Global Warming Science
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this introductory course on the physical science behind climate change. Lectures and course materials cover the drivers of climate, including solar variability, orbital mechanics, greenhouse gases, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and volcanic and soil aerosols, alongside the evidence for past and present climate shifts. Students examine consequences such as sea level rise, changing precipitation patterns, shifts in vegetation, storm intensity, and disease incidence, and the course introduces basic climate modeling used to project these outcomes. It also reviews the scientific basis for proposed mitigation and adaptation strategies. As with other MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, materials are free to access under a Creative Commons license, with no certificate offered. The course suits students seeking a grounded, physical-science understanding of climate change rather than a policy-focused treatment.