1. ST 215
Weather, Climate, and Society

2. Syllabus
Course web page

3. ST 215 Teams

9. June 21

10. Sept. 22

11. Dec. 21

12. Mar. 20

13. June 21

15. Oceans
Continents
Clouds
Ice Sheets
Deserts
Mountains
Life (O2)
Precipitation
Temp. differences
Winds
Lightning
Aurora
Moon (tides)
Natural Greenhouse Effect
Orbit “wobbles” long-term
Stratospheric Ozone
Artificial satellites
Air pollution
Political boundaries

17. It’s your atmosphere Only planet with abundant O2 atmosphere.
Oceans cover 2/3 of planet.
Surface temperatures 40 to -40 C allow 3 phases of water.
Hydrologic cycle (recycles fresh water for the biosphere).
Atmosphere protects earth from UV, meteorites, solar wind.
“Ocean of air” is very thin; can’t breathe above 10 km.

18. Air is absolutely necessary for life:
Eat 3 x per day, can survive without food for 40 days.
Drink 6 x per day, can survive without water for 7 days.
Breathe 22,000 x per day, can live without air only 3-5 min.
1022 molecules in every breath of air
1044 molecules in the entire atmosphere
1022 breaths of air in the atmosphere.

19. Social Dimensions Humanity is not in harmony with the environment.
Socio-technical Hybrids:
Air Pollution
Ozone Depletion
Global Warming
El Niño and La Niña
Environmental Health
Energy Use
Weather and Climate Control
A critical study of weather, climate, and society calls into question the entire trajectory of civilization.