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Projects

References

Syllabus

Day

Time

Topic
(in class handout)

Reading / Assignments

Week 1:

Fundamentals of Chemistry & Modeling

Human Population Growth & Ecological Footprints

Air Pollution & Ozone Loss

Mon.

AM

Class Introduction

Stocks and Flows

Causal loops and feedback

PM

Introduction to STELLA: Simple Population Model (PROWL)

POGIL: Nuclear Atom (PROWL)

Tues.

AM

How do models work?

Mathematics of modeling

Sensitivity analysis

Sterman Ch. 4

Richmond Ch. 5 (PROWL)

CC Ch. 4.1-4.2

PM

Modeling Project Ia: Logistic Population Model (PROWL)

Paper I: Cohen 1995 (PROWL)

POGIL: Types of Matter (PROWL)

Wed.

AM

How many people can our Earth support?

Ecological Footprint Basics

Quiz: Nuclear Atom & Types of Matter

Excel footprint calculator

Online footprint calculator I (GFN)

Online footprint calculator II (RP)

Paper II: Wackernagel 2002 (PROWL)

PM

Modeling Project Ib:

Logistic Population Model w/ Footprint Considerations

Thurs.

AM

What's In the Air We Breathe?

Unit Analysis & Ideal Gas Law

Quiz: Mathematics of Modeling

CC Ch. 1

Modeling Project II-1a: Global Carbon Cycle (PROWL)

KC Chapter 6

POGIL: Lewis Structures I (PROWL)

Balanced Chemical Reactions (handout)

How do anthropogenic chemicals contribute to ozone loss?

POGIL: Lewis Structures II

POGIL: Bond Order

Office hours (2-3:30 PM)

Population Model I Due (5 PM)

Online Quiz Due: CC Ch. 1 (Sunday)

POGIL: EM Radiation (PROWL)

POGIL: Resonance Structures (PROWL)

Richmond, Ch. 6

Week 2:

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Mon.

AM

Why is there a stratospheric ozone "layer?"

TOMS Data

Chapman Reactions

PM

Modeling Project II-1b: Atmospheric CO2 Lifetimes

Chemical Lifetimes, Pt. 1

AM

Chemical Lifetimes, Pt. 2

Global climate change and the Greenhouse Effect

Bond Polarity

Quiz: Unit analysis; Electron configurations; Balanced Reactions

CC Ch. 3

PM

Modeling Project III: Simple Nitrogen Cycle

Wed.

AM

What makes a greenhouse gas?

Dipole Moments & GCC Models

Quiz: EM radiation; Gas laws; Lewis structures

CC Ch. 4

PM

Modeling Project IVa: Global Hydrologic Cycle

Paper IV: Postel 1996

Eco Footprint Project Due (5 PM)

POGIL: Thermochemistry

Thurs.

AM

How Might Increasing Temperatures Affect the Global Hydrologic Cycle?

Physical Properties of Water

Thermochemistry of water

STELLA Small Climate Model (in class)

PM

Modeling Project IVb:

Temperature Effects on Western US Snowmelt

Paper V: Barnett 2008

Online Quiz Due: CC Ch. 3

C Cycle Model II Due (5 PM)

POGIL: Limiting Reagents

Fri.

AM

Can we geo-engineer the climate system?

Ocean Geoengineering

Quiz: Molecular shapes & Polarity

Paper VI: Buesseler 2003

PM

Zoe Harrold Seminar: Long-Term Carbon Cycle & Climate Change

(1:30 -2:30 PM; TSC 122)

Richmond, Chs. 7-9

N Cycle Model III Due (5 PM)

POGIL: Redox Reactions

Final Project Proposal Due(5 PM Sunday)

Week 3:

Aquatic & Terrestrial Biogeochemistry

Mon.

AM

How do autotrophs make food?

Photosynthesis

Example STELLA Model: C3-C4 Photosynthesis Model

CC Ch. 5.1-5.6

Hydro Cycle Model IV Due (5 PM)

PM

Final Project Proposal Meetings (1-4:30 PM)

POGIL: Coulomb's Law

Tues.

AM

What's in the water we drink?

Ionic solutions & reactions

Quiz: Mole concept, Limiting Reagents & Redox Numbers

CC Ch. 5.7-5.18

PM

Final Projects Open Hours (1-4 PM)

Online Quiz Due: CC Ch. 4

POGIL: Molarity

Wed.

AM

How does acid deposition affect lake "health"?

Acid-base reactions

Example STELLA Model: Acid Rain

Quiz: Predicting Binary Reactions: Mystery Solutions "Lab"

CC Ch. 6

PM

Final Projects Open Hours (1-4 PM)

Thurs.

AM

Why are there "dead zones" in many coastal areas?

Eutrophication

Example STELLA Model: Eutrophication

Quiz: Ionic & Covalent Compounds and Acid/Base Reactions

PM

Environmental Chemistry & Complexity Exam Review (1-3 PM)

Final Projects Open Hours (3-5 PM)

Online Quiz Due: CC Ch. 6

Fri.

AM

Final Projects (open hours 9-noon)

PM

Final Projects (open hours 1-3 PM)

Week 4: Final Projects & Exams

Mon.

AM

Chemistry & Complexity Exam

(8 AM -12 PM)

PM

Chemistry & Complexity Exam

(1 - 4 PM)

Tues.

AM

PM

Standardized Chemistry Final Exams (1:45 -4 PM)

Wed.

AM