GHY 1011-101Global Climate Change

MWF 11:00 – 11:50 AM293 Rankin Science West

Professor: L. Baker Perry, Ph.D.

Introduction to Course

Introductions Course Logistics Is Climate Changing? Weather vs. Climate Historical Perspective of Climate

For Next Class: Read Chapter 2 and FAQ 2.1.Labs WILL NOT meet this week!

Introductions

Find out the following information from a partner:• NAME• POINT(S) OF ORIGIN• MAJOR (or projected major)• INTERESTING PLACES VISITED • FAVORITE SEASON OR CLIMATE ZONE• TALENTS OR HOBBIES

Course Logistics

Please read the course syllabus in detail and let me know if you have any questions!

Office hours are MWF 11-12, 2-4 PM, or by appointment Textbook is Climate Studies: Introduction to Climate Science

and is available at the bookstore. Other readings will be available on AsUlearn. Readings are expected to be completed before coming to

class!

Course Policies

Attendance: Course attendance is expected and will be taken on a routine basis. Two absences are allowed without penalty; each additional absence results in a 2.5-point deduction from your attendance grade.

Annotated Bibliography: The annotated bibliography will consist of a summary of five refereed publications that address one of the global climate change themes or issues discussed during the semester. Additional information will be provided at a later date. Completed annotated bibliographies are due on November 13.

Exams: Make up exams will only be given due to a verifiable emergency. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty member within 24 hours of the scheduled exam to request a makeup. Otherwise, the student will receive an automatic zero.

Final Exam: The final exam is cumulative and is scheduled for December 11. All students will take the final at this time.

Statement of Student Engagement

In its mission statement, Appalachian State University aims at “providing undergraduate students a rigorous liberal education that emphasizes transferable skills and preparation for professional careers” as well as “maintaining a faculty whose members serve as excellent teachers and scholarly mentors for their students.” Such rigor means that the foremost activity of Appalachian students is an intense engagement with their courses. In practical terms, students should expect to spend two to three hours of studying for every hour of class time. Hence, a fifteen hour academic load might reasonably require between 30 and 45 hours per week of out-of-class work.

Global Climate Change

Is the climate changing? On what evidence?

Overview of Observed Change Indicators

IPCC 2013

Climate Science

Highly interdisciplinary field drawing on expertise from:• Meteorology• Climatology• Chemistry• Physics• Biology/Ecology• Remote sensing and computer science• Economics

Main Drivers of Climate Change

IPCC 2013

What is the difference between Weather and Climate?

What is the difference between Weather and Climate?

Weather: State of the atmosphere over the short term (minutes to ~15 days).

Climate: Synthesis of weather conditions in a given area, characterized by long-term statistics (mean values, variances, probabilities of extreme values, etc.) of the meteorological elements in that area.

Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get!

What is the difference between Climate Variability and Climate Change?

Climate Variability: deviations of climate statistics over a given period of time (e.g., specific month, season or year) from the long-term climate statistics relating to the corresponding calendar period.

Climate Change: a significant change (e.g., having important economic, environmental and social effects) in the mean values of a meteorological element (e.g., temperature or precipitation) in the course of a certain period of time, where the means are taken over periods of the order of a decade or longer.Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

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Defining Climate

The Climatic Norm• Encompasses the total variation in the climate record, that

is, both averages plus extremes

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Defining Climate

Historical Perspectives• First North American systematic weather observations

made in 1644-1645 at Old Swedes Fort (now Wilmington, DE)

• U.S. Surgeon General James Tilton issued an order 2 May 1814 to begin the establishment of a national network of weather and climate observing stations

• National network of volunteer observers who mailed monthly weather reports to the Smithsonian was established in the mid-1800s

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Defining Climate

Historical Perspectives• Congress funded national storm-warning network in 1872

Transferred to civilian hands as U.S. Weather Bureau in 1891

• Weather Bureau reorganized into National Weather Service in 1965

• 122 National Weather Service Forecast Offices exist today

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Defining Climate

Historical Perspectives• At present,

840 automated weather stations operated by NWS and FAA

11,700 cooperative weather stations

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The Climate System

System: entity whose components interact in an orderly manner according to the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology

Earth’s Climate System: defined as the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere and their interactions

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The Climate System

Atmosphere• Relatively thin envelope of gases and tiny suspended

particles surrounding the planet• Divided into four layers:

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere