Center of Ocean-Land- Atmosphere Studies CLIM101: Weather, Climate and Global Society Course...

Center of Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies CLIM101: Weather, Climate and Global Society

Course Overview, LogisticsCourse Overview, Logistics

1 September 2009

CLIM 101

Weather, Climate and Global Society

Jagadish ShuklaDistinguished University ProfessorPh.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976E-mail: [email protected]

Phone:(301) 595-7000

Emilia K. JinAssistant ProfessorPh.D., Seoul National University, 2005E-Mail: [email protected]:(301) 595-7000

Jim KinterAssociate ProfessorPh.D., Princeton University, 1984E-Mail: [email protected]:(301) 595-7000

CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyFall 2009Fall 2009


CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyFall 2009Fall 2009

InstructorsJagadish Shukla, Jim Kinter, Emilia Jin

Class ScheduleTuesday & Thursday 10:30 am - 11:45 am in Room 206, Science and Tech 1

Contact InformationOffice hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 10:30 am in Room 315, Research 1E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 301-902-1263 Homepage: http://mason.gmu.edu/~kchin/CLIM101Blackboard: http://courses.gmu.edu CLIM-101-CLIM-101-0011-200970

Course DescriptionThis General Education Core course provides a survey of the scientific and societal issues associated with weather and climate variability and change. The course will examine • Physical phenomena of the Earth’s weather and climate

• Sufficient scientific and technical background to enable students to critically examine arguments being discussed by policy makers and the public at large

• Climate variability and changes that have impacts on human society and natural ecosystems • Current debate on climate change from a scientific point of view

• Focus on those aspects that have the largest potential impact on global society, socioeconomic systems and natural ecosystems


Course Requirements1. Reading - the primary source material is

1. The Rough Guide to Climate Change by Robert Henson (RG)2. Global Warming: The Complete Briefing by John Houghton (GW)3. Lecture notes for each class (posted on GMU Blackboard)4. Scholarly and popular articles as supplementary material for the lectures

and class discussions (will be provided)

2. Homework - Four problem sets

3. Mid-term problem set and discussion

4. Group Oral Presentation / ReportStudents will form groups to prepare reports on topics selected in consultation with the course lecturers and make group oral presentations.

Evaluation Criteria The assessment of student performance will be based on

1. homework (40%)2. mid-term problem set (303. group oral presentation/report (30%)

CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyRequirements, Fall 2009Requirements, Fall 2009


CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyHomework and Mid-term, Fall 2009Homework and Mid-term, Fall 2009

Student WorkStudent Work DistributedDistributed DueDue

Homework 1 3 Sep 17 Sep

Homework 2 17 Sep 1 Oct

Mid-term problem set 1 Oct 20 Oct

Mid-term discussion 20 Oct

Homework 3 22 Oct 5 Nov

Homework 4 5 Nov 19 Nov

• All homework and mid-term problem sets will be posted on GMU Blackboard All homework and mid-term problem sets will be posted on GMU Blackboard and sent by e-mailand sent by e-mail

• Please submit your homework/report by hand (to instructor)Please submit your homework/report by hand (to instructor)• Each student should complete the assignments independently. Please ensure Each student should complete the assignments independently. Please ensure

that your answers are your own original work.that your answers are your own original work.


CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyFinal Report / PresentationFinal Report / Presentation

The Earth’s climate is always changing, everywhere. Within the past century or so, mostly because of human activities that have contributed to an enhanced greenhouse effect, the Earth’s climate has changed more rapidly and to a greater degree than at any time in human history. The changes already are having impacts on many sectors of human society and natural ecosystems.

The Commonwealth of Virginia will elect a new Governor in November 2009. The next Governor will need to know what the impacts of climate change are, how large the impacts are likely to be, and what steps should be taken, if any.

The term assignment is to prepare a presentation advising the Governor on the impacts of climate change and how to address them. The economic or ecosystem sectors to be considered include:

1. the coastal zone2. agriculture and food security3. flora and fauna (other than agriculture)4. water supply (for urban and agricultural consumption)5. human health6. energy (production and consumption)7. transportation


In particular, the presentation should include: • a qualitative and quantitative description of the sector, including how and

why it is sensitive to climate• a summary of how climate change is likely to impact the sector• a list of near-term actions that the Governor should take to help the citizens

and businesses of Virginia adapt to the changes in the sector that are inevitable

• a list of policy changes that the Governor should support that will limit the adverse effects of climate change on the sector

The class will be divided into seven groups, one for each of sectors, based on student preferences. Each group will be given 25 minutes in one of the last three classes of the semester to brief the Governor-elect. There will be a 10-minute press conference following each briefing in which the instructors and other students will act as the press to ask questions of the briefing team.

Students will be graded on how well they have described the vulnerabilities to climate change and the degree to which the recommended actions and policy changes address the problems. Briefings that include some estimate of the costs of action vs. the costs of doing nothing will receive extra credit.

CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyFinal Report / PresentationFinal Report / Presentation


CLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietyCLIM 101 Weather, Climate and Global SocietySchedule of ClassesSchedule of Classes

Week 1: Week 1: Climate, ecosystems and humans Climate, ecosystems and humans Week 2:Week 2: Earth’s climateEarth’s climate Week 3: Week 3: Global warming Global warming Week 4:Week 4: Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect Week 5:Week 5: Observed climate changes Observed climate changes Week 6:Week 6: Projections of global climate change, part 1 Projections of global climate change, part 1 Week 7: Week 7: Projections of global climate change, part 2 Projections of global climate change, part 2 Week 8:Week 8: Uncertainties and feedbacksUncertainties and feedbacks

20 Oct: 20 Oct: Discussion of mid-termDiscussion of mid-termWeek 9: Week 9: Global warming theory and debates about global warmingGlobal warming theory and debates about global warmingWeek 10:Week 10: Impacts on health, agriculture, food, and waterImpacts on health, agriculture, food, and water Week 11: Week 11: Adaptation to, and mitigation of, global climate change Adaptation to, and mitigation of, global climate change Week 12:Week 12: Carbon footprint, energy use, policy, and congressional bills Carbon footprint, energy use, policy, and congressional bills Week 13: Week 13: Impact of climate change in the U.S. and Virginia Impact of climate change in the U.S. and Virginia Week 14:Week 14: What can individuals, governments, or industries do?What can individuals, governments, or industries do?

3 Dec: 3 Dec: Student presentationsStudent presentations Week 15:Week 15: Student presentationsStudent presentations

Center of Ocean-Land- Atmosphere Studies CLIM101: Weather, Climate and Global Society Course...

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