Global warming is a hot button topic that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Earth systems often work at time scales longer than the human life span, forcing us to look into the Earth's climatic past to put modern climate change in perspective. What does a dragonfly with a 2-foot wingspan reveal about the climate of the Earth millions of years ago? How do plate tectonics and mountain building affect climate? Is global tectonic activity a more important climatic control than the release of CO2 to the atmosphere by human activity? In this tutorial, we examine the processes that control Earth's current climate, but will focus on how Earth's climatic past informs our understanding of modern climate change. Readings shall include the more recent scientific literature and classic papers. After an initial meeting with all participants, students will meet in pairs with the instructor for one hour each week to discuss the readings. During each session, one student will orally present a written paper for criticism by their partner. The critique provides a jumping off point for the ensuing discussion. Format: tutorial. Evaluation is based on five written papers and the student's effectiveness as a critic and discussion partner. Prerequisites: any 100-level Geosciences course and/or consent of the instructor Enrollment limit: 12 (expected: 10), with preference for sophomores.

Hour: BACKUS