Enrolment options
1. Brief description of aims and content
The module will focus on the description and analysis of the underlying physical processes that define the earth climate. The module will present a short overview of the climate history of our planet as indicated by modern techniques of climate recording, will involve the overall energy budget, which is balanced by solar energy and the physical absorption and reflection processes in our oceans and atmosphere. The physics of these processes and the impact on climate balance and weather patterns will be discussed.
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
1. Explain the origin of the Earth’s Atmosphere and climate, their relationship, structure and composition.
2. Discuss the basic physical concepts for the atmosphere and climate.
3. Understand the consequences of climate change including the natural forcing.
4. Quantify how solar radiation affects the earth's energy budget with reference to the radiative and convective energy transfer.
5. Have a general understanding of General Circulation of the Atmosphere and Hydrological cycle
2. Indicative content
Chapter.1. Introduction to the Climate System: History and Evolution of Earth’s Climate; Atmosphere, Ocean and Land Surface; Atmospheric Temperature; Atmospheric Composition; Hydrostatic Balance and Atmospheric Humidity
Chapter 2. The Global Energy Balance: Warmth and Energy; Energy Balance of Earth; The Surface Energy Budget ; Storage of Heat in the Surface ; Radiative Heating of the Surface; The Atmospheric Boundary Layer The Solar System ; Emission Temperature of a planet; Greenhouse Effect; Global Radiative Flux Energy Balance and Distribution of Insolation.
Chapter 3. The Hydrologic Cycle: Water, Essential to Climate and Life; The Water Balance; Surface Water Storage and Runoff; Precipitation and Dewfall; Evaporation and Transpiration.
Chapter 4. General Circulation of the Atmosphere and Climate: Energy Balance of the Atmosphere; Atmospheric Motions and the Meridional Transport of Energy; The Angular-Momentum Balance and Large-Scale Circulation patterns and climate.
Chapter 5. Natural Climate Change: Natural Forcing of Climate Change; Solar Luminosity Variations; Natural Aerosols and Climate; Volcanic Eruptions and Stratospheric Aerosols.