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Instructor: |
Dr. Vic DiVenere |
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Office: |
Pell Hall 229C (knock vigorously on 227) |
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Office Hours: |
M, W, Th 12:30-2:00; T 3:30-4:30 & 8:30-9:00; or by appointment |
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Phone: |
299-2034 |
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Email: |
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Home Page |
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Department of Earth and Environmental Science: |
Room 133 Life Science, |
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Text: |
Earth's Climate: Past and Future (2nd Ed.) by William F. Ruddiman |
Course Objectives:
n this course we will systematically explore the science behind the study of global climate change from the deep past through to the present and near future. You should gain an appreciation for the changes the Earth has experienced in its four and a half billion year history to put the current prospect of climate change in perspective and gain insight into how well we understand the ongoing changes.
Textbook and Other Sources:
The textbook, Earth's Climate: Past and Future by William Ruddiman will lay the foundation for our discussions. Additionally, there will be assigned articles for class discussion. The web site will contain important summary information on lecture topics as well as reading lists and relevant web links. The lecture slide presentations will be posted in Blackboard.
Quizzes, Exercises, & Exams:
Several short quizzes will be given online in Blackboard. Each will be available online for one week. There will be several short written assignments. A midterm and final exam will be given. Exams may only be made up with a doctor's note. Makeup exams will be all written (short answer & essay).
Grading:
Active participation in weekly readings and class discussions is essential. Grades will be based on the level of participation, exercises, quizzes, and the midterm and final exams.
Note on Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism and Cheating will be dealt with severely. All work presented on exams, homework, and papers must be your own. Any written passages not in your own words must be in quote marks with the source noted. Sources must also be cited for information used (and expressed in your own words) in written assignments.
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Grading: |
Attendance & Participation |
10% |
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Written Exercises |
20% |
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Quizzes |
20% |
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Midterm Exam |
25% |
| Final Exam |
25%
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Important Dates: |
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| March 3 | Midterm Exam |
| March 17 | No Class - Spring Break |
| April 28 | Final Exam Review |
| May 5 | Final Exam |
General Lecture Topics |
Textbook Chapter |
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Climate System Overview |
1, 3, supplemental |
Climate Archives and Climate Models |
2 |
The Carbon Cycle, Precambrian Climate & “Snowball Earth” |
3 |
The Spread of Plants, Mountain Building and Glaciation |
4 |
CO2 Emissions and Cretaceous Greenhouse Climate |
5 |
From the Greenhouse to the Cenozoic Icehouse |
6 |
Orbital Variations and The Cenozoic Ice Ages |
7-10 |
The Last Glacial Maximum and Deglacial Climate |
12-13 |
Holocene (post-glacial) Climate |
14-15 |
Climate Change During the Last 1000 Years |
16 |
Climate Change Since 1850 |
17 |
Causes of Modern Climate Change |
18 |
Projections for Future Climate Change and Impacts |
19, supplemental |
| Mitigation of Climate Change |
See the notes page for detailed lecture topics and summary notes.