Lecture Schedule - Fall 2009

November 21, 2009 9:08 PM

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)

Swiss Movement: The Generation Gap

The Emergence of Global Environmental Politics. (PPT, PDF) September 11, 2008 7:33 AM

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

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: 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

Module 1:The Science and Policy of Ozone Depletion.

Solar Radiation and the Earth's Atmosphere (PPT, PDF) September 20, 2009

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapters 1 and 2.

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).

Homework 1 due in class today

A short, useful Wikipedia entry on Solar Radiation

Natural ozone production and destruction and the role of CFC's. (PPT, PDF) September 20, 2009

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 10. (pp. 113-116)

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.

Development and Implementation of Policies to Mitigate effects of Ozone Depletion: The Montreal Protocol. (PPT, PDF) September 23, 2008 0:44 AM

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

Reading: Benedick R.E., 2007. Science, diplomacy, and the Montreal Protocol. Encyclopedia for the Earth.

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).

This is alot of reading but they are all great sources. The upper two are the most concise. If you're really interested in policy and how this breakthrough protocol was accomplished, it's all good.

Homework 2 posted.

Bruce Cockburn: Actions Speak Louder

Module 2: The Science and Policy of El Niño-related climate variability Temperature Structure of the Atmosphere: Lapse Rates of Dry and Moist Atmospheres (PPT , PDF) Updated files: September 28, 2008 5:32 PM

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 5.

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

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

News: Cassandras of Climate, NY Times (Sept. 28, 2009, Op-Ed)

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

Atmospheric Forces and Balances* (PPT, PDF) September 30, 2008 10:45 AM

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 6.

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

Music for the day: Jimmie Cliff, Pressure Drop; N.W.A, Express Yourself

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: Stan Getz, With the wind and the rain; Ron Sexsmith, Cold Hearted Wind

Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling, and the ENSO system. (PPT, PDF) October 7, 2008

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 6, 7.

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).

Current ENSO state and the 6 month future forecast (link)

News: VP Candidate Palin on Global Warming (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 - part II. (PPT, PDF) October 9, 2008

Predicting the (near) future: ENSO forecasting models, skill levels. (PPT, PDF). We didn't get to cover this material in class but do read through this lecture on your own.

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;

Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling, and the ENSO system - part II. (PPT, PDF) October 9, 2008

Predicting the (near) future: ENSO forecasting models, skill levels. (PPT, PDF). We didn't get to cover this material in class but do read through this lecture on your own.

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)

Reading: (link, link)

Dr. Dan Osgood in the news (Protecting African Farmers From Climate Extremes
Innovative Crop Insurance Will Be Geared to Weather Data, link)

Columbia University is ranked 4th in the nation for College Sustainability Index (of 300+ campuses) - best of the Ivies as well, pretty impressive! (link)

Module 3: The Science and Policy of Global Warming

Wind-driven Surface Ocean Circulation and density-driven deep ocean circulation*. (PDF, 6/page PDF) October 28, 2007 1:54 PM

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, reread Chapter 6 (if needed).

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)

Homework 3 due in class today

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: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 6 (if needed).

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).

Climate of the last Millennium: Understanding natural climate variability (PPT, PDF) November 9, 2009

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 11.

Reading: The Long Thaw: How Humans are Changing the next 100,000 years, by David Archer (2009). Chapter 1, 2, pp. 15-44.

Reading: Kerr, D. What happened to global warming ? (Science, 2009; PDF)

Reading: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 4th report (IPCC-AR4, 2007), Working Group 1, Summary for Policy Makers.

Optional Reading: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 4th report (IPCC-AR4, 2007), p.464-483 Chapter 6.

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

Optional 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 (e-reserves).

Must read (link fixed): NY Time Magazine: The Future is Drying Up

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

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming. Chapters 4, 8, 9.

Reading: The Long Thaw: How Humans are Changing the next 100,000 years, by David Archer (2009). Prologue, Chapter 3, 6, 8.

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.

Optional Reading: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 4th report (IPCC-AR4, 2007), Chapter 2. (pp. 131-143)

Sources and impacts of greenhouse gases.

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

Global Warming: Understanding the Evidence (PPT, PDF) November 15, 2009 9:01 PM

Reading: The Long Thaw: How Humans are Changing the next 100,000 years, by David Archer (2009). Chapter 1, 2, pp. 15-44.

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 4, 11.

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.

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

Optional Reading: IPCC AR4 Working Group I report "Uncertainty Guidance Note"

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

Homework 4 due in class today

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

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

Lackner Bio

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 9.

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).

Future climate projections, Climate Sensitivity, and "dangerous climate change": The IPCC AR4 2006 Report (PPT, PDF) November 11, 2008 10:31 AM

Reading: Archer, D. Global Warming, Chapter 12, 13.

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 (Nov. 2009): Hacked email is new fodder for climate debate (Link)

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

New Lamont Discovery (Nov. 2009)!: Seas are struggling to take up emissions (NY Times)

Rapid Climate change (PPT, PDF)

Reading: The Long Thaw: How Humans are Changing the next 100,000 years, by David Archer (2009). Chapter 4,

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)

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

Reading : The Nexus of Science and Sustainable Development, Mutter 2008. (PDF).

Homework 5 due in class today

Permanent Carbon Sequestration: Using rocks to soak up CO2 (PPT)

Reading: Kelemen and Matter, 2008 (PDF).

Reading/News: Rocks Could Be Harnessed to Sponge Vast Amounts of Carbon Dioxide from Air, Say Researchers (EI Link)

Reading/News: Geoengineering solutions for climate change(Physics Today).

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

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)

Effort Reports (agreed upon signed, here's the form) due IN CLASS.

Web Poster link due today, before Midnight (Dec. 2nd) - do not modify or change the website after this date.

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.

Complete and finalized Web Poster due before midnight today

Homework 6 due in class today

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

IMPORTANT: Bring your iClicker to class

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

IMPORTANT: Bring your iClicker to class

Homework 7 due in class today

Reading Days.

Final Exam

Updated November 21, 2009

* shared with V2100- The Climate System