CLIM 101 Global Warming: Weather, Climate and Society
FALL 2023 CLASSES WILL BE HELD F2F (Sec 001) & ONLINE (Sec DL1)
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INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Jim Kinter (ikinter at gmu dot edu), 284 Research Hall
Dr. J. Shukla (jshukla at gmu dot edu), 105 Research Hall
Sec DL1 (online) Complete Syllabus
Sec 001 (face-to-face) Complete Syllabus
Lectures:
Sec DL1: Tue & Thu, 10:30-11:45 am, (online) Blackboard Collaborate
Sec 001: Tue & Thu, 10:30-11:45 am, (in person) Innovation Hall 103
Goals of Course:
Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. This course
provides a survey of weather and climate processes, and the global and
regional impacts of human-induced changes in concentrations of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The course will focus on the
phenomena of climate variability and change, both observed in the past
and projected for the next century, that have impacts on human society
and natural ecosystems. The course provides sufficient scientific
background to enable students to critically examine arguments about
climate change and possible solutions being discussed by policymakers
and the public at large.
This Mason Core course satisfying the Natural Science requirement will also review the roles of science, politics, international negotiations and the media in the current debate on what to do about climate change. The classes will consist of lectures, guest lectures, movies, in-class discussion and student debates. Students will have an opportunity to survey recent literature on the impacts of climate change in Virginia and beyond, the risks and strategies for adaptation, and the various policy alternatives and technical solutions for mitigating the harmful effects of climate change. Students also will have an opportunity to formally debate whether humans are really causing Earth's climate to change and whether reducing greenhouse gas emissions will save the planet or kill jobs.
Climate Dynamics Graduate Courses
Last modified: July 2022