Details for Climate change research

Faculty:	Kirk-Davidoff, Daniel
Department:	Meterology
Lab:
Campus Phone:	301-405-5364
Campus Address:	3423 Computer and Space Sciences
Email:	dankd@atmos.umd.edu
Project Details: Project 1: Paleoclimate research Fifty-five million years ago there were crodiles living near the North Pole. Why were some past climate so dramatically different from our present climate? I think clouds in the stratosphere might have helped keep the crocodiles warm in the winter. Help me work out the details. Project 2: When the Mediterranean sea evaporated a mere 5 1/2 million years ago, the Mediterranean sea almost completely evaporated, leaving a huge canyon. I'm using climate models to explore some of the causes and implications of this event. I could use some help combing the scientific literature for clues about how climate in surrounding regions changed when this happened. I also want to put together a high school curriculum unit about this dramatic event in earth history. Project 3: I also want to put together a high school curriculum unit about the Messinian desiccation; I could use some help with the web- page. This would require html skills and a good eye for clear visual presentation of information. Project 4: Wind farms and climate We could power this whole country's electric grid using power from the wind. But we'd need a lot of wind mills! Help me find out whether or not all those wind mills would change climate in a way we should worry about. Project 5: Climate Sensitivity: Adding CO2 to the atmosphere is warming the world. But just how much warmer will it get? Using some somewhat fancy math, I think I might be able to make a better estimate by observing present climate fluctuations. Learn about time series analysis and about building simple climate models.
Required Skills:	Math through calculus, and some programming experience.
Recommended Skills:	A little knowledge of earth history and meteorology would be helpful, but you can learn as you go.
Other Information: