SYLLABUS
Class
Meeting Times and Location:
Lectures: MTWTh 1:30-2:20 in Johnson Hall 175
Discussion section A: Fridays 1:30-2:20 pm in ATG
310c
Discussion section B:
Fridays 2:30-3:20 pm in ATG 310c
Instructor:
Lyatt
Jaeglé
e-mail: jaegle@atmos.washington.edu
Phone: (206) 685-2679
Office: Room 302 in the Atmospheric
Sciences Building
Office hours: Mondays after class
(2:30-3:30 pm),
or by appointment (send me an e-mail!)
Teaching
Assistant: Qiong Yang
e-mail: qyang@atmos.washington.edu
Phone:(206) 543-8108
Office: Room 324 in
the Atmospheric
Sciences Building
Office hours: Tuesdays
2:30-3:30
pm, and Thursdays 10:30-12 am, or by appointment
Course Description
This is an introductory course for non-science 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 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 and the influence of human activities: Is the Earth getting warmer? Why? How will climate change in the future? Should we be concerned? What can we do about it?
Acquire a basic understanding of
- the Earth's climate - how it works, how it has changed in the past
- the potential for future climate change
- critical thinking on environmental/scientific issues
- applications of basic math, physics, and chemistry
None. Open to all undergraduates. A working knowledge of high-school algebra and physical sciences will be useful; however, the basic tools necessary for this course will be reviewed and practiced in class and during discussion sections.
Textbook
"The Earth System" by Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert C. Crane, Prentice Hall, 2nd edition, 2004.
The lectures will largely follow the textbook. Each week the students will be required to read material of direct relevance to the class, but the curious student would do well to read the entire book. In addition, after each class, lecture notes and slides will posted on the web. These notes will summarize the main topics covered and provide additional material not included in the book (such as web links).
Course Requirements
- Attendance on Mon-Thurs is essential and required. A significant fraction of the grade (15%) comes from in-class activities. These activities are unscheduled and occur throughout the quarter.
- Friday discussions/review/tutorial sessions are designed to be useful to all students and should be attended.
- Homework assignments will be assigned regularly during the quarter. Assignments are due in class at 1:30 pm on the day indicated. Late homework will be penalized 10% per school day. Homework handed in more than 3 days late will receive no credit.
- Exams: There will be two midterms and one final exam. (PLEASE NOTE: Makeup exams will only be given in extreme cases and with advance notification to the instructor.)
- The research projects are an opportunity for you to learn about a climate-related topic in more depth and to share your knowledge with classmates and with the instructor and TA. The research project will consist of a poster presentation. Students will work in groups of 2 and present their work at a poster symposium on December 4 & 5. Further information on this project will be available later.
- Students who choose to take this course to fulfill their W credit will have to write a a 10-page paper on the topic of their poster.
- Extra credit can be earned by attending suggested lectures on climate-related topics and writing up brief reports.
- Assignments 25%
- Midterms 20%
- Final exam 20%
- Research poster 20%
- In class exercises, participation 15%
Last
Updated:
09/21/2007
Contact
the instructor at: jaegle@atmos.washington.edu