The changing climate is often considered from a global perspective, or in terms of local impacts. Connections between the two scales are not always obvious. Similarly, the basic concepts used to describe climate and climate change can appear somewhat abstract at a global scale, especially when described from only a theoretical classroom perspective.
The purpose of our field course is to provide an experiential and experimental understanding of the interconnected nature of the atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, cryosphere, and human activities that together form the climate system. The course introduces the scope of climate science, underlying conservation laws, and the different types climate information. Students make observations and collect data that allow us to evaluate the energy balance, water and carbon cycles, and atmospheric motions. Students participate in both lectures and field exercises at different sites in Oregon that span the climatic regimes and enable discovery of critical processes that influence regional and global climate.
Students will utilize a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods for identifying impacts of climate change on the local environment and their experiments provide insight into issues associated with monitoring climate. Students will carry out field exercises both in groups and individually.
Individual reports will be composed of a series of worksheets, graphs and outcomes from each experiment. Group reports will be in the form of a group presentation, and a power point (or similar) document that synthesizes data, findings and results from the class as a whole. Group projects are intended to span the weeks’ worth of data and be inclusive.
We will stay at Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport OR, September 22-26 (4 nights). We will return late in the afternoon on Wednesday September 26. We will plan meals, any special eating requirements, or other possible accommodations via email and in the planning meetings. It is therefore important that you communicate early and consistently—by email through the summer and via the planning meetings—so we have consistent expectations and can all have a successful field course.
Hatfield Marine Science Center
What to pack
We work outside and inside, and rain can occur in Oregon at any time of the year.