Meteorology 6030: Earth/Atmosphere Systems

Course Description:
  The climate of the earth has remained temperate and quite robust as far back in time as we can peer. Temperate and robust, in this context, are defined by our nearest planetary neighbors. The surface of Venus is hot enough to melt lead with no water vapor and a sulfuric acid overcast. Good evidence has been found suggesting that the Martian climate once was warm enough for liquid water. However, the present Martian climate is frigid and tenuous. The earth, by contrast, has remained within a very narrow temperature zone that has allowed the existence of the three phases of water. While the temperature fluctuations have been relatively minor, within the extremes of temperature on the earth, the climate has fluctuated from tropical conditions in the polar regions, to vast continental ice sheets extending well into the middle latitudes. The explanations for this phenomenon lie within the context of physical meteorology and the interaction of the various elements of the climate system. We will seek understanding from both theoretical and observational perspectives to explain the coupling of the atmosphere with the other spheres such as the ocean, lithosphere and cryosphere. My goal is draw on your existing knowledge of dynamics, radiative transfer, cloud physics, mathematics, statistics and thermodynamics to build a conceptual mental model of the earth's climate system.

  After an initial excursion into radiation transfer and radiative-convective equilibrium using chapter 8 of Salby, our primary text will be The Physics of Climate by Peixoto and Oort. I will lecture primarily from this text as well as material taken from the peer-reviewed literature and other sources. We will cover chapters 1-4 in their entirety, and I will assign further reading as the semester progresses. Your exams (plan on two and a final) will be only on material covered in class. Reading that I assign not specifically covered in class will certainly benefit your understanding, but you will not be directly tested on it.

  I would like each of you to complete a paper on a research topic specifically related to issues regarding atmospheric feedbacks, air-sea interaction, paleoclimate or some other relevant topic. This paper should be complete with both quantitative analysis and descriptive discussions and should pull together material from at least 5 sources (the text can be one of them). While I will impose no minimum page limit, a paper such as this should generally take at least 20 pages (double spaced and typewritten). I would like to see an abstract with references for this paper by February 9. We will take time at the end of the semester for you to present your paper to the class. You will be graded on both your written and oral presentations. For the oral part, I am not looking for a professional speech but quality material concisely presented. Plan on a 30 minute period in which to present your material.

Grading:
  Mid Terms:   100 points each
  Final (mandatory and comprehensive) 200 points
  Paper:   100 points
  Homework:    (2 points/question)