Download Global Climate Changes - SJSU Department of Meteorology and

Global Climate Changes –Spring 2013
1. Course Information:
Instructor: Professor Menglin Susan Jin
Department: Department for Meteorology
College of Science, San Jose State University.
Spring 2013
Course Title:
Course Code:
Section:
Class Hours & Location:
Office Hours:
Office Location:
Class Meeting Dates
Office Phone:
Class webpage
E-mail:
Preferred Contact: (Either through
email or Phone)
Department Fax:


Global Climate Changes
METR112-04 (23258)
section 4
TTH 13:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Wednesday 11:00 AM -12:00 PM
TH 12:30-1:20 PM
Duncan Hall 613
1/23/2013 - 5/23/2013
408-924-7371
http://www.met.sjsu.edu/~jin/
[email protected]
Email
408.924.5191
In addition to the posted office hours, I am also available to meet with by email.
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)
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d. Other Reading materials:
Other articles will be assigned via the internet class webpage
(http://www.met.sjsu.edu/~jin/METR112spring.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 effects
on the natural climate system,
4. explain various arguments in climate change study
5. write total 3000 scientific essay on climate change topic during the semester (this can
be split into a few small writing assignments)
3. Grades
Course Requirements
Homework
Midterm
Class Participation
Final Exam
Research Group Project
Total
% of Grade
20
20
5
35
20
100
Points
100
100
100
100
100
500
Homework:
At least 8-10 homework assignments will be given during the semester. Homework will
be assigned in class. Each homework is equally weighted for final grade. Turn in
homework online by using D2L (http://www.sjsu.edu/ecampus/ ). 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 oral presentation will be given to the class by
each group near the end of the semester. One 8-10 page writing paper is needed.
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.
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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 questions
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
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ENSO
Part 2: Climate Change: Anthropogenic Forcing
History of humans and their interactions with the atmosphere
Anthropogenic greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide and energy use
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
1/24
1/29
th
t
Lecture
time
Lecture 1
2
1/31
2/5
th
t
3
4
2/7
th
5
2/12
t
6
2/14
2/19
th
t
7
8
2/21
2/26
th
t
9
10
2/28
th
11
3/5
t
12
3/7
3/12
3/14
3/19
th
t
th
t
13
14
15
16
Lecture Title
Introduction
Change
Observed
Energy Balance
Energy balancealbedo
Earth Hydrology
Cycle
Earth Hydrology
Cycle-clouds
Clouds
Video:
Inconvenience
Truth
Urban System
Urban system
(2)
Mid-term
review,
research project
Ozone Hole
and Human
Connection (1)
Mid-term
Ozone Hole (2)
Carbon Cycle
Future Impacts
Comment
Due
HW1
2/4 Last day
to drop
HW2
2/11 Last
day to add
HW3
HW4
HW5
4
3/21
th
17
3/26
t
18
from IPCC
5-min project
presentation
No class
3/28
th
19
No class
4/2
4/4
t
th
20
21
4/9
t
22
4/11
th
4/16
t
4/18
4/23
th
t
4/25
th
4/30
t
5/2
th
5/7
t
5/9
th
Natural Forcing
Climate
Feedback
Climate
Modeling
Urban Extreme
Rainfall
SnowBall Ice
Video
TBD
Lecture on
Policy
Climate Change
and Human
Health
Final Exam
Review
Student
Research
Presentation
Student
Research
Presentation
Student
Research
Presentation
Final Exam
time: Tuesday
May 21, 12:1514:30
5/15-5/21
Final
Exam
Week
Spring
recess
Spring
Recess
HW6,
HW7
HW8
HW9
5/13 last
day of class
5. University, College, or Department Policy Information:
a) Academic integrity statement (from Office of Judicial Affairs):
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at
San José State University and the University’s Academic Integrity
Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work.
Faculty are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S0412.pdf
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b) Campus policy in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building
must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as
possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03
requires that students with disabilities register with DRC to establish a
record of their disability.
c) Academic Honesty:
Faculty will make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct in their
courses. They will secure examinations and their answers so that students cannot have
prior access to them and proctor examinations to prevent students from copying or
exchanging information. They will be on the alert for plagiarism. Faculty will provide
additional information, ideally on the green sheet, about other unacceptable procedures
in class work and examinations. Students who are caught cheating will be reported to
the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University, as prescribed by Academic Senate Policy
S04-12.
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