GEO-SCI 458
CLIMATIC CHANGE
Tuesday and Thursday
An increasing body of observations
gives a collective
picture of a warming world and other associated changes in the climate
system.
In this course we will
examine past, current, and future
climate change and
explore causes, impacts, and possible mitigation and adaptation
strategies. Climate
change is
in part attributable to human activities. It is an issue of concern
because of
its potentially escalating and far-reaching impacts. This has brought
the topic
of climate change and “Global Warming” very much into the public eye
and to the
forefront of the
political debate. Misunderstanding and/or misrepresentation of the
science often characterize the public and political debate. There is
clearly a
need for a wider understanding of the science and its inherent
limitations. This course
focuses on the science of Climate Change –
highlighting what is known and what remains uncertain. The goal is to
encourage
students to debate the issue actively
and critically, both verbally
and in writing.
The
first part of the semester (Week 1-10) is planned and organized in
detail. The second part of the semester (Week 11 - 16) will
be “seminar-style” with assigned readings of relevant papers, paper
presentations,
and discussions of topics related to climate change. The specific
topics and
schedule will be determined by student interest.
INSTRUCTOR
REQUIRED
TEXTBOOK
In
addition (highly recommended): IPCC (2001) “Climate
Change 2001 – Synthesis Report”. Available from http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/vol4/english/index.htm
as PDF.
SYLLABUS
|
Week |
Class |
Day |
Date |
Topic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #1 |
TU |
01/30/07 |
Introduction
– Syllabus – Projects |
|
1 |
Class #2 |
TH |
02/01/07 |
Climate Change – anthropogenic vs. natural change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #3 |
TU |
02/06/07 |
The
Greenhouse effect – climate feedbacks |
|
2 |
Class #4 |
TH |
02/08/07 |
The carbon
cycle - Impacts I: extreme events (heat waves ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #5 |
TU |
02/13/07 |
Impacts II:
floods, hurricanes, sea-level rise |
|
3 |
Class #6 |
TH |
02/15/07 |
Impacts III:
glaciers, water res., sea ice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #7 |
TU |
02/20/07 |
Intro to
Student projects |
|
4 |
Class #8 |
TH |
02/22/07 |
Impacts IV:
permafrost, natural hazards, biodiversity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class
#9 |
TU |
02/27/07 |
No
class (Individual Student Meetings) |
|
5 |
Class #10 |
TH |
03/01/07 |
Impacts V:
human health; agriculture |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #11 |
TU |
03/06/07 |
Abrupt
Climate Change |
|
6 |
Class #12 |
TH |
03/08/07 |
Natural
Archives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #13 |
TU |
03/13/07 |
Climate
Modeling |
|
7 |
Class #14 |
TH |
03/15/07 |
Emission
scenarios |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
No
Class |
TU |
03/20/07 |
UMass
Spring Break |
|
8 |
No
Class |
TH |
03/22/07 |
UMass
Spring Break |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #15 |
TU |
03/27/07 |
Future
Climate Change prediction |
|
9 |
Class #16 |
TH |
03/29/07 |
Mitigation
and Adaptation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #17 |
TU |
04/03/07 |
Energy
solutions |
|
10 |
Class #18 |
TH |
04/05/07 |
The politics
of Climate Change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #19 |
TU |
04/10/07 |
Seminar-style
paper discussions |
|
11 |
Class #20 |
TH |
04/12/07 |
Seminar-style
paper discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
No
Class |
TU |
04/17/07 |
No
class -UMass on Monday schedule |
|
12 |
Class #21 |
TH |
04/19/07 |
Seminar-style
paper discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #22 |
TU |
04/24/07 |
Seminar-style
paper discussions |
|
13 |
Class #23 |
TH |
04/26/07 |
Seminar-style
paper discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #24 |
TU |
05/01/07 |
In-Class
Presentations |
|
14 |
Class #25 |
TH |
05/03/07 |
In-Class
Presentations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #26 |
TU |
05/08/07 |
In-Class
Presentations |
|
15 |
Class #27 |
TH |
05/10/07 |
In-Class
Presentations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Class #28 |
TU |
05/15/07 |
In-Class
Presentations |
|
16 |
No
class |
TH |
05/17/07 |
No
class - Last day of classes on 05/15/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week 17 |
No
Class |
TH |
5/24/07 |
Final
papers due at 12:00 noon |