Spring 1996
Tentative Schedule (ordering of topics is subject to change)- Jan 17 Overview of global change
- Jan 19 Atmospheric structure and circulation
- Atmospheric chemistry:
- Jan 22 Carbon cycle
- Jan 24 Major gases, trace gases, methane, carbonates
- Jan 26 Nitrogen cycle, sulfur cycle, and tropospheric ozone
- Jan 29 Evolution of the chemistry of the earth's atmosphere - Guest Lecturer: R. C. Seagrave
- Jan 31 Man-made chemicals, ozone - Guest Lecturer: R. C. Seagrave
- *Feb 2 Ozone reactions: physics and chemistry of the stratosphere
- Feb 5 Acid deposition
- Feb 7 Global energy balance, radiative forcing
- *Feb 9 Internal and external influences: solar luminosity, volcanoes, albedo
- Modeling climate:
- *Feb 26 Observed climate change: global warming update, climate variability
- Feb 28 Ocean structure and circulation
- Mar 1 Climate variability (El Nino, La Nina)
- *Mar 4 Satellite observations of the earth/atmosphere/ocean/biosphere
- Mar 6 Mission to Planet Earth
- Mar 8 Midterm Exam (Previous midterm exams)
- Mar 11 NO CLASSES
- Mar 13 NO CLASSES
- Mar 15 NO CLASSES
- Mar 18 Global hydrological cycle - Guest Lecturer: W. J. Gutowski
- #Mar 20 Remote sensing: hydrological cycle and the earth system - Guest Lecturer: W. J. Gutowski
- Mar 22 Hydrological aspects of global change - Guest Lecturer: W. W. Simpkins
- Mar 25 Sea-level rise
- Mar 27 Population trends and controlling factors
- Mar 29 Energy consumption and its relation to global change - Guest Lecturer: A. A. Bennet III
- Apr 1 Human health
- Apr 3 Plant physiological effects of a changing environment - Guest Lecturer: Tom Jurik
- Apr 5 Land use issues- Guest Lecturer: Jim Raich
- *Apr 8 Vegetation responses to a changing environment - Guest Lecturer: Jim Raich
- Apr 10 Desertification - Guest Lecturer: John Schafer
- *Apr 12 Implications of global change for agriculture
- Apr 15 Sustainable agriculture
- Apr 17 Forestry issues
- Apr 19 Environmental economics- Guest Lecturer: Joesph Herriges
- Apr 22 Sustainable development
- Apr 24 Global change and urbanization
- *Apr 26 Environmental sociology
- Apr 29 Societal responses to regional climate change
- May 1 Legislation and policy issues: state, national and international- Guest Lecturer: A. A. Bennet III
- #May 3 Energy issues in Iowa - Guest Lecturer: Roya Stanley
- May 6-10
Final exam is now on the WWW!
* Undergraduate assignment due
# Graduate assignment due
You may want to view the course schedule from 1995.
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