Week   Class Topics                                                                         Readings*

Part 1- the Ocean’s Role in Climate

    1      The Earth Systems Approach                                                   Chapter 1

            (Jan 17 & 19)

    2      Radiative Forcing and the Atmosphere                                      Chapter 2

            (Jan 24 & 26)

    3      Climate Recorders                                                                   Chapter 3

            (Jan 31 & Feb 2)

    4      Wind-Driven Circulation                                                           Chapter 4 from Ocean Circulation

            (Feb 7 & 9)

    5      Density-Driven Circulation                                                        Chapter 6 from Ocean Circulation

            (Feb 14)

            Midterm 1 and Term paper topics and outline due – Feb 16 class period

Part 2- Paleoceanographic Data- A case studies approach  

    6-10 (Feb 21, 23, 28, Mar 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21)

            In this section of the class we will study interesting case histories of past worlds reconstructed through the use of a variety of paleoceanographic data (e.g. physical properties of sediments, microfossils, and geochemical tracers). We selected the five following topics and will explore each for a one week period using the class text and readings from the literature as a guide.

           Readings: Selected from the class text, handouts provided by the instructor, and provided by student group leaders selected for each topic.

            Week 6-         Of Monsoons and People          (Download the discussion paper); Reading from Ruddiman: Ch. 8 and 9

                                                                                    (Download the student presentation)

            Week 7-         Ice Free Worlds                         (Download discussion papers 1 and 2); Reading from Ruddiman: Ch. 6 and 7

                                                                                    (Download the student presentation)

            Week 8-         Polar Amplification of Climate  (Download discussion papers 1 and 2); Reading from Ruddiman: Ch. 10 and 11

                                                                                    (Download student presentations 1 and 2)

            Week 9-         Abrupt Climate Change             (Download discussion papers 1 and 2); Reading from Ruddiman: Ch 14 and 15

                                                                                    (Download the student presentation)

            Week 10-      The Mid-Pleistocene Revolution (Download discussion papers 1 and 2); Reading from Ruddiman: Ch. 8 and 12

                                                                                    (Download the student presentation)

            (Spring Break March 25 through April 2)

Part 3- Paleoceanographic Modeling – Simulating Lost Worlds

           Midterm 2- and First Draft of Term Paper - April 4 class period

    11-  Box Models – A visit to the ocean of the Last Glacial Maximum                    pg. 71-83 of Chapter 3, Chapter 13 & handouts

    12    (April 6, 11, 13)

    13-   Energy Balance Models and GCMs – Past and Future worlds                       pg. 71-83 of Chapter 3, Chapter 18, 19 & handouts

    14    (April 18, 20, 25, and 27)

             End of class sessions – Final version of Term Papers due May 5th

*Readings from Ruddiman unless otherwise noted. Any changes to the readings will be announced in class.

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