GEO 377P/387H PHYSICAL CLIMATOLOGY

Main topics and their corresponding chapters:

1. Introduction to the Climate System (Chapters 1, 11, 12)

2. Mathematical Equations of Weather and Climate (Notes, Chapters 3, 6, 7, 10)

3. The Global Energy Balance and Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (Chapters 2, 3)

4. The Energy Balance of the Surface (Notes, Chapter 4)

5. The Hydrological Cycle: Storage, Evaporation, Clouds, Precipitation, Runoff (Notes, Chapter 5)

6. Atmospheric General Circulation and Climate (Notes, Chapter 6, MJO Theory)

7. The Ocean General Circulation and Climate (Notes and Chapter 7)

8. Paleoclimate (Chapter 8)

9. Climate Sensitivity and Feedback Mechanisms (Chapter 9)

10. Computer Models of Weather and Climate (Notes, Chapter 10)

11. Natural Climate Change (Notes, Chapter 11)

12. Anthropogenic Climate Change (Notes, Chapter 12)

 

A detailed list of topics and their chapters:

Topics                                                                         Chapter

 I. Introduction                                                                                                    1

     A. Weather and climate

     B. The climate system

     C. Mathematical equations

 

II. Energy balance – physical climatology                             

    A. Energy and matter                                                                                        2

    B. Astronomy and climate

    C. Vertical and latitudinal distribution of energy

    D. Electromagnetic radiation                                                                             3

    E. Albedo and reflectivity

    F. The role of clouds

    G. Energy balance of the surface                                                                     4

    H. The atmospheric boundary layer

    I. Diurnal and seasonal variations

 

III. The water balance – hydroclimatology                                                           5

A.       A. Atmospheric moisture

B.       B. Precipitation and dewfall

C.       C. Evaporation and transpiration

D.       D. Land surface hydrology

 

IV. Global circulation – Dynamic climatology

    A. Atmospheric pressure                                                                                   6

    B. Coriolis and balance of forces

    C. General circulation of the atmosphere

    D. The mixed layer ocean and wind-driven oceanic circulation                          7

    E. Deep ocean circulation

    F. Energy transport in the ocean

 

V. The climate of the past – Paleoclimatology                                                        8

    A. Proxy data

    B. Climate change through time

    C. Causes of climate change

 

VI. The climate of the present – Climate sensitivity and variability                       9

    A. Feedbacks and sensitivity

    B. Daisyworld and other climatic feedback mechanisms

    C. General circulation models and climate modeling                                         10

     

VII. The climate of the future – Climate Change

A.       A. Natural climate forcings                                                                             11

B.       B. Human influences                                                                                       12

C.        C. The global warming paradox