Programme

- The Earth-atmosphere system -

Composition and structure
Radiative equilibrium of the Earth
The global energy budget

- Hydrostatic equilibrium -

Hydrostatic balance
Stratification
Lagrangian interpretation of stratification

- Static stability -

Stability categories
Implications for vertical motion
Stabilizing and destabilizing influences
Turbulent dispersion

- Radiative transfer -

Description of radiative transfer
Absorption characteristics of gases
Thermal equilibrium
The greenhouse effect

- Large-scale motion -

Geostrophic equilibrium
Vertical shear of the geostrophic wind
Frictional geostrophic motion
Curvilinear motion
Weakly divergent motion

- Thermodynamics of gases -

Thermodynamic concepts
Adiabatic processes
Diabatic processes

- Heterogeneous systems -

Chemical equilibrium
Fundamental relations for a multi-component system
Equilibrium phase transformations

- Transformations of moist air -

Implications for the distribution of water vapor
Thermodynamic behaviour accompanying vertical motion
The pseudo-adiabatic chart

- Atmospheric motion and equations -

Kinematics of fluid motion
Reynold’s transport theorem
Conservation of mass
The momentum budget

- The planetary boundary layer -

Description of turbulence
Structure of the boundary layer
Ekman pumping

- Wave propagation -

Acoustic waves
Buoyancy waves
The Lamb wave
Rossby waves
Wave absorption

- Dynamic stability -

Inertial stability
Shear stability
The Eady model

- Influence of the Ocean -

Composition and structure
Role in the heat budget
Role in the carbon cycle
The wind-driven circulation
The buoyancy-driven circulation
Interannual changes

Core Documentation

Salby M.L. - Physics of the Atmosphere and Climate. Cambridge University Press, 2012 - ISBN:9780521767187

Karnauskas K. - Physical Oceanography and Climate. Cambridge University Press, 2020 - ISBN:9781108423861

Type of delivery of the course

The teaching methodology consists of lectures for acquiring fundamental knowledge to achieve the educational objectives scheduled. The attending Students to teaching activities is optional. In case of an extension of COVID-19 health emergency, all the provisions governing the teaching activities will be implemented.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory, although strongly recommended in order to take advantage of all the technical information made available through theoretical lessons and practical exercises. In case of an extension of COVID-19 health emergency, all the provisions governing the teaching activities will be implemented.

Type of evaluation

The verification of skills learning takes place through an oral test lasting about 1 hour, to verifying the level of effective understanding of the concepts and the students' ability to apply them in real contexts. In case of an extension of COVID-19 health emergency, all the provisions governing the evaluation methods of the students will be implemented.