Lecture Schedule - Fall 2007

Introduction and Class Overview (PPT).

Cultural Responses to Climate Change: Lessons from the Past. (PPT, PDF)

Reading: deMenocal, P.B., Cultural responses to climate change during the late Holocene, Science, 292, 667-673, 2001 (PDF).
(This is a pdf file. It requires Acrobat Reader to view.)

Reading: E. Kolbert The Climate of Man - II. The New Yorker (May 2, 2005) (PDF)

Reading: Haug, G. et al., Climate and the collapse of Mayan civilization. Science, 299, pp. 1731-1735 (PDF).

Music for the day: Sting, Heavy Cloud, No Rain; Keb Mo: Rainmaker, Paul Simon, She Moves On

Human population: Where we've been and where we're going, demographic changes. (PPT, PDF) September 10, 2007 8:03 PM

Reading. G. Harding. The Tragedy of the Commons. Science, 162. pp. 1243-1248 (PDF).

Reading. E. Onstrom et al. Revisiting the Commons: Local lessons, Global Challenges. Science, pp. 278-282 (PDF).

Reading: Transitions in World Population. 43 pp. Population Bulletin, 2004 (Population Reference Bureau) (PDF).

Reading: K. Conca and G. Dabelko, Green Planet Blues, Ch. 1, pp. 27-31.

Watch this Hans Rosling presentation on demographic and economic trends over the last 50 years (Prof. Public Health, Sweden).

Try Google's GapMinder sofware yourself!

In the News (9/12/07): NYT: Child Mortality at a Record Low: Further Drop Seen (Link)

Homework 1 handout today (Here it is: PDF), due in class on Mon, Sept. 24

Swiss Movement: The Generation Gap

The Emergence of Global Environmental Politics. (PPT, PDF) September 12, 2007 12:27 PM

Reading: G.T. Miller, Environmental Science, Ch. 2, Environmental Economics, Politcs, and Worldviews, pp., 23-52. (e-reserves)

Reading: Pamela Chasek, David Downie and Janet Welsh Brown, Global Environmental Politics, 4th Edition. Boulder: Westview Press, 2006; German edition, 2007. (e-reserves)

Reading: K. Conca and G. Dabelko, Green Planet Blues, Ch. 3-5, pp. 40-64. (e-reserves)

Reading. Costanza et al., 1997 The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387, pp. 256-260. (PDF).

Bruce Cockburn: When it's Gone it's Gone; Timmy Thomas: Why Can't We Live Together

The Co-Evolution Challenge (PPT, PDF) September 17, 2007 1:34 PM

Reading: J. Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, pp. 13-32, 85-92, 176-191, 195-214, 405-425.

Reading: P. Eisenberger, The Co-Evolution Challenge (PDF).

Sustainable Development (Part 1: PPT, PDF) (Part 2: PPT, PDF) September 19, 2007 11:44 AM

In the News: NYT: Earth Science meets Social Science (link)

Module 1:The Science and Policy of Ozone Depletion.

Solar Radiation and the Earth's Atmosphere (PPT, PDF) September 24, 2007 3:10 PM

Reading: Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert Crane, 2nd. ed. (2003) The Earth System: An Introduction to Earth Systems Science. Ch. 3. (e-reserves soon - PDF).

A short, useful Wikipedia entry on Solar Radiation

Natural ozone production and destruction and the role of CFC's. (PPT, PDF) September 25, 2007 9:59 PM

Reading: G.T. Miller, Environmental Science, Ch. 13, Climate Change and Ozone Loss, pp. 318-326. (e-reserves)

Reading: Fahey, D.W. (Lead Author). World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and and Monitoring Project. 20 Questions and Answers about the Ozone Layer: 2006 update (read Q&As 1-14: PDF).

Reading:World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and and Monitoring Project - Report no. 50. Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2006, Executive Summary. (PDF).

In the News: Ozone status this week (link).

Human Health and Ecological Risks of Ozone Depletion.

Supp. Reading: Longstreth et al., 1998. Health Risks. J. Photochem and Photobiol., 46, pp. 20-39.

Homework 2 handout today (here) Due Oct. 8.

Development and Implementation of Policies to Mitigate effects of Ozone Depletion: The Montreal Protocol. (PPT, PDF) September 30, 2007 11:33 AM

Reading: Fahey, D.W. (Lead Author). World Meteorological Organization, Global Ozone Research and and Monitoring Project. 20 Questions and Answers about the Ozone Layer: 2006 update (read Q&As 15-20: PDF).

Reading: Pamela Chasek, David Downie and Janet Welsh Brown, Global Environmental Politics, 4th Edition. Boulder: Westview Press, 2006; German edition, 2007 (pp. 106-114 and chapter 4). (e-reserves).

Reading: Morrisette, P. M. 1989. The evolution of policy responses to stratospheric ozone depletion. Natural Resources Journal 29: 793-820.

Module 2: The Science and Policy of El Niño-related climate variability Lapse Rate, Moisture, Clouds, and Thunderstorms* (PPT , PDF) October 2, 2007 10:24 PM

This lecture is shared with The Climate System course.

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, "The Blue Planet". Ch. 12. pp. 271-291. (e-reserves)

* Web poster implementation plan due * (what's this?)

Music for the day: Joni Mitchell & Willie Nelson, Cool Water; Eric Lindell, Sunny Daze

LAMONT OPEN HOUSE "Cool Science": Saturday Oct. 6; free shuttle bus from 118th & Amsterdam at 930am, every 30 mins (details are here).

Atmospheric Forces and Balances*. These lectures are shared with The Climate System course. (PPT, PDF) October 8, 2007 9:45 AM

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, DB, "The Blue Planet", Ch. 13, 293-313. (e-reserves)

Homework 2 due in class today.

General Atmospheric Circulation and Climate Zones* (PPT, PDF) October 10, 2007 2:24 PM

Here's an applet demonstrating geostrophic balance and winds from the Univ. of Wisconsin - try it out!

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, DB, "The Blue Planet", Ch. 13, 293-313. (e-reserves)
Reading: Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert Crane, 2nd. ed. (2003) The Earth System: An Introduction to Earth Systems Science. Ch. 4, pp 57-74. (e-reserves)

Music for the day: Jimmie Cliff, Pressure Drop; Ron Sexsmith, Cold Hearted Wind

Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling, and the ENSO system*. (PPT, PDF) October 15, 2007 9:59 AM

Reading: Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert Crane, 2nd. ed. (2003) The Earth System: An Introduction to Earth Systems Science. Ch. 12 pp 243-248. (e-reserves)

International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (Lamont, Columbia Univ.): ENSO Basics (link); Advanced ENSO Theory (link).

Music for the day: Maceo Parker, Children's World; Sting, Heavy Cloud, No Rain; Keb Mo: Rainmaker.

Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling, and the ENSO system*. (PPT, PDF) October 15, 2007 9:59 AM

Predicting the (near) future: ENSO forecasting models, skill levels. (PPT, PDF).

International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (Lamont, Columbia Univ.): ENSO Climate Prediction (link);

Ron Sexsmith, I know it well; Paul Simon, I know what I know;

ENSO Regional and Global Climate Impacts. Policy Development and Implementation to Mitigate effects of ENSO climate variability.(PPT, PDF)

Homework 3 due in class today.

Module 3: The Science and Policy of Global Warming

Wind-driven Surface Ocean Circulation and density-driven deep ocean circulation*. (PPT, PDF) October 28, 2007 1:54 PM

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, DB, "The Blue Planet", Ch. 11, 241-256. (e-reserves)

Reading: Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert Crane, 2nd. ed. (2003) The Earth System: An Introduction to Earth Systems Science. Ch. 5. (e-reserves)

Interesting link: Convenient Untruths (Gavin Schmidt and Michael Mann, RealClimate.org)

Wind-driven Surface Ocean Circulation and density-driven deep ocean circulation*. (PPT, PDF) October 28, 2007 1:54 PM

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, DB, "The Blue Planet", Ch. 11, 241-256. (e-reserves)

Reading: Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert Crane, 2nd. ed. (2003) The Earth System: An Introduction to Earth Systems Science. Ch. 5. (e-reserves)

Election Day Holiday

Climate of the last Millennium: Understanding natural climate variability (PPT, PDF) November 7, 2007 2:54 PM

Reading: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Third Assessment Report (IPCC-TAR, 2001), Chapter 1.

Reading: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Third Assessment Report (IPCC-TAR, 2001), Working Group 1, Technical Summary.

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, DB, "The Blue Planet", Ch. 14, pp 315-341.

Reading: Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert Crane, 2nd. ed. (2003) The Earth System: An Introduction to Earth Systems Science. Ch. 6, 15, 16.

Homework 4 due in class today.

Must read: NY Time Magazine: The Future is Drying Up

* Web poster front page and content outline due * (what's this?)

Anthropogenic Carbon Emissions, Fluxes, and Cycling (PPT, PDF) November 12, 2007 12:48 PM

Reading: Skinner, BJ, Porter, SC, and Botkin, DB, "The Blue Planet", Ch. 20, 476-489.

Reading: G.T. Miller, Environmental Science, Ch. 4, Ecosystems, pp., 94-98.

Reading: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Third Assessment Report (IPCC-TAR, 2001), Chapter 3.

Sources and impacts of greenhouse gases.

Reading: Ch. 3 Greenhouse Gases: Some Basics. Reporting on Climate Change: Environmental Health Center, National Safety Council
June 2000, ISBN 0-87912-177-7.

Reading: G.T. Miller, Environmental Science, Ch. 13, Climate Change and Ozone loss, pp. 301-318.

Science News Flash: Is the Ocean Carbon Sink Sinking? (RealClimate.org)

Global Warming: Understanding the Evidence (PPT, PDF) November 13, 2007 9:01 PM

Reading: Ch. 4 How warm? How fast? Scientific consensus and debate. Reporting on Climate Change: Environmental Health Center, National Safety Council. June 2000, ISBN 0-87912-177-7.

Reading: The Science of Global Warming.

Reading: IPCC AR4 Working Group I report "Summary for Policy Makers".

Interesting link: Top 10 Skeptic talking points, and counterpoints (BBC link, and RealClimate.org discussion).

Future climate projections, Climate Sensitivity, and "dangerous climate change": The IPCC AR4 2006 Report (PPT, PDF) November 19, 2007 2:31 PM

Reading: IPCC AR4 Working Group I report, Chapter 10, sections 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.6) "Global Climate Projections".

Reading: Climate Protection Strategies for the 21st Century: Kyoto and beyond. German Advisory Council on Global Change (2003, Berlin). "Dangerous Climate Change" (PDF)

Summary: Union of Concerned Scientists summary of AR4 Report (1) GW Science; 2) Impacts; 3) Mitigation)

Listen: Radio NPR: "Feel the Heat: The Global Politics of Climate Change" (link)

News: U.N. Chief Seeks More Climate Change Leadership (Link)

News: NASA: Earth's Climate is Approaching 'Dangerous' Point (Link, PDF).

Blog: NYT: ‘Dangerous’ Warming Still Undefinable to White House (Link)

Homework 5 due in class today.

Day off for Thanksgiving

Robust Strategies for Sustainable Energy Supply (PPT, PDF).

Lackner Bio

Reading: Lackner, K. Can fossil carbon fuel the 21st century? Int. Geol. Rev., 44, pp. 1122-1133 (PDF).

Reading: Lackner, K. A guide to CO2 sequestration. Science, v. 300, pp. 1677-1678 (PDF).

Homework 6 due in class today.

Rapid Climate change (PPT, PDF)

Reading: National Academy of Sciences: Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises (Chapter 4)

Reading: Cook, E.R., R. Seager, M.A. Cane and D.W. Stahle, 2007: North American Drought: Reconstructions, Causes, and Consequences. Earth Science Reviews, 81, 93-134. (PDF)

Interesting Schwartz and Randall, 2003 "An Abrupt climate change scenario and its implications for United States national Security". Leaked CIA report (PDF)

Policy Development and Implementation to Mitigate effects of Global Warming: The Rio and Kyoto Summit meetings. (PPT, PDF) December 3, 2007 12:07 PM

Schlenker Bio

Reading: Basic Economics (PDF)

Policy Development and Implementation to Mitigate effects of Global Warming: The Rio and Kyoto Summit meetings. (PPT)

Reading: National Academy of Sciences: Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises (Chapter 5)

Web Poster and Effort Report submissions due today, before Midnight (Dec. 3rd)

Read this grading guide that we use to grade the posters:

Please have your group fill out and sign this Effort Reporting form (MS Word document) to confirm that all membes of the group are satisfied with the shared work allocation. Please recall that it is not acceptable for one project member to only have worked on the web site design/publishing.

Need some inspiration for your presentation talk? Try these 10 steps to a successful scientific talk. Remember, each team will have a total of 5 minutes: 4 minutes +1 minute for questions.

Web Poster Presentations I (attendance mandatory, -5% if not present).

News: 2007 Arctic sea ice shatters previous record. (National Snow and Ice Data Center).

Related news The Onion: Fall Cancelled after 3 Billion Seasons

Reading Days.

Homework 8 due by email to Jenny or Karen on or before Dec. 15

In case you were wondering...2007 is second warmest year on record

Final Exam (4:10-7:10PM; Havemeyer 309).

* = Lecture shared with "The Climate System" class (V2100)

Updated December 15, 2007