Assignment : Global Warming: Cause and Mitigation
Among the most controversial topics in physical science, global warming has received a great deal of attention during the past decade.
Given its great impact on both humans and the environment, lawmakers and scientists must heavily weigh the information that they are presented. Explore this debate in more detail by evaluating both the scientific basis of this phenomenon and the human role in global warming.
Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:
Compare and contrast natural versus anthropogenic climate changes. Include at least two (2) specific examples of each.
Take a position as to whether or not global warming is taking place. Provide three (3) lines of evidence to support your position.
Assess two (2) current mitigation strategies for global warming, such as carbon sequestration, carbon taxing, clean coal technology, higher fuel efficiency standards, and so on. Analyze the effectiveness of this mitigation strategy, as well as its potential costs and policy implications.
Speculate on the policy changes that you would propose to help stabilize global climate and determine the business sectors or nations that would be held to more strict standards if you were to implement your proposed policies.
Use at least four (4) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.
Your report must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Apply concepts in physical sciences to evaluate current trends and issues in the modern world.
Describe the physical processes influencing climate and weather.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in physical sciences.
Write clearly and concisely about physical sciences using proper writing mechanics.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduces the student to basic concepts from the physical sciences such as motion, force, energy, heat, electricity, magnetism, and the atomic theory of matter. Discusses the scientific principles that underlie everyday phenomena, modern technologies, and planetary processes. Examines how the various branches of science, such as physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology, astronomy, relate to each other. Lab portion of the course reinforces basic concepts.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Required Resources
Hewitt, P., Suchocki, J.,&Hewitt, J. (2012).Conceptual physical science(5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Addison-Wesley.
Supplemental Resources
Chamberlin, T.C. (1965). The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses. Science.New Series, 148(3671), 754-759. Retrieved fromhttp://www.auburn.edu/~tds0009/Articles/Chamberlain%201965.pdf
Energy Resource Potential of Methane Hydrate. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.netl.doe.gov/file library/Research/oil-gas/methane hydrates/MH_Primer2011.pdf
Fletcher, C. (2013). Climate change: What the science tells us. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Hewitt, P.G. (2011). Practice book for conceptual physical science. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Addison-Wesley.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2013). Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). Retrieved from http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/
Stewart, R. (2009). Our Ocean Planet Oceanography in the 21st Century.Retrieved from http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/contents.htm
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe the characteristic values and procedures of the physical sciences.
2. Apply concepts in physical sciences to evaluate current trends and issues in the modern world.
3. Give examples of how the physical laws governing motion, waves, energy, and heat relate to everyday phenomena.
4. Describe the properties of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic radiation.
5. Explain the relationships between the Periodic Table of Elements, the inner structure of atoms, and the chemical properties of substances.
6. Analyze the physical structures, properties, and processes that shape the Earth and their associated natural hazards.
7. Describe the physical processes influencing climate and weather.
8. Discuss what is known about the life cycles of stars, galaxies, and the universe.
9. Use technology and information resources to research issues in physical sciences.
10. Write clearly and concisely about physical sciences using proper writing mechanics.