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Fundamentals of Climate Change
PCC 587
MW 12:00-1:20, ATG 310C
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PCC 587, Fall 2013
Fundamentals of Climate Change
Course description
We know that climate has natural variability, has changed dramatically
in the past, and will change in the future. We also know that humans
are altering the global environment, particularly through changes to
the carbon cycle, but also in other ways too. The question that we will
begin to answer is this class is: How does the current climate system
work? How can we predict how it will change in the future? The central
underlying theme of the class will be the relative roles of the
atmosphere, ocean, land surface, and cryosphere in driving climate
variability and change at different time and space scales.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course students will be able to identify the primary
processes responsible for the structure of the earth's climate both in
the past and in the future. The student will be able to explain
to a lay-person what controls the climate system and what role each of
the components, the atmosphere, the ocean and the cryosphere
plays. The student will also be able to evaluate the importance
of uncertainties in climate prediction. The student will be able
to critically read popular science articles on climate change and to
understand seminars on climate dynamics and climate change.
Grading policy
Each student will present one chapter of the new IPCC report as part of a
small group.
There will be occasional homework assignments (2-3) to reinforce quantitative
understanding of the lecture and reading material. There will be a
midterm in-class exam during week 7. The final will take the form of a
paper and short presentation. Relative weights for grading are as follows:
Group presentation 15%
Homework/class participation 25%
Midterm 25%
Final project 35%
Required readings
David Archer, Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast, 2nd Edition, Wiley.
IPCC Working Group I Fifth Assessment Report. Available here beginning on Sept 27
Other useful texts:
Hartmann, D.L. Global Physical Climatology, 1994; Academic Press.
Wallace & Hobbs, Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey (2006) Academic Press.
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