DINOSAURS AND HISTORY OF LIFE

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: basic high school science and math. Lab is a hands-on introduction to geochronology, paleontology, and historical geology with field trips. (See W1401 for lectures only.) Dinosaurs: a spectacular example of a common, highly successful form of life, dominant for 135 million years. Where did they come from? Why were they so successful? Why did they die out? … or did they? A basic introduction to the historical sciences and the interface between geology and biology.

• M 4:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Paul E Olsen
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia h-index: 71 Info
• 4 points

OCEANOGRAPHY

Explore the geology of the sea floor, understand what drives ocean currents and how ocean ecosystems operate. Case studies and discussions centered on ocean-related issues facing society.

• TR 11:40 a.m.-12:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Baerbel Hoenisch
  CULPA: 3 h-index: 33 Info
• 3 points

DINOSAUR & HISTORY OF LIFE-LEC

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: basic high school science and math. Dinosaurs: a spectacular example of a common, highly successful form of life, dominant for 135 million years. Where did they come from? Why were they so successful? Why did they die out? … or did they? A basic introduction to the historical sciences and the  interface between geology and biology.

• MW 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Paul E Olsen
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia h-index: 71 Info
• 3 points

EARTH RESOURCES & SUSTAIN DEV

Prerequisites: none; high school chemistry recommended. Survey of the origin and extent of mineral resources, fossil fuels, and industrial materials, that are non renewable, finite resources, and the environmental consequences of their extraction and use, using the textbook Earth Resources and the Environment, by James Craig, David Vaughan and Brian Skinner. This course will provide an overview, but will include focus on topics of current societal relevance, including estimated reserves and extraction costs for fossil fuels, geological storage of CO2, sources and disposal methods for nuclear energy fuels, sources and future for luxury goods such as gold and diamonds, and special, rare materials used in consumer electronics (e.g. ;Coltan; mostly from Congo) and in newly emerging technologies such as superconducting magnets and rechargeable batteries (e.g. heavy rare earth elements, mostly from China). Guest lectures from economists, commodity traders and resource geologists will provide ;real world; input. Discussion Session Required.

• TR 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Peter Kelemen
  CULPA: 8 h-index: 84 Info
• 3 points

EARTH'S ENVIRO SYST: CLIM SYST

Prerequisites: high school algebra. Recommended preparation: high school chemistry and physics; and one semester of college science. Origin and development of the atmosphere and oceans, formation of winds, storms and ocean currents, reasons for changes through geologic time. Recent influence of human activity: the ozone hole, global warming, water pollution. Laboratory exploration of topics through demonstrations, experimentation, computer data analysis, and modeling. Students majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences should plan to take EESC W2100 before their senior year to avoid conflicts with Senior Seminar.

• T 4:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Jerry F McManus
  CULPA: 8 h-index: 56 Info
• 4.5 points

EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS: THE SOLID

EARTH'S ENV SYSTEM:SOLID

Recommended preparation: high school chemistry and physics; and one semester of college science. Exploration of how the solid Earth works, today and in the past, focusing on Earth in the Solar system, continents and oceans, the Earth's history, mountain systems on land and sea, minerals and rocks, weathering and erosion, glaciers and ice sheets, the hydrological cycle and rivers, geochronology, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, energy resources. Laboratory exploration of topics through examination of rock samples, experimentation, computer data analysis, field exercises, and modeling. Columbia and Barnard majors should plan to take W2200 before their senior year to avoid conflicts with the Senior Seminar.

• R 4:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• 4.5 points

SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVPT

The course provides students with an understanding of Earth's natural systems that is essential to addressing the multi-faceted issues of sustainable development.  After completing the course, students should be able to incorporate scientific approaches and perspectives into their research in other fields or policy decisions and be able to use scientific methods of data analysis.  The semester will highlight the climate system and solutions from both physical and ecological perspectives; water resources; food production and the cycling of nutrients; and the role of biodiversity in sustainable development.  The course emphasizes key scientific concepts such as uncertainty, experimental versus observational approaches, prediction and predictability, the use of models, and other essential methodological aspects.

• TR 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• 3 points

CHEMISTRY OF CLIMATE

Pre-requisites Chem 1 and Calculus I ; Co-requisites Chemistry II (CHEM1404 or equivalent) and Calculus II (MATH UN2030 or equivalent)
By the end of this course, students will understand: The biogeochemical cycles driving the composition of trace gas and aerosol species that are both long- and short-lived in the atmosphere that influence climate by directly interacting with radiation (i.e. greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFCs, aerosols) and those that do so mainly by altering the concentrations of other gases (OH, NOx, etc.); The effects of these gas and aerosol species on climate and atmospheric composition; Climate mitigation strategies that are being considered in response to climate warming.

This course is designed for undergraduate students seeking a quantitative introduction to climate and climate change science. EESC V2100 (Climate Systems) is not a prerequisite, but can also be taken for credit if it is taken before this course.

• TR 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Roisin Commane
  h-index: 25 Info
• 3 points

GEOCHEM FOR A HABITABLE PLANET

Prerequisites: Any 1000-level or 2000-level EESC course; MATH UN1101 Calculus I and CHEM UN1403 General Chemistry I or their equivalents. The origin, evolution, and future of our planet, based on the book How to Build a Habitable Planet by Wallace S. Broecker. This course will focus on the geochemical processes that built Earth from solar material, led to its differentiation into continents and ocean, and have maintained its surface at a comfortable temperature. Students will participate in a hands-on geochemistry project at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

• TR 11:40 a.m.-12:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Terry A Plank
  CULPA: 6 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

COMPUTATIONAL EARTH SCIENCE

Prerequisites: Required: at least a semester of calculus and physics; any 1000-level or 2000-level EESC course. Computer models are essential for understanding the behavior of complex natural systems in geosciences. This course is an introduction to writing computer models to simulate Earth processes. Students will learn methods for numerical modeling of a variety of geoscience topics, such as nonlinear systems of air chemistry, ocean currents, atmospheric dispersion, and more. Simulations will be created by learning to program with a user-friendly language (Python). Student learning will be facilitated through a combination of lectures, in-class exercises, homework assignments and a final project on a student-selected topic.

• TR 11:40 a.m.-12:55 p.m.
• Instructor: William H Menke
  CULPA: 14 Info
• 3 points

SENIOR SEMINAR

Guided, independent, in-depth research culminating in the senior thesis in the spring. Includes discussion about scientific presentations and posters, data analysis, library research methods and scientific writing. Students review work in progress and share results through oral reports. Weekly seminar to review work in progress and share results through oral and written reports.

• R 4:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Maureen Raymo
  Wikipedia h-index: 62 Info
• 3 points

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN CLIMATE SYSTEM S

INDEP RESEARCH IN CLIM SY

In this course, students develop and complete a one-semester independent research project in an area of Climate System Science. Each student works closely with a research Mentor, and the course experience for all students is coordinated with a course Instructor. This course fulfills the Capstone experience for the Climate System Science major in DEES. This course cannot be combined with one semester of Senior Seminar UN3901, which is designed as a 1-year course.

• R 8:40 a.m.-9:55 a.m.
• Instructor: Jacqueline Austermann
  h-index: 18 Info
• 3 points

INTRO TO ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

Prerequisites: advanced calculus and general physics, or the instructors permission. Basic physical processes controlling atmospheric structure: thermodynamics; radiation physics and radiative transfer; principles of atmospheric dynamics; cloud processes; applications to Earths atmospheric general circulation, climatic variations, and the atmospheres of the other planets.

• T 4:10 p.m.-6:40 p.m.
• Instructor: Lorenzo M Polvani
  CULPA: 6 h-index: 69 Info
• 3 points

GLOBAL ASSMT-REMOTE SENSING

Prerequisites: Course Cap 20 students. Priority given to graduate students in the natural sciences and engineering. Advanced level undergraduates may be admitted with the instructors permission. Calculus I and Physics I & II are required for undergraduates who wish to take this course. General introduction to fundamentals of remote sensing; electromagnetic radiation, sensors, interpretation, quantitative image analysis and modeling. Example applications in the Earth and environmental sciences are explored through the analysis of remote sensing imagery in a state-or-the-art visualization laboratory.

• F 9 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
• Instructor: Christopher Small
  CULPA: 1 h-index: 47 Info
• 3 points

Mineralogy and Mineral Resources

Mineralogy & Mineral Reso

Prerequisites: introductory geology or the equivalent, elementary college physics and chemistry, or the instructors permission. Minerals come in dazzling colors, amazing shapes and with interesting optical effects. But mineralogy is also an essential tool for the understanding of Earth evolution. Minerals represent fundamental building blocks of the Earth system and planetary bodies. Minerals form through geological and biological processes such as igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary from high to low temperatures, from the deep interior to the Earth’s surface and related to volcanism, tectonics, weathering, climate and life. Minerals are one of our most important sources of information on such processes through Earth’s history. Minerals also represent important natural resources and are fundamental to the global economy and modern technology as we know it. In this course, we will approach mineralogy from the standpoint of earth and environmental sciences, the study of mineralogy however is of interest to many other sciences including Material Sciences, Planetology, Archeology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics with most of the 20 Nobel Prizes awarded for research involving crystals being in these last fields. The goal of this class is to (1) understand the physical and chemical properties of minerals, (2) learn techniques of mineral identification with an emphasis on optical mineralogy, (3) understand the relationship between minerals and the broader geological context.

• T 4:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Yves Moussallam
  h-index: 18 Info
• 4 points

EARTH RESOURCES & SUSTAIN DEV

Prerequisites: none; high school chemistry recommended. This course is open to graduate students, and juniors and seniors within DEES, Sus Dev, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, and APAM - or with the instructors permission. Survey of the origin and extent of mineral resources, fossil fuels, and industrial materials, that are non renewable, finite resources, and the environmental consequences of their extraction and use, using the textbook Earth Resources and the Environment, by James Craig, David Vaughan and Brian Skinner. This course will provide an overview, but will include focus on topics of current societal relevance, including estimated reserves and extraction costs for fossil fuels, geological storage of CO2, sources and disposal methods for nuclear energy fuels, sources and future for luxury goods such as gold and diamonds, and special, rare materials used in consumer electronics (e.g. ;Coltan; mostly from Congo) and in newly emerging technologies such as superconducting magnets and rechargeable batteries (e.g. heavy rare earth elements, mostly from China). Guest lectures from economists, commodity traders and resource geologists will provide ;real world; input.

• TR 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Peter Kelemen
  CULPA: 8 h-index: 84 Info
• 3 points

WETLANDS & CLIMATE CHANGE

Prerequisites: introductory biology or chemistry, or the instructors permission. Analysis of modern wetland dynamics and the important ecological, biogeochemical, and hydrological functions taking place in marshes, bogs, fens, and swamps, with a field emphasis. Wetlands as fossil repositories, the paleoenvironmental history they provide, and their role in the carbon cycle. Current wetland destruction, remediation attempts, and valuation. Laboratory analysis and field trips.

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Dorothy Peteet
  h-index: 38 Info
• 3 points

INTRO TO PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Prerequisites:
 Recommended preparation: a solid background in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. 
Topics:
 Physical properties of seawater, hydrography (water masses and their distribution), dispersal (advection and diffusion), ocean dynamics (Navier Stokes equation), processes (eddies, waves, tides), large-scale circulation (wind-driven gyres, overturning circulation).

• TR 8:40 a.m.-9:55 a.m.
• Instructor: Andreas Thurnherr
  Info
• 3 points

MICROBIAL OCEANOGRAPHY

• MW 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Sonya Dyhrman
  Wikipedia h-index: 47 Info
• 3 points

QUANT METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS

Prerequisites: calculus. Recommended preparation: linear algebra, statistics, computer programming. Introduction to the fundamentals of quantitative data analysis in Earth and environmental sciences. Topics: review of relevant probability, statistics and linear algebra; linear models and generalized least squares; Fourier analysis and introduction to spectral analysis; filtering time series (convolution,deconvolution,smoothing); factor analysis and empirical orthogonal functions; covariance and correlation; methods of interpolation; statistical significance and hypothesis testing; introduction to Monte Carlo methods for data analysis. Problem sets and term project require use of MATLAB or Python.

• MW 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Alberto M Malinverno
  CULPA: 3 Info
• 4 points

ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS

Prerequisites: EESC W4008, APPH E4210, and advanced calculus, or the instructor's permission. This course is a continuation of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (APPH E4210) which is a prerequisite for this course. Exploration of atmospheric circulation based upon oabservations and interpretive models. Topics include wave/mean-flow interaction (the equilibration of instabilities and the wave-driven contribution to meridional transport), zonally symmetric circulations (Hadley and Ferrel Cells), maintenance of the mid-latitude circulation through extratropical cyclones, the zonally asymmetric circulation (stationary waves and storm tracks), and the stratospheric circulation (the quasi-biennial oscillation and meridional transport).

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Ronald L Miller
  CULPA: 4 Info
• 3 points

Idealized Models of Climate Processes

IDEALIZED MODELS OF CLIM

Prerequisites: EESC GR6901 This course teaches students to design and apply idealized models to study the fundamental properties of climate system processes and their interactions. Though these models typically have at their core only a handful of interacting differential equations, they can significantly advance process understanding. We cover three topical areas in climate system science: (1) the interpretation and attribution of atmospheric methane trends (2) the role of the ocean in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide, and (3) the influence of climate system feedbacks on the Earth’s energy balance. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on identifying assumptions underlying conclusions drawn from simple models and the time scales over which different processes operate.

• T 1:10 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Galen A McKinley
  CULPA: 1 Wikipedia h-index: 32 Info
• 3 points