Class Meeting Times and Location:
Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:20 in Law 127,
Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 to 11:20 in Kane 130, and
Section on Friday either from 10:30 to 11:20 or from 11:30 to 12:20 in Balmer 302.

An introductory course for nonscience majors on climate and climate change.  The class will be divided in three parts:

• Climate of the present.  We will examine the nature of the global climate system and the main processes controlling climate.  Topics covered will include the global energy balance, atmospheric circulation, the role of oceans and ice in climate, the carbon cycle, atmospheric composition.

• Climate of the past.   In this part of the class we will discuss how climate changed in the past on timescales ranging from billions of years to thousands of years. 

• Climate of the future.  Is the Earth getting warmer?  Why? How will climate change over the next 100 years? Should we be concerned? These are some of the current major environmental concerns which we will discuss in class.

Course Goals

(1) Learn about the climate system from modern instrumentation and theory.
(2) Learn about Earth's past climates and the evolution of life, environment, and atmospheric composition as a context for understanding modern climate change.
(3)  Learn the science necessary to understand modern environmental problems, especially from increasing greenhouse gases and ozone depleting chemicals. Empower students to participate in the debate over how to respond to global warming.

Textbook

"The Earth System" by Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert C. Crane, Prentice Hall, 2004.
Reading assignments from the text will be announced in class and listed on the web-based schedule. Auxiliary reading materials will be assigned occasionally, see the schedule.

Grading policy

Your grade will be based on the following: 

    Research Project and Poster Symposium 20%
    Midterms (2) total 25%
    Comprehensive Final Exam 20%
    Quizzes and Inclass Participation 20%
    Homework Assignments 15%

Research Project and Poster Symposium

You will form groups of 3–4 and research some aspect of Earth's climate.  The instructor and TA will suggest some topics before the second week of class.  Each person in the group must pursue a separate facet of the topic. Your grade on the project will be based on (1) a separate report written by each individual (which will need to be revised if you are taking this as a writing W class) and (2) a group poster presentation at our class poster symposia, held the final week of classes. Grades will be given to individuals for the report and to the group for the poster. Follow the link on the homepage to read more about the project assignment.

Homework assignments and quizzes

The assignments will require you to answer questions (mostly short answer) drawn from lectures, the textbook, and assigned auxiliary reading. Concepts will be emphasized with very little need for math. Assignments are due in class at 10:30 on the day indicated.  Late assignments will not be accepted without advanced arrangement because homework answers are posted on the day assignments are due.  Follow the link on the homepage to download copies of the problems and answers.

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