Pacific Northwest Climate Variability:
the record,  mechanisms, and  impacts
and the potential applications of climate forecasts

Honors Arts and Sciences 220A -- Fall 2001
Profs. David Battisti and Nathan Mantua

Overview

Does climate matter in the Pacific Northwest?  In this course students will be exposed to an overview of the climate system, the climate history of the Pacific Northwest, and how climate has impacted both natural resources, industry and human institutions in the region. A focus in this course will be how climate information has been used and ignored by society in the past century. We will concentrate on past reactions to climate events, as well as the use and utility of climate predictions and future climate scenarios associated with natural events (e.g. El Niño and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation) and the human-caused amplification of the natural Greenhouse Effect.

Grading/Evaluation:

The course grade will be based on a mid-term examination, weekly quizes and/or paper critiques, the group presentation of the research project, and the research paper:

midterm:                                                                      25%
weekly quizzes/critiques/assignments (10@2.5% each): 25%
final (group) presentation:                                            15%
research paper (group topic, but individually written):  35%

We will not grade on a curve. We will grade each of you on the quality of your work.

Late Assignment Policy: Late assignments or exams (without prior approval) will have a 10% penalty subtracted for each day late.

Course Structure:

Lectures: We will have, on average, four lectures per week. One day per week (usually Fridays) will be reserved for discussion and quizzes.

Readings: Throughout the course we will be reading and discussing articles from general science journals (e.g., Science and Nature). To facilitate our in-class discussions, you will provide a brief (1-3 page) critique of selected papers that will include a short summary of the salient results, a discussion of potential problems/uncertainties with the results, and issues that remain confusing to you.

Research Project: There will be a group research project (either 3 or 4 students per group). The projects will explore climate variability and it's impacts on ecosystems and societies in the Pacific Northwest, including an evaluation of the potential for improving public policy, business and/or resource management decisions with climate information.

Symposium: On Saturday 8 December we will have an all day Symposium where the results of your research will be presented.

David Battisti
honors 220A Homepage
url: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/honors_220/overview.html