Pacific Northwest Climate Variability:

As a major part of the course grade (50% total), there will be a group research project (groups of 3 or 4 students, to be assigned by instructors). The projects will explore the impacts of climate variability on ecosystems and societies in the Pacific Northwest, including an evaluation of the potential for using climate information (historic behavior, forecasts, and/or scenarios for future climate) for improved resource management, business decisions, and/or public policy in the PNW.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Each group will choose a research topic and conduct collaborative studies from which each group will present their findings at an end-of-the-quarter symposium (Saturday, 8 December 2001). In addition, each student will write their own term paper of approximately 15 - 25 pages in length (type written, double-spaced, with proper citations).

The research projects should focus on the following tasks:

• to review evidence that documents and describes the ways in which climate variations impact or influence the topic of interest (anything from natural resources, industry, to human institutions)
• to describe how climate information might be used to improve resource management, business decisions, and/or public policy
• to describe potential (and/or real) barriers to the use of climate information

SOME EXAMPLE RESEARCH TOPICS:

• climate impacts on water supplies in the Pacific Northwest (PNW)
• climate information and the management of water supplies in the PNW
• climate impacts on PNW salmon
• climate and coastal hazards (erosion, bluff failures, coastal flooding, severe storms) and land use
• climate impacts on PNW skiing
• climate and forestry in the PNW
• impacts of climate variations on forest fires
• climate and agriculture
• climate impacts on ecosystems

There may be several  major themes that are indentified and summarized in the group presention. In these cases, it may be useful for the individual research papers to focus on a subset of the main streams. For example, the group presentation on the "Effects of climate on agriculture" may identify different impacts and problems that are faced by apple vs. wheat farmers. In the written paper, one student may focus on the apple farmers, another on the wheat farmers.

Students are encouraged to choose topics that are not on this list, but research topics must be cleared by the instructors.

Throughout the whole process (research, presentations, writing), students are encouraged to seek advice from the instructors for help/advise/references etc.

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