Write about one of
the following.
1.
Pick a specific weather event
(e.g. Hurricane Katrina). Describe how it formed, its environmental and human impacts, and how events like these might change in a warming climate.
In the example of hurricanes, good details to provide are general wind directions from large-scale
atmospheric cells (e.g. Hadley cells), wind direction from the Coriolis force, and where
hurricanes tend to form.
2.
Pick a specific weather feature
(hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) and describe how they form, their environmental and human impacts, and how they might change in a warming climate (see info
above).
3.
Pick a specific air pollutant
and describe natural and anthropogenic emission sources, their human impact, and how they are regulated. Additional key information to include is: residence
time of pollutant, trends in emissions in US, and any feedbacks to other systems (also a
greenhouse gas)?
4.
Your choice
– can be about policy or engineering or art, as long as it includes a link to air pollution, weather, or climate systems that we learned about in class. (Does not need to follow
paper structure listed below).
GEOL 351: Environmental Geology
Case Study #3: Atmospheric Processes vs Humans
Overview: In this last module, we’ve focused on air pollution, weather, and climate. Write about
one of the following.
1. Pick a specific weather event (e.g. Hurricane Katrina). Describe how it formed, its
environmental and human impacts, and how events like these might change in a
warming climate. In the example of hurricanes, good details to provide are general wind
directions from large-scale atmospheric cells (e.g. Hadley cells), wind direction from the
Coriolis force, and where hurricanes tend to form.
2. Pick a specific weather feature (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) and describe how they form,
their environmental and human impacts, and how they might change in a warming
climate (see info above).
3. Pick a specific air pollutant and describe natural and anthropogenic emission sources,
their human impact, and how they are regulated. Additional key information to include
is: residence time of pollutant, trends in emissions in US, and any feedbacks to other
systems (also a greenhouse gas)?
4. Your choice – can be about policy or engineering or art, as long as it includes a link to air
pollution, weather, or climate systems that we learned about in class. (Does not need to
follow paper structure listed below).
Logistics: Write a 2-page, double spaced, 12 pt font, short paper. No figures, at least 2
references (author and date cited in the text, reference list at the end. No quotes).
Paper Structure:
– Introduction: One paragraph describing the event or feature or issue.
– Formation: Describe how these features (or pollutants) form
– Trends: Describe how these features (or pollutants) are changing and will continue to
change in a warming climate
– Conclusion: Are there suggestions for mitigation or to reduce the impacts?
Introduction (5)
Formation
(15)
Trends
AWESOME!
Clear and interesting
description, which is
relevant to class.
Described clearly and
correctly, building on
content we covered in
class.
Thoughtful consideration
of consequences, building
OK!
Introduction provides
a general, but not very
specific, description
Some basic
justification, but it is
vague and not so
relevant.
Some analysis of
consequences, but
MEH.
Introduction provides
only a brief overview
Justification is
inaccurate or too
basic.
Consequences are
not considered or is
GEOL 351: Environmental Geology
(15)
Conclusion (5)
Writing (10)
References (5)
on topics we discussed in
class.
Clearly summarized with
interesting future
directions posed.
Clearly organized in a
logical manner, with
minimal typos. 2 pages
Appropriately cited with
at least 2 references.
very basic and
simplistic.
Crudely summarized.
inaccurately
described.
Conclusion does not
reflect rest of paper.
Mostly organized and
includes minimal
typos. 2 pages
Fails to cite references
in a few places; lacks a
reference.
Poorly organized and
riddled with typos.
Over/under 2 pages.
No references.