workshops

This class is designed to introduce the diverse field of research into paleoclimatology and climatic reconstruction. The class will specifically focus on the use of natural archives (ice cores, tree rings, corals, cave deposits, etc.,) to reconstruct environmental, climatic, and atmospheric change over a range of time scales. The primary timescales of interest will be the Holocene, and the past 1000 years, but we will also examine some longer reconstructions spanning the late Pleistocene. In the process we will cover a range of topics in lecture that will provide an introduction to climatology, age dating techniques, statistical analysis, climatic proxies (tracers), and paleoclimatic reconstructions.

Topics (not necessarily covered in this order):
-Introduction to paleoclimatology
-Sources of paleoclimatic/ paleoenvironmental information
-Modern modes of climate variability
-Statistical methods of climate analysis
-Dating Methods: (annually resolved records, ¹⁴C, U-series, oxygen isotopes, biological methods, etc.)
-Age model construction, time-series development
-Introduction to paleoclimatic proxies (stable isotopes, trace metals, micropaleontology etc.)
-Ice cores
-Corals
-Dendroclimatology (tree rings)
-Speleothems (cave deposits)
-Lacustrine deposits
-Marine Sediments and foraminifera
-Pollen and other biologic proxies
-Glacial records, moraine dating
-Historical records (Documentary data)

INSTRUCTOR:    Mathias Vuille
                             ES 311
                             ph.: 442-4472
                             mathias@atmos.albany.edu

TA:                   Dana McGlone
                             ES 337
                                    dm349626@albany.edu

(1) There is no textbook required, but we will rely quite heavily on material from several books:

- Paleoclimatology; Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary, R. S. Bradley, Academic Press, 1999.

- Paleoclimates - Understanding Climate Change past and present, Thomas M. Cronin, Columbia University press, 2009

- Earth’s Climate – past and future, W.F. Ruddiman, W.H. Freeman and Company, 2001

(2) We will read and discuss Scientific Papers (to be handed out or distributed via website by the instructor)

PREREQUISITES: A Env 105, 201, 250, and A Atm 301, or permission of the instructor

WEBSITE: For all course material, including class lectures and papers go here (password required)

FORMAT: The class is a mixture of lectures, seminar-style discussions and student presentations.

Env/Geo 450

Atm 550

We will read papers on a weekly basis. Each paper will be assigned a student who summarizes the main findings and methods of the paper and a 2nd student who will lead the discussion by asking questions regarding methods/findings of the paper or aspects that were unclear or difficult to understand. The students will be chosen by me at the beginning of class.

Each student is required to work on a selected topic of his/her choice and present a short (~12 -15 min.) talk to the rest of the class in the last few weeks of the semester.

For students enrolled in ENV 395Z or ATM 550 this class includes a writing assignment. I want you to take a scientific topic or issue relevant to this class and present a detailed review of the current "thinking" or results on this issue. This can include an outline of how the idea, field, or hypothesis has evolved over time. You will need to gather original scientific papers on the topic and critique them. This does not include review articles or textbooks. I imagine that depending on the topic that 5 to 10 papers will be a good number to include, but there is no specific target number I am after. The final paper should be approximately 10-15 pages of text followed by a detailed reference list. Double spaced text OK. Note that referencing textbooks is not acceptable. You need to track down the original references. You can use textbooks to get ideas and get started, but you will need to acquire, read, and cite original references where possible.

I am available to help select an appropriate topic and I will be available to discuss the papers you have found on your chosen subject. A good place to search for paper ideas is a textbook. There is no need to hand in an outline, but you can submit a draft outline of the paper to receive comments.