IDS 3211C Global Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions (Dr. Haiyan Jiang)
Section U05: TuTh 9:30 am – 10:45 am (SCH. INTER.&PUBLIC AFFAIRS 100). This is a team-taught course. Instructors from the Department of Earth & Environment are:
Professor Haiyan Jiang: Office: PC342B; Phone:305-348-2984; E-mail:haiyan.jiang@fiu.edu; Office Hours: Tu/Th 12:30-1:30 pm.
Professor Patricia Houle:Office: PC 327A; Phone: 305-348-3153; E-mail:Blackboard LMS; Office Hours: Tu 1-3 pm. You may contact either instructor if you have any questions or concerns about the class.
Syllabus (pdf version)
Prof. Jiang's Lecture Notes:
Lecture 1: Introductions (PDF) & PPT (Jan. 7, 2014)
Lecture 2: Climate Basics (PDF) & PPT (Jan. 9 & 14, 2014)
Lecture 3: Climate and Atmosphere (PDF) & PPT (Jan. 16 & 21, 2014)
Lecture 4: Climate and Ocean Circulation (PPT)(Jan. 23, 2014)
Lecture 5: Humans and Climate Change (PPT)(Jan. 30, & Feb 4, 2014)
Review for Exam#1 (PDF)(Feb 4, 2014)
Exam 1 (Feb 6, 2014)
Lecture 6: Climate Varibility (PDF)(Feb 11 &13, 2014)
Lecture 7: Extreme Climate Anomalies (PDF)(Feb 13, 2014)
Lecture 8: Climate Modeling (PDF)(Feb 18, 2014)
Lecture 9: Climate Change Projections (PDF)(Feb 20, 2014)
Review for Exam#2 (PDF)(Feb 20, 2014)
Exam 2 (Feb 25, 2014)
Course Description:
Environmental concerns have become increasingly important in our world. Much of this is due to the fact that that not only does society affect its natural environment—but our natural environment affect us as well. Perhaps the best example to this scenario is the phenomenon of global climate change and the social, ethical, economic and political as well as environmental consequences that will result from it. Global climate change is a unique issue in that it is biospheric in nature, meaning it will impact all people, all societies and all ecosystems. It also provides arguably the greatest challenge currently facing humanity over the coming decades. That challenge also represents unique opportunities for involving many in coming up with innovative solutions that can help mitigate some of the most severe impacts climate change will impose upon humanity.Global Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions will seek to examine these themes through an interdisciplinary lens that includes physical, natural and social science aspects. Our class will address the core topics which are central to understanding global climate change. We will begin with an examination of “Climate Change Basics.” This section will provide you with the fundamental scientific understanding you need by examining the scientific principles and concepts that underlie climate change. The scientific method and its application will be central to your knowledge of climate change. They will serve as the basis for “Climate Change and Predictions and Impacts,” which follows. We will examine what climate change will mean from a global perspective—examining ecosystems and people around the world in highlighting vulnerabilities. This section will also focus on how changing environmental conditions can affect social conditions (for example, drought-like conditions leading to war over water rights). We will conclude with a section on “Climate Change Solutions,” which will discuss how the world arrived at the point we are at and what can be done about it, including current and future strategies.
Course Designation:
This course counts as a Global Learning Foundations Course or as a Global Discipline Specific Course and fulfills the requirement for the University Core Curriculum Natural Sciences category, Physical Sciences sub-category. There is a lab component as well that is required for the UCC.
Required Books:
Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming (2008) by Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump is used for Professor Jiang’s teaching. This book is available to purchase online (price $25, link: http://us.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756639952,00.html?strSrchSql=dire+predictions/Dire_Predictions_Michael_Mann) and will be in the bookstore within two weeks of the beginning of the class.
The Global Warming Reader: A Century of Writing about Climate Change (2011) by Bill McKibben. This book is used for Prof. Houle’s section of the class. Note: The e-book version may not have all the figures from the print edition.
Other books, articles or readings from the Internet may be assigned as needed. An announcement will be made in class at the time the assignment is made. These readings will be available from the library, Internet or posted in Blackboard.
Online Course Materials
Powerpoint presentations and additional course readings will be available on two sites for this course. Prof. Jiang’s powerpoints and other materials are available in this webpage at http://faculty.fiu.edu/~hajian/IDS3211C/IDS3211C.html. For Prof. Houle’s sections of the course, all materials will be on Blackboard: https://fiu.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp.