Climate and Water
ENV U6115
Summer 2005: June 7-Aug 18
Lectures:
Tuesday, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Lamont) and 9:30-12:00PM (Morningside)
Labs
- Tuesday, 2:00-4:00 PM and 2:00-4:00 PM/4:00-6:00PM
Instructors:
|
Dr.
Patrick Louchouarn Associate
professor Dept.
of Earth & Environmental Science Earth
Institute (212)
854-0479 Office hours: By appointment |
Dr.
Yochanan Kushnir Doherty
Senior Research Scientist Lamont-Doherty
Earth Observatory Director,
Cooperative Institute for Climate Applications and Research 104B
Oceanography Phone:
(845) 365-8669 Office
Hours: By appointment |
Teaching
Assistants:
Frank
Zeman: fsz1@columbia.edu
Tim
Rappold: Tim.Rappold@columbia.edu
Office
Address: 1305 International Affairs Building
Office
Hours:
Course Description: A multidisciplinary
study of the physical processes on Earth involving on the one hand the climate
cycles over long to short-term intervals and on the other hand the global to
regional hydrological cycling. A particular emphasis will be placed on the role
of humans, in the last centuries, on the perturbation of the natural climate
and hydrologic cycles and how these perturbations can be characterized and
discerned from natural fluctuations.
The climate system component of the course
provides an integrated view of the Earth’s energy budget, structure and
circulation of the atmosphere and the ocean, interaction between oceans and
atmosphere, as well as climate changes over different timescales. This portion
of the course will focus on the identification of forcing factors for such changes
as well as provide an introduction to uncertainties and predictability in
complex systems, such as that of the Earth, that are involved in future
predictions (forecast) of change.
The
water cycle part of the class is focused on basic physical principles
(evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, stream flow, percolation,
and groundwater flow), as well as environmentally relevant applications based
on case studies. Most specifically, students will be exposed to water quantity
and issues from global to regional scales and how human and natural processes
affect water availability in surface and groundwater systems. (Note: water
quality issues will be mentioned but only briefly since they will be covered
more extensively in the following course: ENVP6220 Environmental Chemistry and
Toxicology).
Course Outline: The approach of the
course will follow a general sequence of themes that will 1) define the tools and approach of the scientific
method 2) introduce the notion of systems,
cycles and feedbacks, 3) place the Earth in its
spatial and energy context (closed system with respect to matter but open with
respect to energy), 4) emphasize the importance
of the Sun as the energy source of Earth, 5) analyze
the large and most dynamic physical systems of the Earth namely the Hydrosphere
and the Atmosphere integrating their interactions and feedback influences, and
finally 6) address the contemporary issues of
environmental change on different time-scales (human-induced vs. natural).
Daily Activities: Lecture sessions will include discussion
and explanation of reading and/or web material, and how to apply critical
thinking to planetary environmental questions. The schedule below is a
preliminary outline of the semester. Reading assignments will be provided and
should be completed before the stated lecture date. Additional reading or
reference material may be suggested during the course of the lecture. Laboratory
sessions
will involve both hands-on and minds-on exercises that will require either
individual or small group work/reporting.
Evaluations:
1.
Several
assignments will be given during the course of the semester. These will consist
of take home exercises due at a subsequent lecture meeting.
2.
Lab
exercises will involve hands-on/minds-on exercises with reports due at a
subsequent lab meeting.
3.
Final
exams for the “Climate” section is scheduled for the end of this section and
will be composed of short answers and critical thinking questions.
Grades
will be based on the following:
·
40%
for Climate Labs
·
40%
for Water Labs
·
20%
for Climate Exam
Attendance
Policy:
Attendance of lectures is strongly encouraged
since complementary material, in addition to required readings, will be
presented in lectures and included in examinations/discussions. Discussion
periods will also require in class participation from all students.
Policy
on Late Submissions:
Ten
percent (10%) of the grade will be deducted per day if the lab reports and
group papers are submitted past the due date. Materials that are submitted more
than one week late will not be accepted.
Table of Contents
- Course Syllabus
- Climate
Schedule
- Water Schedule
- Climate
Sample Exams
- Lab
Report Instructions
- Introduction
to Netscape and the Web
- Introduction to Excel
- Grading policy
- Required text for this course
Last updated 05/30/2005
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