Climate Change Problem Solving (AOSS 480 // NRE 480) Richard B. Rood Cell: Space Research Building (North Campus) Winter 2012 January 5, 2012

Class News Ctools site: AOSS_SNRE_480_001_W12AOSS_SNRE_480_001_W and 2010 Class On Line:2008 and 2010 Class – /Climate_Change:_The_Move_to_Actionhttp://climateknowledge.org/classes/index.php /Climate_Change:_The_Move_to_Action First Reading: Spencer Weart’s The Discovery of Global Warming –And in particular two subsections Carbon dioxide greenhouse effect: Simple climate models

Today Who am I? Course Description Overview Some Questions and Discussion Glimpse in the Climate Change Problem

What is the Point of View that I Bring? Scientist and manager at NASA publishing in ozone modeling, climate modeling, data analysis, high- performance computing. Worked on multi-agency strategies for climate modeling and addressing the interface between the science of climate change and the use of climate information by stakeholders. Wunderground.com and climatepolicy.org “expert” blogger Teaching this course for the seventh time. –Changing it up a bit this year.

What is the Point of View that I Bring? “Complex problems with no known solutions.” There is something of “text” evolving on the web from my blogs. –Blog data base.Blog data base –

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE What are the pieces which we must consider? (what are the consequences) Belief SystemValuesPerceptionCultural MandateSocietal Needs information flow: research, journals, press, opinion, … Security Food Environmental National Societal Success Standard of Living...???... ECONOMICSPOLICY “BUSINESS”PUBLIC HEALTH SOCIAL JUSTICE ENERGY RELIGION??????

From Course Description Identify the important elements of science, policy, economics, public health, etc. –Where should we pay attention? –What do we know versus what do we believe? Identify and map the interactions between these elements and connections to other external elements –How big is the problem? How is all of this changing? This is not a math-oriented course

Course requirements Because of diverse nature of students and issues associated with climate change and the attributes of real world problem solving discussion is vital. There will be 4 or 5 readings, and you will write 1 page thought pieces submitted prior to the lecture. Evening discussion sessions.

Helping with the class I have a former student who will be helping with the class –Kevin Reed

Course Project Reflective of workplace … –“Complex Problems with no Known Solutions.” Groups of individuals with varied expertise Responsive to “news” –Relationship of news to science Project will provide recommendations, a strategy for addressing the complex problem. –What are first steps? –What do we need to look out for as these steps are taken? Monitor progress // briefing during the course Presentation at end of course

Course News Project –Grade will be primarily determined on the project Start to think about them – perhaps even today Teams that bring together several elements of the project –Should be no larger than 4 people. –Should not be your friends that have the same background. Should be defined by late January –I will provide a template for thinking about the problem. –Some guidance in defining projects We will visit and re-visit the projects over the course –That means I will provide management / customer oversight. Final presentations at the end

Course News Participation –This semester I will have some modest requirements during the term in addition to the project. –Descriptions of key figures What do I mean? –4 or 5 papers to read and discuss The world 4 degrees warmer –Class participation

Projected Global Temperature Trends IPCC ‘ temperatures relative to Special Report on Emissions Scenarios Storyline B2 (middle of the road warming).

Who are we? Name Major or Interest Any particular reason you wanted to take this course. When some one asks you about global warming, or you hear about global warming, what is your first reaction?

Questions Do you think that the planet is warming? –Is this warming consequential? –Is this warming manmade? –Can we do something about it?

Glimpse into the issues of Climate Change Some global climate predictions

The motivator: Increase of CO 2 (Keeling et al., 1996)

Note: There is consistency from many models, many scenarios, that there will be warming. (1.5 – 5.5 C) Also, it’s still going up in 2100! Basic physics of temperature increase is very simple, non- controversial. The prediction:

Observed Temperature Anomaly in See Also: Osborn et al., The Spatial Extent of 20th-Century Warmth in the Context of the Past 1200 Years, Science, 311, , 2006

Observed Temperature Anomaly in See Also: Osborn et al., The Spatial Extent of 20th-Century Warmth in the Context of the Past 1200 Years, Science, 311, , 2006

IPCC 2007: The last ~100 years

What parameters/events do we care about? Temperature Water –Precipitation –Evaporation –Humidity Air Composition –Air quality –Aerosols –Carbon dioxide Winds Clouds / Sunlight Droughts Floods Extreme Weather The impact of climate change is Water for Ecosystems Water for People Water for Energy Water for Physical Climate

Thanks