1. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Introduction

2. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Course Objectives To better understand some of the mechanisms that have been involved in climate changes in the distant past (i.e., paleoclimates). To explore the scientific process in which hypotheses to explain past behavior of the climate system are proposed and tested. To develop the ability to critically examine the content of scientific papers. To enhance scientific communication skills.

3. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Topics To Be Covered How are periodic fluctuations in Earth’s climate related to slow changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit? How sensitive is Earth’s climate to radiative forcing? Did changes in the ocean’s overturning circulation cause millennial-scale climate variability? Was tropical Pacific climate variability (e. g., El Niño) different in Earth’s past?

4. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Format Each topic will be introduced by two lectures to provide background information on that topic. Four readings from the scientific literature will be assigned on each topic. Each of these papers will be discussed in class (one paper per class meeting), with one student summarizing the paper and leading the discussion. Students will complete a final project, which will include a written report and oral presentation.

5. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Grading Class participation (60%) Discussion leader: 30% Open discussion: 30% Final Project (40%) Written report: 30% Oral presentation: 10%

6. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Papers To Be Read The assigned readings are listed on the course web page: http://www.envsci.rutgers.edu/~broccoli/mech_past_clim_chg.htm

7. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Finding Scientific Papers Most of the papers to be discussed are available online through the Electronic Journals web page maintained by the Rutgers University Libraries. Not all journals are available electronically through the Rutgers system; AGU journals are among those not available. AGU members can access papers from AGU journals published prior to the current year via AGU web site. In a small number of cases, you may have to resort to using the library the old-fashioned way. (Sorry!)

8. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) How To Read A Scientific Paper Reading a scientific paper can be very different from reading a novel or a newspaper. The content can be much more dense (jargon, technical information, mathematics, etc.). For a full understanding, it may be necessary to refer to other publications cited in the paper. Some papers require more than one reading to be clearly understood.

9. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) “Levels Of Engagement” Because there are differing degrees of commitment that one can give to the process of reading a scientific paper, Simon Hunt (Oxford) describes four “levels of engagement.”

10. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Level 1 Where? Sitting beside the coffee table How often? Daily

11. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Level 2 Where? A quiet, comfortable armchair How often? Several times per week

12. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Level 3 Where? At your own desk or at a desk in the library; with space for making notes. How often? Once or twice per week.

13. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Level 4 Where? In complete privacy; no distractions. How often? At least a couple of times per month.

14. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Other Resources: Reading Scientific Papers The course web site provides links to other online essays about reading scientific papers. Simon Hunt, University of Oxford, “Reading Scientific Papers” John W. Little and Roy Parker, University of Arizona, “How To Read A Scientific Paper” Elizabeth Willott, University of Arizona, “Reading a Scientific Paper”

15. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Leading The Discussion The discussion leader is responsible for introducing the paper by briefly answering the following questions: –What scientific questions are addressed by the paper? –Are any specific hypotheses proposed by the author(s)? –What methods are used? –What are the primary conclusions of the paper?

16. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Leading The Discussion After introducing the paper, the discussion leader should stimulate discussion by asking thought-provoking questions about the paper. Topics of interest might include –Aspects of the paper that are hard to understand –Weaknesses of experimental methods, analysis or interpretation –Aspects of the paper that are particularly convincing –Relationships with other papers on similar topics

17. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Final Project Among the topics discussed in class, select a particular aspect of past climate change that interests you. Research possible physical mechanisms that have been proposed to explain that aspect of climate change. Prepare a written report (6-10 pages) and a brief presentation (15 minutes) that critically examines a particular physical mechanism.

18. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Most Important Goals To encourage you to get excited about new scientific ideas. To have fun exploring some of the mechanisms of past climate change.

19. Fall 2005Mechanisms of Past Climate Change (16:375:553) Example Let’s say you chose the increase of global temperature during the 20 th century as your topic. You would research the physical mechanisms that have been proposed as explanations for this warming. You might choose to critically evaluate the possibility that human-induced increases in greenhouse gases caused the warming.