Global Warming: Weather, Climate and SocietyCourse Overview, Logistics

CLIM 101 // Fall 2012George Mason University

28 Aug 2012

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

Jim KinterProfessor, Climate DynamicsDirector, Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere StudiesPh.D., Princeton University, 1984E-Mail: kinter@cola.iges.org (BEST)

ikinter@gmu.edu Phone: (301) 595-7000 Office: Research Hall, Room 107

Instructor

Jagadish ShuklaDistinguished University Professor, Climate Dynamics Director, Climate Dynamics Ph.D. ProgramPh.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976E-mail: shukla@cola.iges.org URL: http://www.iges.org/people/shukla.html Phone: (301) 595-7000Office: Research Hall, Room 105

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

Guest Lecturers

Edward MaibachUniversity Professor, Communication Director, Center for Climate Change CommunicationPh.D., Stanford University, 1990E-mail: emaibach@gmu.eduPhone:(703) 993-1587

Thomas LovejoyUniversity Professor, Environmental Science and Policy (GMU)Biodiversity Chair, Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the EnvironmentPh.D., Yale University, 1971E-mail: tlovejoy@gmu.edu Phone: (703) 993-5180

Daniel MorrowIndependent Consultant and Professorial LecturerElliott Scholl of International Affairs, George Washington UniversityPh.D., Harvard University, 1981E-mail: dmorrow@email.gwu.edu

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

Andrew BadgerE-Mail: abadger@gmu.edu

Office: Research Hall, Room 134

Office Hour: Wednesdays 2:00 – 4:00 pm (Climate Lab, Research Hall)

Graduate Teaching Assistant

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

InstructorsJim Kinter, J. Shukla

Teaching AssistantAndrew Badger

Class ScheduleTuesday & Thursday 10:30 am - 11:45 am in Room 201 East Hall

Course HomepageBlackboard: http://mymasonportal.gmu.edu (find CLIM 101)

Course DescriptionThis General Education Core course provides a survey of the scientific and societal issues associated with weather and climate variability and global warming. The course will examine:

•Physical phenomena of the Earth’s weather and climate

•Climate variability and changes that have impacts on human society and natural ecosystems

•Current debate on global warming from a scientific point of view

The focus will be on those aspects that have the largest potential impact on global society, socioeconomic systems and natural ecosystems

Logistics

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

mymasonportal.gmu.edu• 201270.71533: CLIM-101-001 (Fall 2012) • Home Page (announcements)• Syllabus• Information (as needed)• Course Content

– Lectures– Supplementary readings (arranged by course “themes”)

• Assignments– Readings– Homework– Term project– Student debate

• (Groups)

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

Date Topic

28Aug Introduction to CLIM 101: planetary climate, ecosystems & humans

30 Aug 10 themes of global warming

4 Sep Earth’s current climate

6 Sep Opposing views of global warming, I: It’s real and humans are responsible

11Sep Earth’s current environment: humans, energy consumption etc.

13 Sep The Greenhouse Effect

18 Sep Global warming

20 Sep Climate system changes in the past

25 Sep Global biodiversity: past, present and future

27 Sep Predicting future climate

2 Oct Projected global and regional changes

4 OctRoles of science, politics & the media in shaping public opinion about global warming

9 Oct NO CLASS (Columbus Day observed)

11 Oct Impacts and consequences of global warming in the 20th and 21st centuries

16 Oct Mid-term examination

Schedule of Classes*

Guest lecturer* Subject to minor adjustment

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

Date

18 Oct Opposing views of global warming, II: It’s overblown and uncertain

23 Oct The science and politics of global warming

25 Oct Presentation groups: in-class meeting time

30 Oct Origins of changing greenhouse gases and land use

1 Nov Are humans responsible for climate change?

6 Nov Strategies for adapting to climate change

8 Nov Strategies for mitigating the negative effects climate change

13 Nov Climate change mitigation policy

15 Nov US climate change policy

20 Nov Presentation groups: in-class meeting time

27 Nov Student Debate: Global warming – clear & present danger or hoax?

29 Nov Student presentations

4 Dec Student presentations

6 Dec Student presentations

Schedule of Classes*

Guest lecturer* Subject to minor adjustment

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

1. Reading - the required source materials include: I. The Rough Guide to Climate Change by Robert Henson (RG)II. The Atlas of Climate Change by Kirstin Dow and Tom Downing (ACC)III. Lecture notes for each class (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu)IV. Scholarly and popular articles (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu)V. Supplementary reading (not required):

The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change by Andrew Dessler & E. Parson Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway

2. Homework (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu)

3. Pop Quizzes

3. Mid-term Examination

4. Term project: Individual Final Report and Group Oral Presentation

Evaluation CriteriaHomework (40%); pop quizzes (10%); mid-term exam (20%); group oral presentation (15%); term paper (10%); class attendance (5%); and extra credit of up to 10% for class participation.

Requirements

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

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 experience. The changes already are having impacts on many sectors of human society and natural ecosystems.

 The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia needs to know what the impacts of climate change on Virginia are, how large the impacts are likely to be, and what steps should be taken to address them.

 The term assignment is to prepare an individual paper and a group 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

Term Project

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

In particular, the reports 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 can limit the adverse effects of climate change on the sector

 The class will be divided into seven groups, one for each sector, based on student preferences. Each group will be given time in one of the last three classes of the semester to brief the Governor. There will be a short press conference following each briefing in which the instructors and other students will act as members of the media 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.

Term Project

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

• Homework posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu

• Please submit homework by hand (to instructor in the classroom). If you are unable to attend class, you can submit your homework to teaching assistant during office hours or via e-mail.

• Each student should complete the assignments independently. Please ensure that your answers are your own original work.

Date Distributed Collected

30 Aug Homeworks 1 & 5

11 Sep Presentation groups formed

13 Sep Homework 2 Homework 1

4 Oct Homework 2

18 Oct Homework 3

6 Nov Homework 4 Homework 3

27 Nov Homework 4

1 Dec Group presentations

6 Dec Group presentations

8 Dec Group presentations

11 Dec Term papers; Homework 5

Requirements Schedule

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

Student DebateProposition: “Resolved that the threat of global warming – specifically the impacts typically associated with the climatic effects of increasing concentrations of radiatively-active (“greenhouse”) gases in Earth’s atmosphere due to human activities (fossil-fuel burning, land use change, particulate pollution etc.) – represents a clear and present danger to the well-being of citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rest of the world such that immediate action is warranted.” Debate:Two teams of volunteers of up to 5 students each argue the Proposition, after class members vote. The teams will also question each other, rebut points made by the other team and respond to questions from class members. At the end of the debate, all class members will again vote on the Proposition. The team that changes the largest number of opinions will be declared the winner.

Participants in the debate will receive up to 10% extra credit.

CLIM 101 // Global Warming, Weather, Climate and Society // Fall 2012

STUDENT SURVEY