Potential Course Projects

• Mathematical Modeling of Climate Change (Norris): Use simple mathematical models to explore how surface temperature is affected by changes in internal and external components of the climate system (model described in July 20 Monday afternoon lecture on course website)

• Albedo, Greenhouse Effect, and Temperature (Norris): Use glass jars and thermometers to investigate how albedo and absorption of IR affect temperature

• Clouds, Geography, and Meteorology (Norris): Examine daily satellite images to quantify how the distribution of all clouds, high clouds, and water vapor is related to geographical features and meteorological processes

• Regional Temperature Changes (Norris): Examine recent temperature changes in regions around the world and statistically determine which changes are likely to be systematic and not merely natural fluctuations

• The effects of acidification on the mortality of Artemia salinas (Lai)

• Primary production in relation to nutrients, light, and temperature (Lai)

• Oxygen production of a fresh water weed in acidified water (Lai)

• Effects of temperature on oxygen consumption in fish (Lai)

• Sexual dimorphism of round stingray from San Diego Bay (Lai)

• Forecast of San Diego atmospheric variables from ENSO indexes (Auad)

• Forecast of tropical SST from SST itself or equatorial winds (Auad)

• Forecast of thermocline depth off CA from trade winds (Auad)

• Statistics of sardine biomass data and wind speed variables off CA (Auad)

• Open Topic: student selects a topic for investigation through lab experimentation or literature research (subject to approval)