Our polar oceans are changing faster than almost anywhere else on the planet. In both hemispheres, rising temperatures and melting ice are transforming ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and even global geopolitics. In this course, we will explore what makes these icy oceans so sensitive to climate change and how these seemingly distant environmental shifts may affect our global society. Together, we will investigate how the ocean, cryosphere, and atmosphere interact; how these dynamics ripple through the broader Earth system; and the challenges of studying these harsh and remote environments. Through lectures, readings, and in-class discussion, students will engage with cutting-edge research and big-picture questions about the future of the polar regions. We will also take a field trip to Monterey Bay to meet polar scientists and learn firsthand what it takes to conduct research in the cold, challenging conditions of the polar regions.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-SMA
Our polar oceans are changing faster than almost anywhere else on the planet. In both hemispheres, rising temperatures and melting ice are transforming ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and even global geopolitics. In this course, we will explore what makes these icy oceans so sensitive to climate change and how these seemingly distant environmental shifts may affect our global society. Together, we will investigate how the ocean, cryosphere, and atmosphere interact; how these dynamics ripple through the broader Earth system; and the challenges of studying these harsh and remote environments. Through lectures, readings, and in-class discussion, students will engage with cutting-edge research and big-picture questions about the future of the polar regions. We will also take a field trip to Monterey Bay to meet polar scientists and learn firsthand what it takes to conduct research in the cold, challenging conditions of the polar regions.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.