Global Climate ChangesGlobal Climate Changes – Fall 2010 (MoWe class) 1. Course Information: Instructor: Professor Menglin Jin Department: Department for Meteorology College of Science, San Jose State University. Fall 2010 Course Title: Global Climate Changes Course Code: METR 112 47029 (Mo We class) Section: 1 section Class Hours & Location: MoWe 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM, DH515 Office Hours: Noon -1:00 PM, Wednesday Noon -1:00 PM Tuesday Office Location: Duncan Hall 621 Class Meeting Dates 8/25/2010 - 12/9/2010 Office Phone: 408-924-7371 Home page www.met.sjsu.edu/~jin/METR112fall2010.htm E-mail: [email protected] Preferred Contact: (Either through email or Phone) Email Department Fax: 408.924.5191 • In addition to posted office hours, I am available by email daily. • Additional office hours may be scheduled through email. 2. Course Description: a. Course Overview and Description: Formation and major physical processes of the atmosphere. Climate changes in the Earth's past. Interactions between climate and life. Anthropogenic climate change. b. Prerequisites: Completion of core GE, satisfaction of Writing Skills Test and upper division standing. For students who begin continuous enrollment at a CCC or a CSU in Fall 2005 or later, completion of a 100W course is required. c. Recommended reading materials: There is no required text book. However, I strongly recommend you read the following book to help you to fully understand class material: “Understanding Weather & Climate” by Edward Aguado and James E. Burt (Third Edition) d. Other Reading materials: 12 Other articles will be assigned via the internet (www.met.sjsu.edu/~jin/METR112fall2010.htm) e. Student learning objectives for the course: The student will be able to: 1. articulate a basic understanding of the theory and facts of climate change 2. describe the key physical processes in climate system, 3. understand the concepts of climate change, explain the importance of human effectson the natural climate system, 4. explain various arguments in climate change study 3. Grades Course Requirements % of Grade Points Homework 20 100 Midterm 20 100 Class Participation 5 100 Final Exam 35 100 Research Group Project 20 100 Total 100 500 Homework: At least 4 homework assignments will be given during the semester. Homework will be assigned in class. Each homework is 5% of final grade. Turn in homework online by using Turnitin.com. For late homework, see policy c below. Start on the homework assignments early and come see me if you are stuck. If you start on it early, it is not that hard. Do not wait until the last minute. Research Group Project Students will form research groups with 4 to 6 members to discuss one research topic on climate change. The topic will be decided during the first part of course, with guidance from the professor. A 15-minute presentation will be given to the class by each group near the end of the semester. Exams: No makeup exams will be given. If one exam is missed, then a zero will be given. If you must miss an exam, see me in advance to possibly take it early. The format of the exams will be similar to the homework and will consist mainly of multiple-choice problems or short answer questions. Obviously, cheating on the exam will not be tolerated and will result in a zero for that exam. Class Participation: While class participation is graded as 5%, you are expected to be prepared for class and to take active part in the class discussions. Use the class time to get your questions3 answered on the homework or concepts that you did not understand. a. Grading information: Grading Percentage Breakdown 93% and above A 92% - 90% A- 89% - 88% B+ 87% - 83% B 82% - 80% B- 79% - 78% C+ 77% - 73% C 72% - 70% C- 69% - 68% D+ 67% - 63% D 62% - 60% D- below 60% F b. Extra credit options, if available: Some extra credit assignments will be given during the semester. c. Penalty (if any) for late or missed work: Late work will be penalized 10% per day or part of a day late for any project. 4. Met112 List of Topics This class is designed to cover the following materials and to provide the students a well balanced view on climate change. Part 1: Climate System Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect Earth’s energy balance Atmospheric circulation and climate Clouds, aerosols, and rainfall History of past climates The Carbon Cycle and Ozone ENSO Part 2: Climate Change: Anthropogenic Forcing History of humans and their interactions with the atmosphere Anthropogenic greenhouse gases Carbon dioxide and energy use4 Urbanization Effects Part 3: Climate Change in the Future Climate models Uncertainty and reality of climate model simulation Climate feedback Future predictions and scenarios Sustainability and global economics The lecture schedule indicates the intended scope and timing of materials presented in the course. It is likely that we will deviate from this schedule over the semester. Day week Lecture time Lecture Title Comment Due 8/25/10 W Lecture 1 Introduction 1st day 8/30 M 2 Change Observed 9/1 W 3 Energy Balance 9/6 M 4 Energy balance-albedo Last day to drop 9/8 W 5 Earth Hydrology Cycle 9/13 M 6 No class no class , labor day 9/15 W 7 Clouds 9/20 M 8 Video: Inconvenience Truth 9/22 W 9 Urban System HW19/27 M 10 Urban system 2 9/29 W 11 Mid-term review, research project 10/4 M 12 Ozone Hole and Human Connection 10/6 W 13 Mid-term 10/11 M 14 Ozone Hole (2) 10/13 W 15 Carbon Cycle HW3 10/18 M 16 Future Impacts from IPCC 10/20 W 17 5-min project presentation 10/25 M 18 Video on Snowball Ice 10/27 W 19 Extreme Event by TA HW311/1 M 20 Natural Forcing 11/3 W 21 Climate Feedback HW4 11/8 M 22 Climate Modeling 11/10 W 23 Video 11/15 M 24 Extreme Weathers and its Link with5 Climate Change (TA) 11/17 W 25 Guest Lecture (Seminar) HW411/22 M 26 Policy and Climate Change 11/24 W 27 No Class Thanksgiving 11/29 M 28 TBD 12/1 W 29 Student Research 12/6 M 30 Student research 12/8 W 31 Student research, final review Last Day of Instruction 12/13-17 Th Final Exam Week