1. Equilibrium climate sensitivity (lambda and delta T2X).

2. Methods of paleocalibration, paleoanalogue, and "universal" curve.

3. Pleistocenic ice ages.

4. Typical periods of climate oscillation during the last ~800,000 years.

5. Astronomical theory of glacial ages (eccentricity, obliquity, precession). Radiative forcing of orbital changes.

6. Alternative explanation of the mechanism of glacial-interglacial cycles through the oscillatory mechanism in glacier-lithosphere-astenosphere system. Instability of continental glaciers.

7. Changes of atmospheric CO2 during glacial-interglacial cycles. "Biological pump" and evidences of changes in the marine biota productivity during ice-ages.

8. Glacial-interglacial changes in the oceanic circulation (intensification of oceanic circulation during ice ages through the increase of surface wind stress and conservation of momentum ).

9. Carbonate system of the sea water (see handout). Dependence of equilibrium partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on temperature, pH, salinity and alkalinity of the sea water.

10. Saturation of sea water with carbonates and Carbonate Compensation Depth (why it exists in the ocean ?).

11. Warming of the global climate during the last deglaciation (changes in zonal precipitation, delay of sea level versus CO2 growth). Typical ratio between different components of global radiative forcing during glacial-interglacial transitions.

12. Climate and History (by Lamb "Climate, history and the Modern World", pp.111-264).

13. Features of warm climates: three warm epochs in the past: Pliocene Climatic Optimum (3.3-4.3 My ago), Last Interglacial (Eemian ~125 Ky ago), Holocene Climatic Optimum (~6 Ky ago).

14. Instrumental climatic trends (temperature, precipitation, sea level). Problem of statistical confounding of global warming, natural climate variability.

15. Anthropogenic emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Total radiative forcing from greenhouse gases during the last 100 years.

16. Atmospheric aerosol (mineral and sulfate aerosol, tropospheric versus stratospheric, impact on climate).

17. Combined effect of greenhouse gases and atmospheric aerosol on the global radiative forcing during the last 100 years.

18. Forecast of future climate. Emission of anthropogenic CO2 (energy consumption, growth of the World population, trends in economy). Maximum possible level of carbon dioxide in the future atmosphere. Role of deep carbonate deposits in dumping of atmospheric CO2 concentration.

19. Transient versus equilibrium response of the global climate system to increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration (distributions of temperature and precipitation).

20. Consequences of the global warming (agriculture and health).