patrick Bay Ice Caps

Week 2 Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Shrinking Land Ice

Lectures

    • 4 Videos
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Arctic Amplification and Mid-Latitude Weather Events
  • Extreme Weather Events in the Arctic
  • Arctic Change and Terrestrial Ecology
  • Arctic Change and Marine Ecology

Week 3 Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Cascading Impacts of a Warming Arctic

Lectures

    • 4 Videos
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Climates of the Past: The Study of Paleoclimatology
  • Climates of the Past: Data Sources
  • Climates of the Past: The Previous Million Years
  • Climates of the Past: The Holocene and Beyond

Week 4 Assessment

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Learning from the Past

Lectures

    • 4 Videos
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • Climate Model Basics
  • Projected Arctic Temperature and Precipitation
  • The Fate of the Sea Ice Cover
  • The Permafrost Carbon Feedback

Week 5 Assessment

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • The Future Arctic

1 Discussions

  • (Optional) Connecting Physical and Ecological Changes

Auto Summary

Explore the dramatic changes in the Arctic with "Polar Peril," a foundational course in Science & Engineering offered by Coursera. Delve into the shrinking sea ice, thawing permafrost, and their cascading effects on ecosystems. Covering past climates and future projections, this 420-minute course is ideal for learners starting in this domain. Available with Starter and Professional subscription options, it's perfect for those passionate about environmental science and climate change.

Mark C. Serreze
Instructor

Mark C. Serreze