Welcome to the GEOS 300W, Earth System Science, webpage for the Spring 2019 semester.

Spring 2019 Lectures: MWF, 4:00 - 5:15 PM. Location: PHSC 130

Click here for a PDF of the Syllabus.

Required book: The Earth System, 3rd Edition by L. Kump, J. Kasting, and R. Crane.

This page will be updated every few days as the course progresses.

Weds., 23 Jan., Review syllabus. Begin Chapter 1: Global change
Mon., 28 Jan., Complete Chapter 1
Weds., 30 Jan., Distinguishing weather and climate. Begin Chapter 2: Daisyworld and systems.
Mon., 4 Feb., Quiz on Chapter 1. In class exercise #1: reading journal articles and use of citations.
Weds., 6 Feb., Chapter 2: Daisyworld and systems.
Mon., 11 Feb., Quiz on Chapter 2; Completed Chapter 2 and began Chapter 3: Global Energy Balance: characteristics of radiant energy
Weds., 13 Feb., Chapter 3: Global Energy Balance: the greenhouse effect
Mon., 18 Feb., Quiz #3. Simple model of the greenhouse effect: no atmosphere and with 1-layer atmosphere.
Weds., 20 Feb., Quiz #4. Derivation of the barometric law.
Mon., 25 Feb., Quiz #5. How to use the barometric law. Energy flows in the lower atmosphere. Molecular motions and GHGs.
Weds., 27 Feb., Exam #1 on Chapters 1 - 3.
Mon., 4 Mar., Concluded Chapter 3 and Began Chapter 4: Atmospheric Circulation.
Weds., 6 Mar., Instructor ill. No class.
Mon., 11 Mar., The profound effect of Earth's rotation on fluid motions and how to model Coriolis effect. Geostrophic flow.
Weds., 13 Mar., Apparent gravity, flux-gradient relationships, and turbulence as physical transport process that creates "friction".
Mon., 18 Mar., Spring break. No classes.
Weds., 20 Mar., Spring break. No classes.
Mon., 25 Mar., Complete Chapter 4 and begin Chapter 5: Circulation of the oceans.
Weds., 27 Mar.., Quiz on Chapter 4. Short lecture on stratospheric circulation. Then continue with ccean circulation.
Mon., 1 Apr., Cesar Chavez Day: No classes.
Weds., 3 Apr., Ekman layers, Ekman spirals, Ekman transport, divergence, upwelling, convergence, downwelling.
Mon., 8 Apr., Discussion of essay number 2. Then, vorticity and conservation of absolute vorticity.
Weds., 10 Apr., Quiz on first half of Chapter 5. The, western boundary currents, Walker circulation, El Nino, La Nina, ENSO, and the link to Rossby waves.
Mon., 15 Apr., SETs. Then complete Chapter 5: salinity and the vertical structure of the ocean, formation of bottom water, Sandstrom's theorem, thermohaline circulation.
Weds., 17 Apr., In-class peer review of student essays. Bring essays printed on paper and a red pen.
Mon., 22 Apr., Review Chapters 4 and 5.
Weds., 24 Apr., Exam #2 on Chapters 4 and 5.
Mon., 29 Apr., Begin Chapter 6: The Cryosphere: components of the cryosphere with focus on ice-sheets on Greenland and Antarctica, and ice flow.
Weds., 1 May, In-class peer review of student essays. Bring essays printed on paper and a red pen.
Mon., 6 May, Complete Chapter 6: sea-ice, snow, permafrost, alpine glaciers, ice bergs.
Weds., 8 May, Review for comprehensive final.
Mon., 13 May, 6:00 - 7:50 PM. Comprehensive final exam.


Dr. Mayor's page

---