Zong-Liang Yang - Geology

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DR. YANG

Climate: Past, Present and Future: An introductory undergraduate course for non-majors who wish to have a correct understanding of the Earth's climate history and state. Want to know more about Ice Ages, Global Warming, Climate Change and Climate Variability, Ozone Depletion, Hurricanes, Jet Streams, El Nino and La Nina, Southern Oscillation, Intertropical Convergence Zone, Upwelling and Downwelling, Feedbacks, Greenhouse Gases, Weather Forecasting and Climate Prediction ... ..., then take this course!
Earth, Wind and Fire: An introductory undergraduate course for non-majors
Living with a Planet: An introductory undergraduate course for non-majors
Hydroclimatology: A course for any graduate students and/or senior undergraduates who wish to have an in-depth understanding of how Earth's climate and hydrological cycle work. The prerequisites are basic college level math and physics, and an interest in interdisciplinary science. You will obtain hands-on experience in a variety of computer climate models! You will develop an analytical skill that benefits your future academic and professional career!
Physical Climatology: A course for any graduate students or upper-division undergraduate students. This course investigates the nature of Earth’s climate and examines the physical processes that maintain our climate system. Topics include the energy balance, the hydrological cycle, general atmospheric circulation, and how they all interact and vary at various spatial and temporal scales. Human-induced modifications to the climate system, such as urbanization, anthropogenic global warming, desertification, and tropical deforestation, are discussed. Descriptive, analytical, programming, and modeling skills will be taught as well. Prerequisites: A working knowledge of calculus (e.g., M408M) and physical sciences (e.g., PHY 303K) will be assumed, as well as computer skills in computation and graphics. It will be assumed that students will at least be acquainted with some of the basic physical principles of atmospheric science through courses such as GRG 301G (Weather and Climate), or GRG 333C (Severe and Unusual Weather) or GRG 356T (Climate Change).
Inquiry-Based Climate Models

Teaching Innovations and Grants

Developing an inquiry-based modeling approach to global change problems, PI Zong-Liang Yang

Funded by Mr. Harry Lucas, Jr. through Educational Advancement Foundation, December 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003, $2,000.

Dr. Yang's graduate course GEO387H Hydroclimatology (www.geo.utexas.edu/courses/387h) and undergraduate course GEO 302C (Climate: Past, Present and Future www.geo.utexas.edu/courses/302c) are to teach the students a wide range of basic processes having an impact on temperature and precipitation at the earth's surface. Key global change issues will be discussed in detail. The courses will be significantly enhanced if an inquiry-based approach to global change problems is added through the use of computer climate models. By laying their hands on a computer and seeing how numerical models are simulating temperature, wind, pressure, clouds, and precipitation in response to El Nino events or deforestation, the students will have a better understanding of global change issues. In order to initiate this course component, an assistant with strong FORTRAN/JAVA/UNIX/DOS skills is needed to help Dr. Yang 1) collect and develop the modeling software, 2) implement this software as a web-based tool that facilitates stepwise inquiries, 3) teach the modeling skills to the students. The tool should include simulations, high-end 2-D and 3-D animations, and highly interactive tutorials/modeling exercises and assessments. A student with strong skills in FORTRAN and UNIX is needed to perform the duties as described in III. He or she will earn $10+ an hour. The student is expected to work 10 hours a week for 15 weeks in Spring 03. The student will work closely with Dr. Yang. The deliverables will be a web-based tool that facilitates stepwise inquiries.

Developing an inquiry-based modeling approach to global change problems, PI Zong-Liang Yang

Funded by the Faculty and Student Teams for Technology (~FAST Tex) 2003 program, February 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003, $1,000.


Last updated: 09/05/2006 © 2004 UT Department of Geological Sciences Please send Faculty / Staff Directory updates to: Webmaster@geo.utexas.edu	UT austin