Time Schedule:
Eric J Steig
ESS 201
Seattle Campus
Earth's dynamic environment, global energy balance, interplay of chemical, physical, and biological processes shaping the Earth's surface and climate. Emphasis on quantitative methods for measuring, evaluating, and understanding contemporary changes relative to the last several thousand years. Prerequisite: either MATH 124, MATH 144, or Q SCI 291.
Class description
Course home page: courses.washington.edu/ess201
"Climate change" is frequently in the news and is a subject of intense political debate. This course provides solid introduction to the scientific basis of modern understanding of climate change. Students will learn what we know about how the earth's climate system works today, how it has operated in the past, and how this information can be used to help us know what we can expect in the future.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
This class uses a combination of lectures, problem solving sessions, and discussion.
Lectures, T and TH 11:30 - 12:20, will provide a step-by-step guide to the various components of the Earth system (solid earth, ocean, atmosphere, biosphere and cryosphere): how they function and how they are important in shaping earth's climate. Labs on T afternoon (2:30 to 4:20) will provide an opportunity for in-class problem solving. Some of the labs are discussions based based on weekly reading of the book, "Is the temperature rising?", which shows how knowledge of the earth system and climate in the past informs us about the future.
Recommended preparation
The only pre-requisites for this class are some basic math skills. QuatSci 291, Math 124, OR Math 144 would be appropriate. If you haven't taken any of these, you can still take this class: simply get an entry code by contacting Student Services in Earth and Space Sciences via email at advising@ess.washington.edu.
Class assignments and grading
Weekly problem sets/classroom discussion. Midterm exam (no final). Presentation at the end of the quarter. (Depending on the number of students, we may use the scheduled exam time for some of the presentations.)
Grades weighted 25% on the midterm exam, 40% on the weekly problem sets, and 35% on class participation and final presentation.
