GHY 1011-101 Global Climate Change

1. GHY 1011-101Global Climate Change MWF 11:00 – 11:50 AM 293 Rankin Science West Professor: L. Baker Perry, Ph.D.

2. Introduction to Course • Weather Update • Introductions • Course Logistics • Weather vs. Climate • Historical Perspective of Climate For Next Class: Read Chapter 2. Monday lab WILL MEET this week! Others will begin next week.

3. Numerical Weather Prediction • We will keep a close eye on the numerical forecast models, including the Global Forecast System (GFS) model run by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP): • http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/ • Specifically, we will look at the 850 mb temperature, mean sea level pressure, and quantitative precipitation forecast (850temp_mslp_precip).

4. Introductions • Find out the following information from a partner: • NAME • POINT(S) OF ORIGIN • MAJOR (or projected major) • INTERESTING PLACES VISITED • FAVORITE KIND OF WEATHER • WHERE YOU WANT TO LIVE AND WORK AFTER GRADUATION • TALENTS OR HOBBIES

5. Course Logistics • Please read the course syllabus in detail and let me know if you have any questions! • Office hours are MWF 9-11 AM, 2-3 PM, or by appointment • Textbook is Climate Studies: Introduction to Climate Science and is available at the bookstore. • Other readings will be available on AsUlearn. • Readings are expected to be completed before coming to class!

6. Course Policies Attendance: Course attendance is expected and will be taken on a routine basis. Two absences are allowed without penalty; each additional absence results in a 2.5-point deduction from your attendance grade. Annotated Bibliography: The annotated bibliography will consist of a summary of five refereed publications that address one of the global climate change themes or issues discussed during the semester. Additional information will be provided at a later date. Completed annotated bibliographies are due on April 18. Exams: Make up exams will only be given due to a verifiable emergency. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty member within 24 hours of the scheduled exam to request a makeup. Otherwise, the student will receive an automatic zero. Final Exam: The final exam is cumulative and is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7. All students will take the final at this time.

7. Statement of Student Engagement In its mission statement, Appalachian State University aims at “providing undergraduate students a rigorous liberal education that emphasizes transferable skills and preparation for professional careers” as well as “maintaining a faculty whose members serve as excellent teachers and scholarly mentors for their students.” Such rigor means that the foremost activity of Appalachian students is an intense engagement with their courses. In practical terms, students should expect to spend two to three hours of studying for every hour of class time. Hence, a fifteen hour academic load might reasonably require between 30 and 45 hours per week of out-of-class work.

8. Climate Science • Highly interdisciplinary field drawing on expertise from: • Meteorology • Climatology • Chemistry • Physics • Biology/Ecology • Remote sensing and computer science • Economics

11. What is the difference between Weather and Climate?

12. What is the difference between Weather and Climate? Weather: State of the atmosphere over the short term (minutes to ~15 days). Climate: Synthesis of weather conditions in a given area, characterized by long-term statistics (mean values, variances, probabilities of extreme values, etc.) of the meteorological elements in that area. Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get!

13. What is the difference between Climate Variability and Climate Change? Climate Variability: deviations of climate statistics over a given period of time (e.g., specific month, season or year) from the long-term climate statistics relating to the corresponding calendar period. Climate Change: a significant change (e.g., having important economic, environmental and social effects) in the mean values of a meteorological element (e.g., temperature or precipitation) in the course of a certain period of time, where the means are taken over periods of the order of a decade or longer. Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

14. Defining Climate • The Climatic Norm • Encompasses the total variation in the climate record, that is, both averages plus extremes

15. Defining Climate • Historical Perspectives • First North American systematic weather observations made in 1644-1645 at Old Swedes Fort (now Wilmington, DE) • U.S. Surgeon General James Tilton issued an order 2 May 1814 to begin the establishment of a national network of weather and climate observing stations • National network of volunteer observers who mailed monthly weather reports to the Smithsonian was established in the mid-1800s

16. Defining Climate • Historical Perspectives • Congress funded national storm-warning network in 1872 • Transferred to civilian hands as U.S. Weather Bureau in 1891 • Weather Bureau reorganized into National Weather Service in 1965 • 122 National Weather Service Forecast Offices exist today

17. Historical Perspectives At present, 840 automated weather stations operated by NWS and FAA 11,700 cooperative weather stations Defining Climate