ATM S 211 - Winter 2004

Home Description Grading Policy Textbook	ATMS 211: Climate and Climate Change

	Class Meeting Times and Location: Daily: M-Th from 10:30 to 11:20 am in Room MEB 238. F: 10:30 to 12.20 in Room BLM 209. Instructor: David Catling e-mail: davidc@atmos.washington.edu Office: Room 422 in the Atmospheric Sciences Building Office hours: Wednesdays 11:30-12:30 pm, or by e-mail appointment Teaching Assistant: Louise Leahy e-mail: lleahy@atmos.washington.edu Office: Room 420 in the Atmospheric Sciences Building Office hours: Tuesdays 12.30-1.30pm; Thursdays 2.30-3.30pm
	Course Description This is 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 basic atmospheric composition and structure, the greenhouse effect, atmospheric circulation, the role of oceans in climate, and the carbon cycle. The role of climate in Earth and human history. In this part of the class we will discuss how climate has changed in the past on timescales ranging from billions of years to thousands of years. Global change: Is the Earth getting warmer? Why? How will climate change over the next 100 years? Should we be concerned? We will look at some of the current major environmental concerns. Other goals of the course include: the development of critical thinking skills required for responsible citizens to be properly informed about environmental issues and be able to separate the 'wheat' (accurate information) from the 'chaff' (misinformation spread by partisan factions) the development of an appreciation and awe for the incredibly complex natural world around us Prerequisites None. Open to all undergraduates. Note that the course caters towards nonscience majors and provides 5 credits towards the Natural World requirement. Grading policy Your grade will be based on exams (one midterm and one final exam), a number of homeworks, and possible bonus credit opportunities. About 5 or 6 homeworks will be set during the course. Grades will be apportioned as follows (unless you are doing optional writing credit): Homeworks 35% Midterms 30% Final exam 35% Bonus credits opportunities up to 10% You are expected to attend lectures and participate in class. There will be no make-up exams except in extreme cases (e.g., serious illness or death in the immediate family), in which case you must contact the instructor in advance of the exam. Homework assignments are due in class at 10:30 am on the day indicated. *Late assignments will not be accepted without advance arrangement.* Bonus credits can be gained by attending additional lectures on climate-related topics (to be announced in class) and writing up a 1-page report on the lecture. Required Textbook *"The Earth System"* (2nd Edition) by Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert C. Crane, Prentice Hall, 2004. ($77 at the Ubookstore). The lectures will often follow textbook material but will also include material outside of the textbook of topical relevance. Each week the students will be required to read material of direct relevance to the class. Topical articles (e.g. on global warming) distributed via weblinks may also be required reading. In addition, after each class, lecture notes 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)
BACK TO TOP	Contact the instructor at: davidc@atmos.washington.edu