Overview
Humanity has reached a critical point with climate change. Greenhouse gas concentrations
in the atmosphere have increased persistently since the start of the industrial revolution
and they are set to increase rapidly because we continue to burn fossil fuels at ever
increasing rates as nations around the world strive for higher standards of living.
A direct result is that the human race is pushing Earth’s climate outside the range
that has existed since human civilization began. The choices nations make in the coming
years will determine the direction for civilization, and Earth’s climate, for decades
and centuries.
Most concerned people including college students hear only the public discourse on
climate change. It is therefore important that Stony Brook offer a program of study
which focuses on what is scientifically known about the consequences of our near-term
choices for Earth’s long-term prospects. The good news is that climate science has
produced great clarity about how the system works and how human activity is disturbing
it. Furthermore, options for sustainable economic and social development that curtail
climate risks have been identified. These options imply that we can minimize climate
change vulnerabilities and realize new opportunities with manageable but sustained
effort.
An understanding of climate science is essential to the interpretation of climate
variations and change, as well as the assessment of their impacts on diverse human
populations and ecological systems. Climate data must be analyzed and interpreted
in order to formulate effective responses and plan actions to meet specific climate
challenges. The Stony Brook Climate Science program prepares students to be climate
professionals who can help develop and implement strategies for mitigation of, as
well as adaptation to, adverse impacts of climate change. Students in this program
learn basic scientific information on processes in the atmosphere and the ocean that
drive climate change and are informed about current and anticipated climate impacts
and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. Students learn about threats to
coastal environments, economic and social impacts of climate and how the various aspects
of climate have evolved over the history of the Earth.
A key aspect of climate science is the emergence of very large and increasing amounts
of data about the atmosphere, the ocean, human and animal populations in diverse environments
and multiple parts of the global ecosystems. There are extensive data on extreme events
like hurricanes, floods and drought and on human, animal and plant health. Earth System
Models generate expected future changes in all aspects of the climate system. The
students in this program become familiar with the types of data available, learn quantitative
skills for analyzing climate data from observations and model simulations to discern
trends and possible future scenarios.
The curriculum is designed to meet the current needs of employers in climate applications.
This gives our students confidence that their studies are pertinent to building a
rewarding career which would be relevant to society’s crucial needs.
Information on research opportunities may be found by contacting faculty directly.
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