ENV 2320 - EARTH’S CLIMATE

credits: 3.0
This course is an overview of climate on Earth and the best efforts of humans to accelerate climate cycling. We will focus on the physical aspects of the weather and climate system. The course is broken up into three sections: annual and decadal weather, climates past, present, and future, and finally climate policy. Topics covered include: global energy balance, global atmospheric and oceanic circulation, climate models, climate policy, and long-term climate forcing. Objectives: A) Calculate the change in Earth’s global energy balance; B) Explain how circulation patterns in the atmosphere and ocean impact climate and energy transfer; C) Demonstrate the impact of geographic features on climate; D) Analyze a well-known global climate model to connect climate indicators; E) Investigate potential and identified drivers of climate change in the past, present, and future; F) Discuss future and current climate policy and strategies for mitigating climate change; G) Analyze, Prepare, and Present on a climate issue. Method of Instruction: A combination of lectures, small/large group discussions, group activities, individual projects, and hands-on modeling, where appropriate, will be used as the methods of instruction. Method of Evaluation: Homework, Exams, Participation, and Individual Project. The course has a total of 1000 points, and final grades will be determined based on the total number of points accumulated according to the distribution: Participation includes attendance, in-class discussion, and laboratory collaboration. Those students who are in class and engage with their classmates and the instructor with questions, class discussions, or group work will receive full credit for participation.