• University of Bergen logo
  • Logo - Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

Causes of Climate Change

Learn the physical processes behind climate variation around the world to better understand the causes of climate change.

26,331 enrolled on this course

Iceberg melting in sunset

Causes of Climate Change

26,331 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Uncover the past, present, and future of the causes of climate change

This free online course provides the basis for understanding the underlying physical processes governing climate variations in the past, present and future.

On this course, you’ll explore the main external forcing mechanisms such as the sun, volcanoes, and changes in greenhouse gasses and aerosols, which can contribute to changing the global energy budget and initiate climate variations.

You’ll also consider the role of internal feedback mechanisms and the energy transport in the atmosphere and ocean, in order to understand regional variations in climate.

You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the complexities of the climate system, and be able to put the recently observed, man-made changes in climate in the context of past natural changes.

To uncover the true causes of climate change, you’ll learn with experts from The University of Bergen. They host the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, the largest centre for natural science-based climate research in Scandinavia.

Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 15 seconds Did you ever wonder what drives the climate system? Or did you ever wonder why there is such a large contrast in climate between our location here on the west coast of Norway, compared to southern Greenland, which are all at the same latitude?

Skip to 0 minutes and 30 seconds My name is Kerim Hestnes Nisancioglu, I am a professor at the Department of Earth Science at the University of Bergen. Here in Bergen it is not uncommon that it rains up to 3 meters in one year. This is because of the frequent storms coming off the ocean and hitting the mountains surrounding our beautiful city. It is therefore no surprise that modern meteorology was developed here in Bergen. In this course we will try to answer many of the key questions relating to the dynamics of the climate system and what drives it. We will also take you on a brief tour of past changes in climate and their causes, as well as discuss the implications of man made emissions of greenhouse gases.

Skip to 1 minute and 11 seconds My energy source today is this sandwich. Together with professor Asgeir Sorteberg we’ll be guiding you through 6 lectures, including interactive problem sets and background reading. Along the way we will visit heavy snowfall in the mountains surrounding Bergen, as well as calving glaciers on the coast of Greenland. On behalf of the University of Bergen I hope you’ll find this course both stimulating, challenging and fun.

What topics will you cover?

  • Radiative forcing
  • Climate feedbacks and heat transport
  • Past changes in climate and ocean heat uptake

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Reflect on the complexities of the climate system, and be able to put the recently observed, man-made changes in climate in the context of past natural changes.
  • Explain the underlying physical processes governing climate variations in the past, present and future.
  • Describe the role of atmosphere and ocean energy transport and their impact on regional variations in climate.
  • Summarise the main feedback mechanisms in the climate system.
  • Describe the role of ocean heat uptake for the timescales of response to changes in climate forcing.

Who is the course for?

This course is intended for those with an interest in the physical aspects of climate variations and change.

It does not require any previous experience of studying the causes of climate change, but high school level mathematics and physics is recommended.

Who will you learn with?

Professor of Climate Dynamics at the Department of Earth Science at the University of Bergen and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

https://kerim.b.uib.no @nissenjo #FLclimatechange

I am Professor in atmospheric dynamics working at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen (GFI) and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR).

I'm doing my PhD at the University of Bergen, Norway, in paleoceanography. Currently, I am teaching assistant for the related course SDG213 at the University of Bergen.

Hi - I'm a postdoctoral fellow at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen. My research is based on climate model projections of sea level rise in the Pacific region.

Who developed the course?

University of Bergen

The University of Bergen (UiB) offers first-class education and cutting-edge research at our location in the city centre of Bergen, Norway.

Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$54/one-off payment

$39.99

For your first month. Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 2 Jan 2025

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Tests to check your learningticktickcross
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$39.99

For your first month. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 2 Jan 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLclimatechange to talk about this course on social media.