Undergraduate Course: Physics of Climate (METE10003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Meteorology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/meteorology/PH0032/phys_clim.html |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course introduces the principal physics of climate and climate modelling, focussing on the Earth. The climate system is so complex that we approach it by constructing models with several different levels of complexity. These models allow us to explain the observed distribution of temperature, in relation to the fluxes of energy and matter through the climate system, and to consider the external and internal factors (both human and natural) which cause climatic change and variability. The course also briefly covers other climate variables, such as precipitation, and understanding of pasts and predicting of future climate change. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 15,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Physics of Climate | 2:00 | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course a student will have a comprehensive and integrated knowledge of the principal physics of climate and climate modelling. They will be able to:
View the climate systems as one which, although it is far too complex to represent exactly in mathematical terms, may nevertheless be modelled using physical principles.
Be able to describe the various types of principal and some specialised climate models and understand the uses and limitations of each type. Specifically the student should be familiar with:
- zero-dimensional energy-balance models, zonal energy balance models, and time-dependent energy balance models
- one-dimensional radiative-convective models of the atmosphere,
- general circulation models and;
- the components of earth system models
Interpret, use and evaluate a wide range of numerical and graphical data
Understand the meaning of the term 'Climate sensitivity', and be aware of available evidence for its magnitude
Understand and predict the timescales of seasonal changes in climate, and climate change
Understand how radiation travels through the atmosphere and how it is absorbed and emitted
Explain how the atmosphere causes the greenhouse effect
Explain the principles of a general circulation model of the atmosphere and understand what use may be made of such a model, including for understanding of palaeoclimates and the prediction of anthropogenic climate change
Students will also:
Be familiar with climate history from millennia to recent decades, and have a broad understanding of the causes of change
Understand the origin of predictions of future climate change and their uncertainty
Be aware of how understanding and knowledge in this subject are developed |
Assessment Information
Examination 80%
Abstract for Presentation 20% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
The course is not oriented on a single book, but Hartmann, McGuffie and Andrews covers a fair bit of the material. The book by Peixoto & Oort is an excellent alternative if a fairly mathematical treatment suits you. Salby is an alternative to Andrews' text for atmospheric physics. All the atmospheric physics texts go outside the scope of this course.
D. L. Hartmann (1994): Global Physical Climatology. Academic Press. Vol 56 in their International Geophysics series, 411 pp. I am using this for my own preparation in addition to my Predecessor's material (Hugh Pumphrey) who may have used Taylor more.
Taylor, F. (2005): Elementary Climate Physics, Excellent introduction, although pitched at 3rd rather than 4th year. One copy in JCML, you may have to order it from the bookshop. The ISBN is 0 19 856733 2 (hardback) 0 19 856734 0 (paperback)
Andrews, D. (2000): Introduction to Atmospheric Physics, Cambridge University Press. Excellent short accounts of radiation and atmospheric physics, and some climate perspectives. In JCML.
Peixoto, J. and Oort, A. (1992): Physics of Climate, AIP. Comprehensive and lucid account of climate physics, with strong emphases on real world observations and rigorous mathematical treatment. Two copies in JCML.
Salby, M. (1995): Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics, Academic Press. A very well presented account. In JCML.
Further Reading
McGuffie and Henderson-Sellers (2005): A Climate Modelling Primer, John Wiley & Sons. Good on the principles of climate modelling, but a little light on the physics. New books are 3rd ed. Several copies of 2nd edition in JCML.
Wallace, J. M and Hobbs, P (2006): Atmospheric Science. Academic Press. Not same emphasis as in lectures but very well done and lots of relevant material
Trenberth, K. (1992): Climate system modeling, Cambridge University Press.
Nicely presented reference work on modelling. In JCML.
IPCC (2007): Climate Change 2007 - The Physical Science Basis. Full text at
http://www.ipcc.ch/ Detailed (~1000 pages) discussion of climate processes, modelling approaches & problems, in 11 well organized chapters. Excellent for state of science, but doesn't provide background.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | MTPoC3 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Gabriele Hegerl
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Meredith Corey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: |
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