EARTH SC/ENVIR SC 3CC3

Earth's Changing Climate

Calendar Description

The earth's climatic history including natural causes of past climate change and human influences on climate will be explored.
Three lectures; one term
Prerequisite: One of BIOLOGY 1M03 (or 1AA3), EARTH SC 1G03, ENVIR SC 1A03, 1B03, 1G03, ISCI 1A24; and registration in Level III or above. One of EARTH SC 2C03, 2E03, ENVIR SC 2C03, 2E03, GEO 2C03, 2E03, ISCI 2A18, LIFE SCI 2H03 is strongly recommended.
Prerequisite (Beginning 2012-2013): One of EARTH SC 2C03, 2E03, ENVIR SC 2C03, 2E03, GEO 2C03, 2E03, ISCI 2A18, LIFE SCI 2H03; and registration in Level III or above
Antirequisite: GEO 3CC3
Crosslist: ENVIR SC 3CC3, EARTH SC 3CC3

Time/Term Offered: Term One Fall 2011-12

Instructor: Dr. Luc Bernier
Room: General Science Building Rm. 202
Tel:(905) 525.9149 x26364
Email: berniejm@mcmaster.ca
Office hours: by appointment

Teaching Assistant: TBA



Course Outline (Formerly GEO 3CC3) Avenue to Learn

Introduction:

The Earth's climatic history including natural causes of past climate change and human influences on future climate will be explored. Earth’s climate systems and interactions and feedbacks among its major components such as ice, land and vegetation will also be the focus of this course. The major objectives are for students to understand, and to critically discuss the evidence for:

• The functioning and basic response of major components of climate systems e.g. land surface, ice, water, vegetation and air
• The interactions and feedbacks among these components
• The natural response time of key components of climate systems
• The causes of climate change

Lecture/Labs:

Lectures will be on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m., and Fridays at 4:30 p.m., in TSH- 120. Check your lecture schedule attached for further details. ALL students are expected to attend ALL lectures. Partial lecture notes will be available on A2L.
It is responsibility of the student to ensure that notes are obtained for any classes missed.

Required Text Books/Course materials:

Ruddiman, W.F. 2008. Earth’s Climate: Past and Future. 2nd ed. NY: W.H. Freeman & Company ISBN: 0-7167-8490-4.
Additional reading material may be posted, as required, on Avenue to Learn (A2L).

Evaluation:

This course will consist of online quizzes, assignments and a final exam. There will be 5 quizzes in the course covering lecture and textbook material. Quizzes are valued at 7.5% each and the lowest quiz mark will be dropped. Quizzes will be available on A2L for a 7-day period. Their schedule will be posted on A2L. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of quiz start and end dates, and of due dates for assignments. Please see the section titled ‘Missed Work or Late Work’ for information regarding missed quizzes. This course will also contain Final Exam. The final exam will cover all lecture and textbook readings, as well as subjects covered by the assignments. The final exam will consist of short and/or long answer questions.
Assignment 1 15%
Assignment 2 15%
Online quizzes (best 4 out of 5@7.5% each) 30%
Final Exam 40%

     

    Academic Dishonesty

    Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

    The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

    • Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit has been obtained.

    • Improper collaboration in group work.

    • Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

    It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/AcademicIntegrity.pdf

    The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.