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

1. Global Warming: Weather, Climate and SocietyCourse Overview, Logistics CLIM 101 // Fall 2011 George Mason University 30 Aug 2011

2. Instructor Jim Kinter Professor E-Mail: kinter@cola.iges.org (BEST) Phone:(301) 595-7000 Office: Research I, Room 310

3. Guest Lecturers 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 Phone:(301) 595-7000 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 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

4. UPDATEGraduate Teaching Assistants Andrew Badger E-Mail: abadger@gmu.edu Office: Research I, Room 310 Jyothi Nattala E-Mail: jnattala@gmu.edu Office: Research I, Room 310 Office Hour: Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:30 pm (Room 310, Research I)

5. Logistics Instructor • Jim Kinter • Teaching Assistants • Andrew Badger, JyothiNattala • Class Schedule • Tuesday & Thursday 10:30 am - 11:45 am in Room 1201 University 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 • 201170.71778: CLIM-101-001 (Fall 2011) • 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 primary source material includes • 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 as supplementary material for the lectures and class discussions (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu) • Homework (posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu) • Pop Quizzes • 3. Mid-term Examination • Term project: Individual Final Report and Group Oral Presentation • UPDATE: Evaluation Criteria • The assessment of student performance will be based on homework (40%), pop quiz (10%), a mid-term examination (20%), and the group oral presentation and report (30%). Extra credit of up to 10% will be given 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 history. 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 white 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 presentation 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 will limit the adverse effects of climate change on the sector • The class will be divided into seven groups, one for each of sectors, based on student preferences. Each group will be given 25 minutes in one of the last three classes of the semester to brief the Governor-elect. There will be a 10-minute 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 will be posted on mymasonportal.gmu.edu • Please submit your homework by hand (to instructor in the classroom) If you are unable to attend class, you can submit your homework to teaching assistants during office hours or via e-mail. • Each student should complete the assignments independently. Please ensure that your answers are your own original work.