| Date |
Lecture topic |
Required reading |
Assignt.
due |
| |
WEEK 1 |
Chapter
1; Chapter 2 (p.19-25; 30-32) |
|
| M 3/26 |
Introduction and
course overview |
|
|
| Tu 3/27 |
Synopsis of Chapter
1: Global change |
|
|
| W 3/28 |
Introduction to
systems and feedbacks |
|
|
| Th 3/29 |
Daisyworld |
|
|
| Fri 3/30 |
Radiation I |
|
|
| |
WEEK
2 |
Chapter
3 |
|
| M 4/2 |
Radiation II |
|
|
| Tu 4/3 |
Planetary energy
balance |
|
|
| W 4/4 |
The greenhouse
effect |
|
#1 |
| Th 4/5 |
Vertical mixing
in the atmosphere |
|
|
| Fri 4/6 |
Review session
+
form groups for projects |
|
|
| |
WEEK 3 |
Chapter
4 |
|
| M 4/9 |
How moisture affects
convection |
|
|
| Tu 4/10 |
Poleward transport
of heat by atmospheric motions |
|
|
| W 4/11 |
Global patterns
of temperature and rainfall |
|
#2 |
| Th 4/12 |
Climate zones;
Factors that influence temperature and vegetation |
|
|
| Fr 4/13 |
Review session
for midterm #1 |
|
|
| |
WEEK 4 |
Chapters
5-6 |
|
| M
4/16 |
Midterm #1 |
|
|
| Tu 4/17 |
Hydrosphere; Structure
of the oceans |
|
|
| W 4/18 |
The marine biosphere;
Wind driven ocean circulation |
|
|
| Th 4/19 |
Thermohaline circulation |
|
|
| Fr 4/20 |
The cryosphere |
|
|
| |
WEEK 5 |
Chapters
7-8 |
|
| M 4/23 |
Plate tectonics |
|
|
| Tu 4/24 |
The carbon cycle |
|
|
| W 4/25 |
The carbon cycle
(cont.) |
|
|
| Th 4/26 |
Evolution of the
atmosphere; rise of oxygen; Earth, the 'Goldilocks' planet |
|
|
| Fr 4/27 |
Review session
- projects |
|
|
| |
WEEK 6 - Student
presentations |
Chapters
9-11 |
|
| M 4/30 |
Group A: Overview
of history of Earth |
|
|
| Tu 5/1 |
Group B: The past
100 million years |
|
|
| W 5/2 |
Group C: The past
1 million years |
|
|
| Th 5/3 |
Group D: The past
20,000 years |
|
|
| Fr 5/4 |
Group E: The past
2,000 years
Group X: Evidence of climate
Group Y: Impact of climate on human history |
|
|
| |
WEEK 7 |
Chapter
12 |
|
| M 5/7 |
Past climates
and ice-cores |
Guest lecture by
Melanie Fitzpatrick |
project write-up |
| Tu 5/8 |
Review of paleoclimates |
|
|
| W 5/9 |
The Milankovitch
theory |
|
# 3 |
| Th 5/10 |
"The Big Chill"
BBC documentary |
|
|
| Fr 5/11 |
Evidence for
Global Warming |
Guest Lecture by
Richard Gammon |
|
| |
WEEK 8 |
Chapter
13 |
|
| M 5/14 |
Review session
for midterm #2 |
|
|
| Tu 5/15 |
Midterm
# 2 |
|
|
| W 5/16 |
Human impact on
the carbon cycle |
|
|
| Th 5/17 |
Physics of greenhouse
warming |
|
|
| Fr 5/18 |
NOVA Video Part
I |
|
|
| |
WEEK 9 |
|
|
| M 5/21 |
NOVA Video Part
II |
|
|
| Tu 5/22 |
Impacts of greenhouse
warming |
Guest Lecture by
Philip Mote |
|
| W 5/23 |
Greenhouse warming
policy issues |
|
|
| Th 5/24 |
Student discussion
of greenhouse warming opinion pieces |
|
# 4 |
| Fr 5/25 |
Acid Rain |
|
|
| |
WEEK 10 |
Chapter
14 |
|
| M 5/28 |
Memorial Day
- no class |
|
|
| Tu 5/29 |
Ozone Hole I |
|
|
| W 5/30 |
Ozone Hole II |
|
|
| Th 5/31 |
The future of the
ozone layer |
|
# 5 |
| Fr 6/1 |
Review for Final |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| M 6/4 |
FINAL EXAM 8:30-10:20
am |
|
|