Effects of the Sun, Atmosphere and Oceans in Climate Change and Global Warming

E. J. ZITA and Gerardo CHIN-LEO, The Evergreen State College

July 7-9, 2009 in Olympia, WA Apply: UWA

Global climate change is coupled with changes in the total Earth system. This course will provide an introduction to the Earth as an integrated system. The coupled ocean-atmosphere circulation, the natural variability of weather and climate, variations in Earth’s orbit and the Sun’s luminosity, and global biogeochemical cycling of carbon and essential life elements are important factors in this system.

          Man-made perturbations of the global system, such as global climate change due to greenhouse gases, are considered in some detail. We will consider evidence for global climate change, impacts of global warming, such as biodiversity losses and increased frequency of extreme weather events; and mitigation options, including policy responses and personal choices that may slow global warming.Global climate change is coupled directly with changes in the total earth system. This course will provide an introduction to the earth as an integrated biogeochemical system. The coupled ocean-atmosphere circulation, the natural variability of weather and climate, and global biogeochemical cycling of carbon and essential life elements are presented as important factors in the system.

Man-made perturbations of the global system, such as stratospheric ozone depletion by CFCs, global climate change caused by greenhouse gases and aerosols and downward trends in global ecosystem 'services' and biotic diversity are considered in detail. Of particular interest is the increased frequency of extreme weather events (hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, heat waves) in relation to the predictions of climate change models. Possible policy responses, both local and global, will be discussed; and lessons from the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto conference and beyond will be presented, with discussion on how to slow global climate change.

For college teachers of: natural and environmental science, engineering and public policy. High school teachers are welcomed on a space-available basis. Prerequisites: none

Dr. Zita teaches physics, astronomy, and mathematics at The Evergreen State College, and does solar physics research in collaboration with the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). She often teaches in interdisciplinary programs, integrating themes such as climate change or history/ philosophy of science with physics. Her background is in magnetohydrodynamics, with a focus in magnetic dynamo theory. She did fusion energy research at General Atomics and Los Alamos National Laboratory before earning a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was recently elected to the Executive Committee of the American Physical Society, NW section, and is an organic farmer. Dr. Chin-Leo holds a B.A. in Biology (Reed College) and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography (University of Delaware).  His research focuses on marine microbiology studying the factors regulating bacterial productivity and the occurrence and distribution of harmful algal blooms.  He teaches marine science as well as interdisciplinary courses examining current environmental issues, and is particularly interested in teaching about the contribution of the oceans and marine life to global climate change.

Email: Zita@evergreen.edu, chinleog@evergreen.edu

Further information about this course including a syllabus and housing is given at ChautauquaClimateChange.