Global Warming: Weather, Climate and Society Course Overview, Logistics

1. Global Warming: Weather, Climate and SocietyCourse Overview, Logistics CLIM 101 // Fall 2012 George Mason University 28 Aug 2012

2. Instructor Jim Kinter Professor, Climate Dynamics Director, Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies Ph.D., Princeton University, 1984 E-Mail: kinter@cola.iges.org (BEST) ikinter@gmu.edu Phone: (301) 595-7000 Office: Research Hall, Room 107 JagadishShukla Distinguished University Professor, Climate Dynamics Director, Climate Dynamics Ph.D. Program Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976 E-mail: shukla@cola.iges.org URL: http://www.iges.org/people/shukla.html Phone: (301) 595-7000 Office: Research Hall, Room 105

3. Guest Lecturers Thomas Lovejoy University Professor, Environmental Science and Policy (GMU) Biodiversity Chair, Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment Ph.D., Yale University, 1971 E-mail: tlovejoy@gmu.edu Phone: (703) 993-5180 Edward Maibach University Professor, Communication Director, Center for Climate Change Communication Ph.D., Stanford University, 1990 E-mail: emaibach@gmu.edu Phone:(703) 993-1587 Daniel Morrow Independent Consultant and Professorial Lecturer Elliott Scholl of International Affairs, George Washington University Ph.D., Harvard University, 1981 E-mail: dmorrow@email.gwu.edu

4. Graduate Teaching Assistant Andrew Badger E-Mail: abadger@gmu.edu Office: Research Hall, Room 134 Office Hour: Wednesdays 2:00 – 4:00 pm (Climate Lab, Research Hall)

5. Logistics Instructors • Jim Kinter, J. Shukla • Teaching Assistant • Andrew Badger • Class Schedule • Tuesday & Thursday 10:30 am - 11:45 am in Room 201 East Hall • Course Homepage • Blackboard: http://mymasonportal.gmu.edu (find CLIM 101) • Course Description • This General Education Core course provides a survey of the scientific and societal issues associated with weather and climate variability and global warming. The course will examine: • Physical phenomena of the Earth’s weather and climate • Climate variability and changes that have impacts on human society and natural ecosystems • Current debate on global warming from a scientific point of view • The focus will be on those aspects that have the largest potential impact on global society, socioeconomic systems and natural ecosystems

6. mymasonportal.gmu.edu • 201270.71533: CLIM-101-001 (Fall 2012) • Home Page (announcements) • Syllabus • Information (as needed) • Course Content • Lectures • Supplementary readings (arranged by course “themes”) • Assignments • Readings • Homework • Term project • Student debate • (Groups)

7. Schedule of Classes* * Subject to minor adjustment Guest lecturer

8. Schedule of Classes* * Subject to minor adjustment Guest lecturer

9. Requirements • Reading - the required source materials include: • The Rough Guide to Climate Change by Robert Henson (RG) • The Atlas of Climate Change by Kirstin Dow and Tom Downing (ACC) • Lecture notes for each class (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu) • Scholarly and popular articles (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu) • Supplementary reading (not required): • The Science and Politics of Global Climate Changeby Andrew Dessler& E. Parson • Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway • Homework (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu) • Pop Quizzes • 3. Mid-term Examination • Term project: Individual Final Report and Group Oral Presentation • Evaluation Criteria • Homework (40%); pop quizzes (10%); mid-term exam (20%); group oral presentation (15%); term paper (10%); class attendance (5%); and extra credit of up to 10% for class participation.

10. Term Project • The Earth’s climate is always changing, everywhere. Within the past century or so, mostly because of human activities that have contributed to an enhanced greenhouse effect, the Earth’s climate has changed more rapidly and to a greater degree than at any time in human experience. The changes already are having impacts on many sectors of human society and natural ecosystems. • The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia needs to know what the impacts of climate change on Virginia are, how large the impacts are likely to be, and what steps should be taken to address them. • The term assignment is to prepare an individual paper and a group presentation advising the Governor on the impacts of climate change and how to address them. The economic or ecosystem sectors to be considered include: • the coastal zone • agriculture and food security • flora and fauna (other than agriculture) • water supply (for urban and agricultural consumption) • human health • energy (production and consumption) • transportation

11. Term Project In particular, the reports should include: • a qualitative and quantitative description of the sector, including how and why it is sensitive to climate • a summary of how climate change is likely to impact the sector • a list of near-term actions that the Governor should take to help the citizens and businesses of Virginia adapt to the changes in the sector that are inevitable • a list of policy changes that the Governor should support that can limit the adverse effects of climate change on the sector • The class will be divided into seven groups, one for each sector, based on student preferences. Each group will be given time in one of the last three classes of the semester to brief the Governor. There will be a short press conference following each briefing in which the instructors and other students will act as members of the media to ask questions of the briefing team. • Students will be graded on how well they have described the vulnerabilities to climate change and the degree to which the recommended actions and policy changes address the problems. Briefings that include some estimate of the costs of action vs. the costs of doing nothing will receive extra credit.

12. Requirements Schedule • Homework posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu • Please submit homework by hand (to instructor in the classroom). If you are unable to attend class, you can submit your homework to teaching assistant during office hours or via e-mail. • Each student should complete the assignments independently. Please ensure that your answers are your own original work.

13. Student Debate Proposition: “Resolved that the threat of global warming – specifically the impacts typically associated with the climatic effects of increasing concentrations of radiatively-active (“greenhouse”) gases in Earth’s atmosphere due to human activities (fossil-fuel burning, land use change, particulate pollution etc.) – represents a clear and present danger to the well-being of citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rest of the world such that immediate action is warranted.” Debate: Two teams of volunteers of up to 5 students each argue the Proposition, after class members vote. The teams will also question each other, rebut points made by the other team and respond to questions from class members. At the end of the debate, all class members will again vote on the Proposition. The team that changes the largest number of opinions will be declared the winner. Participants in the debate will receive up to 10% extra credit.

14. STUDENT SURVEY