GEOS 478: Global Change

Fall 2010: Presentation topics

Choosing a topic: please send us your top three choices for topics (to all instructors). If you want to present a topic that is not listed here, let us know and we'll see what we can do. The presentations will be given in teams of two; if you have a partner you'd like to work with, please let us know and have that person choose the same topics and indicate your name as their partner.

Presentations are scheduled on fixed dates, and the topics for each date are established to complement the lecture material. We'd like you to stick with that schedule, i.e. if you want to do a climate topic, then please plan to present on September 16.

If the topic says specify, then please try to be as specific as you can be on your selection. We can help you narrow it down, but give us a hint as to where you want to take the topic.

Please email course instructors by Tuesday, Aug. 31. These topics and dates are first-come, first-serve. We will fill out the schedule next week and assign you a topic/date if you do not choose one. Thanks!

Presentations will be graded based on several atttributes: content accuracy and completeness; organization; use of scientific literature; quality of visuals and delivery. See the assignment page here for details. Do not wait until the week before the presentation to begin thinking about this!!

Energy and Climate topics (September 16)

Potential topics include:

Urban heat island - processes or impact on global temperature reconstruction

Asian monsoon in a warmer world - predictions, impacts

Paleocene-Eocene warm interval - compare to modern GC

If the world is warming, why was last winter so cold?

Current international climate policy

Climate change mitigation at the state and local level

Methane emissions and implications for future

Global warming and climate extremes (pick one: e.g. heat waves, floods, hurricanes)

Nuclear energy as a "green" option

Peak oil - what is it, has it come and gone, and why should we care?

The true greenhouse impact of biofuels

The water footprint of biofuels/nuclear/solar/other non-carbon fuels

Energy in China (or other key countries)

Biogeochemistry and Terrestrial Systems (October 7)

Potential topics include:

Deforestation in particular regions (pick one: tropical Africa, Borneo/Indonesia, China) - describe driving forces, impacts, and extent; compare-contrast with regions discussed in class

What are the consequences of increased nitrogen deposition over terrestrial ecosystems?

N2O increases - processes

Global change impact on plant productivity

Are primary tropical forests a net carbon source or sink of CO2 to the atmosphere? How does the balance in the undisturbed part compare with deforestation losses? (can focus on Amazon or other regions, or look globally)

Impact of tropical deforestation on rainfall

How do invasive species influence particular ecosystems? (if you choose this, please identify a region, system, or other defining characteristic when you make your selection)

Biogeochemistry and Marine Systems (October 28)

Potential topics include:

Coastal ocean "dead zones" - how extensive, what causes, impacts, solutions?

Coral reef health and global change

Past changes in the ocean's overturning circulation (e.g. the last glacial)

Impacts of ocean acidification on particular ecosystems (other than coral; specify)

Impacts of climate change on particular marine populations or regions (specify: e.g. Southern Ocean phytoplankton; jellyfish)

Impact of overfishing on the ocean food web (can choose regional, e.g. Gulf of California, or global)

Global change impacts on particular fisheries (specify: e.g. Pacific salmon, North Atlantic cod...)

Global change impacts (November 18)

Potential topics include:

Impacts of global change in particular regions (if you choose this, you must also identify a particular region and impact when you submit your choice)

Impacts of global change on particular ecosystems (if you choose this, you must also identify a particular system when you submit your choice: e.g coral reefs; high-altitude meadows; sky island ecosysems; natural wildfire)

Impacts of global change on a particular sector of society/economy in a particular place (if you choose this, you must also identify the sector and place clearly when you submit your choice)

There is a vocal but small contingent of voices continuing to deny that humans have a significant influence on climate. Pick one or two of their arguments and explore their origins and validity from a scientific perspective.