JPL/PAIR Class Outline January 2001
Dr. Cristina Cadavid
Dr. Stephen Walton

• Class Meeting Places and Times
  
  The class will meet in the computer lab on the third floor of the Student Services Building, SS 316, or in the classroom across the hall, SS 315. There will be four meetings a week, from 10 AM to 3 PM every day except Wednesday, with a one hour lunch break from noon to 1 PM. Dr. Cadavid and/or Dr. Walton will be available most of the day Wednesdays for questions and consultations.
  
  
• Reaching the Instructors
  
  Should you need to find us outside of class:
  • Dr. Cadavid: X2171, Science room 2105, ana.cadavid@csun.edu
  • Dr. Walton: X2769, Science room 2111B, stephen.walton@csun.edu
  
  
  
• Topics to be Covered
  1. Introduction to Radiative Transfer
  2. Solar Irradiance Variability
  3. MATLAB Introduction
  4. Solar Irradiance Measurements
  5. Physics of solar features
  6. The solar dynamo
  7. Solar feature identification
  8. Linear fits
  9. The SFO Irradiance Model
  10. Other observatories: Big Bear, SOHO


• Basis of Grading
  
  1. Homework: 65% of grade.
     
     Most of the homework assignments will be due the day after they are assigned, but some will be due two days later. There will be 12 to 15 assignments during the first two weeks of the class.
     
     
  2. Final Project: 35% of grade.
     
     You will be divided into eight groups of 3 students each; each group will be given the large data set to work on during the third week of class. Each group will be responsible for:
     1. A written report of appropriate length. A more precise definition of ``appropriate'' will be given later.
     2. A 15 minute group oral report. The group will select a member to present the group results for 5 to 7 minutes. Then, the other two members will speak for a few minutes each on what they learned from the class. Realistically, the overall group results need to be summarized on 3 to 5 transparency pages, and the individual presentations on one page.
     3. Each individual will submit, confidentially, a self-evaluation of his/her contribution to the group as well as an evaluation of fellow group members.
• Field Trips
  
  Only one is planned at present, on Thursday, January 18, to the San Fernando Observatory, after lunch.



Stephen Walton 2002-04-17