WINTER 2001

This information effective for Winter 2001.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.

Crown College

[CRWN-080S]

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80S. Freshman Seminar in Science, Technology, and Society: California Climate Change - Past, Present, and Future

Note: This is a new course for Winter 2001.

Where and When: This class meets MWF 12:30-1:40 in EMS D258

Instructor: Lisa Sloan
Office: A254 Earth & Marine Science Bldg.
Phone: 459-3693, e-mail: lcsloan@earthsci.ucsc.edu
Office hours: to be arranged.

Textbook: Global Climate Change and California, edited by J. B. Knox (University of California Press, 184 pp.)

Course Description

California is a state rich in resources of many kinds, a state with an astounding number of ecosystems and a large diversity of life. California is also a state that heavily depends upon agriculture, tourism, and fisheries. How will the state of California be impacted by future climate change? While global temperature are predicted to increase by approximately 2-3 degrees (Centigrade) in the next 50 years for the planet on average, studies have indicated that temperature in regions of California could increase by at least 10 degrees, and precipitation could increase or decrease by half in many regions. This course is a multidisciplinary look at climate change in California. Major emphasis will put on the focus of possible impacts of future climate change in California from physical, climatic, hydrologic, ecological, and societal perspectives. This course also includes a scientific background on global warming, and the basis for predictions of future climate change.

Course Structure: This class will meet three times a week. Readings for the course will include the textbook listed above as well as current articles from scientific journals and the popular press. There will be several guest lecturers, in keeping with the multidisciplinary outlook of the course. Course evaluations will be based upon a midterm exam, a final presentation and final paper, and participation in the classroom discussions.

Tentative Syllabus

Week #1. COURSE INTRODUCTION and PAST CALIFORNIA CLIMATE

- An overview of California: Geography, climate, agriculture, water use, population

- The climate system

- California climate of the past (since the last ice age)

Week #2. GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE MODELING

- Introduction to the book: historical basis for climate change concerns, updates since 1991 (Ch. 1)

- An overview of global warming and climate change: What global warming is, how it occurs, what is known and unknown about it (Ch. 2, Ch. 3, plus supplemental reading)

- Explanation of the carbon cycle

- Explanation of climate modeling: what it is, how it works, uncertainties (Ch. 4 plus supplemental reading)

Week #3. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER

- The hydrologic cycle: global vs. California

- Current water demands and use, costs and organization, in California (Ch. 5 and supplemental readings)

- Water quality issues

Week #4. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURE

- Agriculture and California Climate Change (Ch. 6 and supplemental readings)

Weeks #5 & 6. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS

- Natural Ecosystems and California Climate Change (Ch. 7 and supplemental readings)

- rivers

- terrestrial realms

- marine realms

Midterm Exam

Week #7. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY & ECONOMICS

- Energy Impacts from California Climate Change (Ch. 8)

- Possible economic impacts of California Climate Change (supplemental readings)

Week #8. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIETY

- Societal Impacts of climate change: Global and California perspectives (Ch. 9 plus supplemental readings)

- Final projects assigned

Week #9. RECENT MODELING RESULTS OF POSSIBLE FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE IN CALIFORNIA

- Results from California climate modeling studies to date

- Miscellaneous topics: Detecting climate change

Week #10. PRESENTATIONS OF FINAL REPORT SUMMARIES

- Presentations of class projects (summarized) as in-class final