Summer School 2024

Studying the carbon cycle and anthropogenic disturbances

Sanam Vardag

Anthropogenic emissions are causing atmospheric greenhouse gases to rise and are currently leading to man-made climate change. Future climate models predict a further temperature rise dependent on the cumulative anthropogenic emissions and the future behavior of the climate system. Therefore, understanding the processes driving the carbon cycle is important estimate the expected warming as well as the consequences of climate change.

In this course we will dive into our current knowledge of the climate system and the physical basics of the carbon cycle. We will talk about the open and pressing scientific questions as well as about the methods we have to analyse the carbon cycle. These methods include different measurement and modelling approaches. We will finally discuss the societal implications to foster effective climate action in a timely manner.