Climate and Climate Change - ATMS 211

Home

Calendar

Lecture Slides

Home

Class

Lecture: MTWTh 10:30-11:20, MGH 389
Quiz Section AA: Fri 10:30-11:20, JHN 175
Quiz Seciton AB: Fri 11:30-12:20, JHN 111

Professor

Richard Gammon
e-mail: gammon@u.washington.edu
phone: 206-221-6744
office: OSB 409
office hours: Tues 11:30-12:30, Thurs 2:30-3:30, or by appointment

TA

Nicole Feldl
e-mail: feldl@u.washington.edu
office: JHN 324
office hours: Mon 1:00-2:00, Tues 9:00-10:00, or by appointment

Required Text

  • The Earth System by Kump, L. R., J. F. Kasting, and R. G. Crane, Prentice Hall, 3rd ed., 2010. A copy is on reserve at the Odegaard Undergraduate Library.

Course Description:

A pdf of the syllabus and course description may be downloaded here. The weekly readings, handouts, and labs may be found as part of the course Calendar page. The course goals are to:

  • Acquire a basic interdisciplinary understanding of

    • the Earth as a living system with strong feedbacks

    • how the climate system works

    • how climate has changed in the remote and recent past

    • how climate may change in the near future due to human activity

  • Develop quantitative skills in

    • critical thinking on environmental science issues

    • applications of basic math/physical science concepts to Earth science problems

    • making 'back-of-the-envelope' estimations with associated uncertainties

Homeworks:

Homework will be assigned weekly on Wednesdays (appearing on the website). Homeworks are due the following Wednesday at the end of lecture. Late submittal will be penalized 25% (end of day Wed.), 50% (Thursday lecture). The lowest homework score of the quarter will be dropped.

Grading:

  • Homework 15%

  • Mid-Term Exam 1 (Tues. April 20) 15%

  • Mid-Term Exam 2 (Tues. May 18) 15%

  • Paper 15%

  • Participation 10%

  • Final Exam (Mon. June 7) 30%