Course Syllabus

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Textbook: Global Climate Change: Convergence of Disciplines.
Software: Install Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader (most computers made in the last 2-3 years should be fine as these frequently come pre-installed)
Highspeed, reliable connection to the internet (DSL, cable, etc.).

Week	Topic	Videos	Assignment
1	Introduction to climate research	Lecture 1-3	Exercise 1, Davis, CA
2	History of Earth's climate	Lecture 4-7	Essay 1, Hometown
3	Climate forcing factors	Lecture 8-11	Exercise 2, Typical GCM
4	GCMs & predictions	Lecture 12-17	Essay 2, Your GCM
5	Climate & biosphere	Lecture 18-22	Exercise 3, Polar bears
6	Mitigation Strategies: Transportation	Lecture 23-27	Essay 3, Your species
7	Electric power & other sectors	Lecture 28-36	Exercise 4, Carbon footprint
8	Economics of climate change	Lecture 37-42	Essay 4, Reduce footprint
9	Environmental law	Lecture 43-46	Exercise 5, United States
10	Culture & climate change	Lecture 47-48	Essay 5, Your country

These are designed to prepare you for writing the essay assignments. You should complete one learning exercise every other week.

Climate Trends: Examine temperature graphs for climate trends in Davis, CA.
How to Read a Scientific Article: Critically read and summarize a scientific article on a GCM.
Climate Change and Species: Discover how polar bears are affected by climate change.
Carbon Footprint: Calculate your contributions to GHG emissions.
Countries and Climate Change: Discover how the culture of the USA influences climate change actions.

Climate Trends in Your Hometown: Create temperature graphs for your hometown using ground station and satellite sources. Discuss temperature trends and running averages.
Global Climate Model: Use the library to research a GCM and discuss that GCM including history, how it works, and why it is important.
Climate Change and Species: Choose a species and discuss how that species will respond to climate change.
Carbon Footprint: Reduce your GHG emissions by 50% for one day and discuss the experience including the costs and benefits of doing so.
Countries and Climate Change: Choose a country and discuss how the culture influences climate change actions.

Week	Required Text Reading	Optional Supplemental Reading
1	Ch 1 - Intro to Climate Change Research	The Discovery of Global Warming by Spencer Weart Global Climate Change Research Explorer
2	Ch 2 - History of Earth’s Climate	What is Paleoclimatology? by US NOAA Earth's Climatic History by Pidwirny
3	Ch 3 - Causes of Climate	Global Warming Facts and Our Future Causes of Climate Change by US EPA Encyclopedia of Earth: GH effect
4	Ch 4 - World of Tomorrow: Computer Simulation Models	Simple Models of Climate Change by Weart GCMs by Weart IPCC Chapter on GCMs
5	Ch 5 - Plants & CO₂ Ch 6 - Climate Change & Biosphere	Food Quality by Bloom Encyclopedia of Earth: Biosphere, Ecosystem Disturbance, Species Shifts
6	Ch 7 - Transportation	IPCC Mitigation of Climate Change Report, Transportation
7	Ch 8 - Electric Power Ch 9 - Other Sectors	IPCC Mitigation of Climate Change Report, Energy Supply IPCC Mitigation of Climate Change Report, Buildings IPCC Mitigation of Climate Change Report, Industry IPCC Mitigation of Climate Change Report, Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use
8	Ch 10 - Economics of Climate Change	The Economics of Climate Change: A Primer by CBO Requiem for Kyoto by Nordhaus & Boyer
9	Ch 11 - Environmental Law	United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
10	Ch 12 - Culture & Climate Change	Global Warming Politics by Shellenberger & Nordhaus Welcome to Doomsday by Moyers