|
|
Antarctic Science |
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kevin Speer ( kspeer@ocean.fsu.edu )
Office: 431A OSB, 645-4846
Office hours: TBA
COURSE MATERIALS:
Papers to read and reports
to write will be assigned during the semester. These will cover the general
oceanography,
meteorology, and geo-cryology of the Antarctic continent and Southern Ocean.
The emphasis will be on the role of
components of these systems to Earth’s climate.
General Reference:
The Role of Antarctica
and the Southern Ocean in Past, Present and Future Climate: A Strategy for
the International Polar Year, by Steve Rintoul on behalf of the
CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Implementation
Panel
and references therein.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We will use a document written for the 2007 International Polar Year as
a reference to study the key climate components of
the Southern Ocean and Antarctic contintent and their feedbacks on the climate
system. This course is expected to cover ice
sheets and atmospheric issues as well as ocean components. A lab project
will be carried out at the GFDI, involving the use of
an experimental apparatus - rotating table - designed for circumpolar systems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
In this course, you will gain an appreciation for current research topics
relevant to the role of the Antarctic system in Earth's
climate.
GRADING/EVALUATION:
Grading will be based on participation in each of the parts of the class:
1) Literature search: a
written reference list and summary of key papers.
2) Presentation of papers
in class.
3) Project definition: a written proposal.
4) Final report. A written summary of project or theme, and results.
ASSIGNMENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reading assignments will be discussed together and given at least 1 week
in advance for each topic.
COURSE CONTENT AND OUTLINE:
Week 1 (08/25): Organizational meeting
Week 2 (09/01): Basic climate albedo feedback: ice cover of the ocean and continent
Week 3 (09/08): The Southern Ocean and climate. Large scale circulation and hydrography
Week 4 (09/15): Deep convection, the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea
Week 5 (09/22): Sea ice and polynas
Week 6 (09/29): No Class
Week 7 (10/06): Atmospheric circulation and polar vortex
Week 8 (10/13): Atmosperic circulation continued
Week 9 (10/20): Modes of variability: empirical versus dynamical, coupled
modes
Week 10 (10/27): Modes continued.
Week 11 (11/03): Ice sheets, calving, ice streams and long term stability
Week 12 (11/10): Ice sheets continued
Week 13 (11/17): Project
Week 14 (11/24): Project
Week 15 (12/01): Project
Final exam week (12/06 -
12/10)
ACADEMIC HONOR CODE:
Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in The
Florida State University Bulletin and the Student
Handbook. The Academic Honor System of The Florida State University is based
on the premise that each student has the
responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity
in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate
violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) to
foster a high sense of integrity and social
responsibility on the part of the university community.
Please see the following web site for a complete explanation of the Academic
Honor Code.
http://www.fsu.edu/Books/Student-Handbook/codes/honor.html
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register
with and provide documentation to the
Student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor
indicating the need for accommodation and what type.
This should be done during the first week of class.
For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities,
contact the Student Disability Resource Center
Dean of Students Department
08 Kellum Hall
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4400
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
SDRC@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.fsu.edu/~staffair/dean/StudentDisability
SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY:
This syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advanced
notice.