Climate Impacts and Engineering

Climate change is one of the dominant global long-term trends affecting the work of the Applied Earth Sciences engineer. It impacts the boundary conditions of coastal defence systems, off-shore engineering, water management and large infrastructure design. Optimal risk management and long-term sustainability are only possible when the potential consequences of climate change are taken into account. Not only mitigation and adaptation, but also the science behind climate change is an engineering problem, with several open-standing questions to solve. This course provides students with the current scientific knowledge of the climate system, of climate change, and the role of processes in the atmosphere, land and ocean in climate change. Furthermore, students will gain experience in the interpretation of climate variability and global and regional climate change relevant to engineering challenges.

Assessment is based on the ability of the student to apply theoretical information to 1) explain the role of the ocean and atmosphere in climate and climate change, 2) illustrate that knowledge in exercises, 3) interpret specific processes of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system and 4) evaluate the role of climate for a specific engineering challenge.

Grade based on a (closed-book) written exam (50%) and written group report (50%). The minimum grade for the written exam is a 5. The resit in Q4 only applies to the written exam. The group report has to be completed in Q3.

For more information on grading, see article 14 in the Rules and Guidelines (RGBE):
https://www.tudelft.nl/en/student/ceg-student-portal/education/education-information/educational-rules-and-regulations

Permitted Materials during Exam: A calculator. This is a closed book exam.