Physics of climate processes 1103-5`FPK

http://www.igf.fuw.edu.pl/md/igf/lectures

1. Basic concepts: climate system, climate processes, weather and climate anomalies
2. Energy balance of the planet. Radiative forcing. Positive and negative feedbacks in the climate system. Climate sensitivity.
3. Greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases.
4.Radiative and radiative-convective equilibrium, heat transport
5. Observational and measurement systems
6. Simple climate model
7. Radiative forcing. Aerosols
8. Clouds in the climate
9. The cryosphere and sealevel
10 Carbon and nitrogen cycles
11. Paleoclimatology
12. Climate modelling
13. Natural climate variability, attribution, perception of climate change
14. History of climate physics
15. IPCC reports

Mode

Blended learning
Classroom
Remote learning

Prerequisites (description)

We assume that the student has elementary knowledge about the atmosphere and the ocean and understands basic facts about: - thermodynamics (heat, internal energy, energy balance, latent heat of phase changes, 1st and 2nd principle of thermodynamics); - hydrodynamics (advection diffusion, Navier-Stokes equation, Reynolds equations); - geophysical fluid dynamics (scales of motion, scale analysis, primitive equations, geostrophic approximation, stratification: stable, unstable, conditionally unstable); - radiative trensfer (Stefan-Boltrzmann law, Planck law, Lambert-Beer law).

Course coordinators

Szymon Malinowski
Krzysztof Markowicz

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:
1. Basic knowledge about principal climate mechanisms, forcings and feedbacks.
2. Basic knowledge aboud climate observations, observing systems, climate monitoring and modeling.

Abilities:
1. Student is able to provide scientific arguments in climate discussions/debates and distinguish between "climate myths" and basic knowledge.
2. Student is able to analyze and interpret results of geophysical/climatic measurements.

Social competences.
1. Student is able to look for information in scientific periodicals and databases.
2. Student is able to ask precise questions in order to deepen his knowledge about the climate.
3. Student understands and appreciates intellectual honesty and ethics in his activities.

Assessment criteria

Final assessment will be based on tests in the course of the lecture, essay (1-3 pages, e.g. about one of the recent publications about climate in Science, Nature, e.t.c.). Attendance at lectures and tutorials is strongly encouraged, but is not compulsory.

Bibliography

David Randall: Atmosphere, Clouds, and Climate, 2012, ISBN: 9780691143750
Geoffrey K. Vallis: Climate and the Oceans, 2011, ISBN: 9780691150284
David Archer: The Global Carbon Cycle, 2010, ISBN: 9780691144146
Raymond T. Pierrehumbert: Principles of Planetary Climate, 2011, ISBN: 9780521865562
WORKING GROUP I CONTRIBUTION TO THE IPCC FIFTH ASSESSMENT REPORT CLIMATE CHANGE 2013: THE PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1
Marcin Popkiewicz, Aleksandra Kardaś, Szymon P. Malinowski, 2018, "Nauka o klimacie"

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1103-5`FPK in USOSweb