Earth
Richard McGehee
The Mathematics of Climate Change Seminar
University of Minnesota
School of Mathematics

 

Spring 2008 Schedule

 

 
January 30, 2008
       The SIAM Minisymposium on Climate Change, Richard McGehee, School of Mathematics
      

At the annual joint meetings in San Diego, the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) held a symposium on Climate Change. This lecture will report on the presentations and discussions at that meeting.

  Download slides (pdf).
 
February 6, 2008
       Budyko's Ice Cover Model, Richard McGehee, School of Mathematics
      

A simple model of absorption and reflection yields multiple equilibrium states, including an ice-free Earth and an ice-covered Earth.

  Download slides (pdf).
 
February 13, 2008
       Stommel's Model of Thermohaline Convection, Esther Widiasih, School of Mathematics
      

A simple model of two reservoirs, with convection between them driven by differences in salinity and temperature, exhibits features analogous to the thermohaline convection currents in the ocean.

 
February 20, 2008
       The Experiments by J. A. Whitehead with Thermohaline Convection, Jay Fillmore, University of California at San Diego
      

Laboratory experiments using a large reservoir and small chamber, with flow determined by the difference in salinity and temperature, support the theory of H. Stommel on multiple states of thermohaline convection.

 
February 27, 2008
       Carbon Sequestration in Peat Bogs, Clarence Lehman, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
      

Peatlands store large amounts of carbon and form a pathway through which carbon can eventually escape the biosphere. A new calculation being developed showing the amount and rate of accumulation is discussed.

 
March 5, 2008
       Energy Balance Climate Models, Esther Widiasih, School of Mathematics
      

The paper A Simple Proof of the Slope Stability Theorem for Energy Balance Climate Models, by Samuel Shen and Gerald North is discussed.

 
April 2, 2008
       An Introduction to Milankovitch Cycles, Richard McGehee, School of Mathematics
      

The elements of the Earth's orbit change over geologic time. The hypothesized effect on the climate is discussed.

  Download slides (pdf).
 
April 16, 2008
       "Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?" by James Hansen, et al, Richard McGehee, School of Mathematics
      

In a recently released preprint, James Hansen, et al, present evidence that the current level of atmospheric CO2 is sufficient to create an ice-free Earth.

  Download slides (pdf).
 

Last update: October 11, 2009 ©2009 Richard McGehee