Quaternary Paleoclimatology, Geol 415X/515X

Spring 2007, MWF 3:10-4:00 p.m.

Drs. Germán Mora and William Gutowski
10 Science I and 3021 Agronomy
gmora@iastate.edu and gutowski@iastate.edu

Images courtesy of:  http://www.agu.org/history/SV.shtml and http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/CORE_REPOSITORY/10a.MC21Data.html

Course Description: Introduction to mechanisms that drive climate, including the interplay between oceanic and atmospheric circulation and fluctuation in Earths orbital parameters. Examination and analysis of past climate records ranging from historical documentation to ecological and geochemical proxies (e.g. tree ring analysis; O and C isotopes of skeletal carbonates and soils). Dating methods used to constrain and correlate climatic periods, utility of computer models to reconstruct past climates and predict future climate change. Emphasis placed on paleoclimatolgy and paleoecology of the late Quaternary (last ~1 million years).

Course Objectives: We hope to provide an understanding of (1) what drives climate; (2) how ancient climates can be reconstructed; and (3) what are the important questions currently being asked in the field of paleoclimatology and their significance to present and future climate change.

Structure of Course: The class meets 3 times a week. Lectures will introduce topics for the majority of the semester. Five meetings during the semester will be devoted to a seminar-style format where we will discuss current journal articles in various topics of paleoclimatology. Graduate students will be required to hand in a 1-2 page written critique of each paper. Undergraduate students will be required to hand in (at the start of the seminar class)

1. a brief paragraph describing the major questions posed in the paper, the methods used to address the questions and the major conclusions
2. a question to address in the class discussion

Readings: Chapters relating to each week's topic will be assigned from the following textbook:  Bradley R. S. (1999) Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary, Vol. 68, International Geophysics Series, 2^nd ed., Harcourt Academic Press, New York. Journal articles to be discussed in class will be located in a marked folder in the Geology Office (253 Science I).

Term Papers: All students enrolled in the course will be required to write a 10-12 page term paper and submit an outline for topic approval. Graduate students are required to pick their topics and to present their findings orally during the last week of classes. Undergraduates can pick their topic or have one assigned to them. Relevant milestones for term papers appear in the course schedule below. Please read the further details for term papers.

Grading:

Pre-recorded Lectures:

Students Needing Disability Accommodation: