Hartmann: Global Warming

Global Warming ATM S 111
Syllabus

Human-induced climate change - popularly known as "global warming" - is one of the great challenges facing society in the 21st century.

If we ignore the problem, and continue on our current course, by the end of this century the climate changes due to increased greenhouse gases will be large enough to have significant consequences on the environment and on civilization. Those changes are essentially irreversible, since once the carbon dioxide reaches those high values in the atmosphere, it is likely to remain high for several more centuries, during which Earth’s surface will continue to warm.

To avoid these changes will require either (i) a wholesale change in the sources of energy used by humans, (ii) yet to be developed methods to sequester carbon on an unprecedented scale, or (iii) intentional human modification of the earth’s energy budget to partially cancel the warming that will result from the increased greenhouse gases due to human activity (so-called geoengineering solutions to global warming).

At stake are deeply felt values as well as entrenched economic interests. When these are combined with scientific uncertainty, it is not surprising that global warming has sparked a raging, often passionate debate.

ATMS 111: Global Warming
Syllabus: Winter 2015 Hour exams during weeks 4 and 7, then comprehensive final exam.

Week 1: Solar Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect, Forcing the climate to change, Feedbacks control the response. Rough Guide p. 3-31

Section Topics: The Greenhouse Effect. The difference between forcing and feedback.

Week 2: Who’s Responsible? Extreme Heat. Rough Guide p. 32-42, 45-57

Section Topics: Carbon intensity. Exporting carbon use. Value Questions. Those who benefit from Carbon release and those who will suffer from it.

Week 3: Floods and Droughts, Ice and Snow. Rough Guide p. 58-74, 75-105

Section Topics: **Review for first hour exam in next week

Week 4: Ice and Snow, Oceans. Rough Guide 106-127: **First Hour Exam – Wednesday?

Section Topics: Some activities on Floods, ice and snow and Oceans. Debate on whether public should bail people out who build on beaches or riverbanks when same overflow.

Week 5. Hurricanes, impacts on Agriculture, Pacific NW Climate Impacts. Rough Guide p 128-146, 147-168

Section Topics: Which impacts scare you? Make a prioritized list. When you think not of yourself, but of the whole of the natural and human world, does your list change?

Week 6: Impacts on Ecosystems, Climate Records. Rough Guide p. 171-192

Section Topics: **Review for first hour exam in next week.

Week 7: Paleoclimate, Climate Models. Rough Guide p. 193-226, 227-244 **Second Hour Exam, Wednesday?

Section Topics: Why should people believe the models? Or not? People survived the ice ages and even flourished. Why should we worry about a few degrees warming?

Week 8: Climate Models, The debate. Rough Guide p. 247-277,

Section Topics: Debate the debate. Why do people mislead the public? Why is it easier for the skeptics than the scientists? Why should people believe the models?

Week 9: Solutions, Geoengineering. Rough Guide p. 278-305, 306-332.

Section Topics: Discuss the practicality and ethics of mitigation, vs adaptation vs geoengineering.

Week 10. Economics and Politics. Rough Guide p. 332-362

Section Topics: **Review for final exam in next week. Discuss the politics and economics.

Final Exam: Wednesday March 18, 2:30-4:20pm