Brown University

Interested in finding out how big climate science gets done? This graduate reading and writing seminar will emphasize study of the breakthrough science that has been published since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report (i.e., accepted for publication since March 15, 2013). Focus will be on the physical science basis: past and future changes in ocean circulation and properties, marine and terrestrial cryosphere, and sea level; evaluation of models and projection methods; detection and attribution; projections of global and regional sea level change; abrupt change and long-term commitment; and extreme water levels. Pre-requisite: permission of instructor required. Enrollment limited to 30.

Background: The seminar is aimed at graduate students. Permission of instructor is required.

Web Resources and Texts

1. Peer reviewing guidelines
2. Reading assignment guidelines
3. Tutoring
4. Science Center Advising

Main Texts

1. IPCC Physical Science Basis Summary for Policymakers
2. IPCC Physical Science Basis Technical Summary
3. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Observations: Ocean
4. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Observations: Cryosphere
5. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Information from Paleoclimate Archives
6. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Detection and Attribution of Climate Change: from Global to Regional
7. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Long-term Climate Change: Projections, Commitments and Irreversibility
8. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Sea Level Change
9. IPCC Physical Science Basis, Climate Phenomena and their Relevance for Future Regional Climate Change

Secondary Textbooks

1. Marshall and Plumb, Atmosphere, ocean, and climate dynamics: an introductory text
2. Vallis, Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics : Fundamentals and Large-Scale Circulation
3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), 2013.

Websites

1. National Academies' Reports on Climate Change
2. National Climate Assessment
3. GISS Temperature Trends
4. IPCC Home Site
5. NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center
6. IRI Resources
7. To What Degree? NSF Climate Change Report
8. UN Ocean Atlas

Brown Specific Guidelines

1. Student and Employee Accessibility Services (SEAS)
2. Student Conduct & Community Standards, *Note* Prof. Fox-Kemper regards inappropriate cellphone and laptop use as disruptive behavior.
3. Academic Code
4. Liberal Learning at Brown