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Introduction
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Course Objectives
• To better understand some of the mechanisms
that have been involved in climate changes in
the distant past (i.e., paleoclimates).
• To explore the scientific process in which
hypotheses to explain past behavior of the
climate system are proposed and tested.
• To develop the ability to critically examine the
content of scientific papers.
• To enhance scientific communication skills.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Topics To Be Covered
• How are periodic fluctuations in Earth’s climate related to
slow changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit?
• How sensitive is Earth’s climate to radiative forcing?
• Did changes in the ocean’s overturning circulation cause
millennial-scale climate variability?
• Was tropical Pacific climate variability (e. g., El Niño)
different in Earth’s past?
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Format
• Each topic will be introduced by two lectures to provide
background information on that topic.
• Four readings from the scientific literature will be
assigned on each topic.
• Each of these papers will be discussed in class (one
paper per class meeting), with one student summarizing
the paper and leading the discussion.
• Students will complete a final project, which will include a
written report and oral presentation.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Grading
Class participation (60%)
Discussion leader: 30%
Open discussion: 30%
Final Project (40%)
Written report: 30%
Oral presentation: 10%
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Papers To Be Read
• The assigned readings are listed on the course
web page:
http://www.envsci.rutgers.edu/~broccoli/mech_past_clim_chg.htm
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Finding Scientific Papers
• Most of the papers to be discussed are available online
through the Electronic Journals web page maintained by
the Rutgers University Libraries.
• Not all journals are available electronically through the
Rutgers system; AGU journals are among those not
available.
• AGU members can access papers from AGU journals
published prior to the current year via AGU web site.
• In a small number of cases, you may have to resort to
using the library the old-fashioned way. (Sorry!)
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
How To Read A Scientific Paper
• Reading a scientific paper can be very different from
reading a novel or a newspaper.
• The content can be much more dense (jargon, technical
information, mathematics, etc.).
• For a full understanding, it may be necessary to refer to
other publications cited in the paper.
• Some papers require more than one reading to be
clearly understood.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
“Levels Of Engagement”
• Because there are differing degrees of
commitment that one can give to the process of
reading a scientific paper, Simon Hunt (Oxford)
describes four “levels of engagement.”
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Level 1
Where?
Sitting beside the coffee table
How often?
Daily
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Level 2
Where?
A quiet, comfortable armchair
How often?
Several times per week
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Level 3
Where?
At your own desk or at a desk in the library; with
space for making notes.
How often?
Once or twice per week.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Level 4
Where?
In complete privacy; no distractions.
How often?
At least a couple of times per month.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Other Resources: Reading Scientific Papers
• The course web site provides links to other
online essays about reading scientific papers.
• Simon Hunt, University of Oxford, “Reading
Scientific Papers”
• John W. Little and Roy Parker, University of
Arizona, “How To Read A Scientific Paper”
• Elizabeth Willott, University of Arizona, “Reading
a Scientific Paper”
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Leading The Discussion
• The discussion leader is responsible for
introducing the paper by briefly answering the
following questions:
– What scientific questions are addressed by the
paper?
– Are any specific hypotheses proposed by the
author(s)?
– What methods are used?
– What are the primary conclusions of the paper?
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Leading The Discussion
• After introducing the paper, the discussion
leader should stimulate discussion by asking
thought-provoking questions about the paper.
• Topics of interest might include
– Aspects of the paper that are hard to understand
– Weaknesses of experimental methods, analysis or
interpretation
– Aspects of the paper that are particularly convincing
– Relationships with other papers on similar topics
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Final Project
• Among the topics discussed in class, select a
particular aspect of past climate change that
interests you.
• Research possible physical mechanisms that
have been proposed to explain that aspect of
climate change.
• Prepare a written report (6-10 pages) and a brief
presentation (15 minutes) that critically
examines a particular physical mechanism.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005
Most Important Goals
• To encourage you to get excited about new
scientific ideas.
• To have fun exploring some of the mechanisms
of past climate change.
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Example
• Let’s say you chose the increase of global
temperature during the 20th century as your
topic.
• You would research the physical mechanisms
that have been proposed as explanations for this
warming.
• You might choose to critically evaluate the
possibility that human-induced increases in
greenhouse gases caused the warming.
Mechanisms of Past Climate Change
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Fall 2005