Introduce the climate system, the atmosphere and ocean:

Address how the climate system varies and how climate is controlled by radiative forcing;

How the structure of the atmosphere is determined and how the atmosphere circulates;

How the structure of the ocean is determined and how the ocean circulates;

How the atmosphere and ocean vary together;

How the past state of the climate system is affected by the ocean circulation.

(LO1) 1. Knowledge and Understanding   a. Understand how physical processes operate within the climate system, the atmosphere and the ocean. b. Appreciate the complexity of the climate system, the effect of radiative forcing, the concept of feedbacks, how rotation affects the circulation; the differences between currents and waves. c. Gain awareness of the similarities and differences between the atmosphere and ocean.

(LO2) 2. Intellectual Abilities a. To be able to evaluate the relative importance of different physical processes in the climate systemb. To develop critical skills in transferring insight gained from one problem to another problem, such as how the atmosphere circulates from one planet to another planet.

(LO3) 3. Subject Based Practical Skills   a. Perform simple order of magnitude calculations and make inferences from the results. b. Understand the use of dimensions.

(LO4) 4. General Transferable Skills   a. Application of numbers, involving order of magnitudes and dimensions. b. Time management. c. Problem solving.

(S1) Problem solving skills

(S2) Numeracy

Block One: Climate System (six lectures)

Climate system of  the Earth, atmosphere and ocean.

Climate records. Possible causes of climate variability.

Heat transfer and radiation models.

Radiation balance for other planets.

Feedbacks in the climate system.

Block Two. Atmosphere (Seven lectures)

Composition and structure of the atmosphere.

Clouds and water vapour.

Understand motion on the rotating Earth.

General circulation in the tropics and mid-latitudes.

Weather systems, fronts and clouds.

Atmospheric circulation for other planets.

Seasonal cycle in the atmosphere.

Block Three. Oceans (Eight lectures)

Properties of water and seawater.

Observing the ocean and inferring the circulation using water masses, time-dependent tracers,geostrophy and satellite measurements.

Vertical structure of the ocean.

Seasonal cycle in the ocean.

Formation of water masses.

Deep ci rculation over the globe.

Upper circulation over the globe:gyres, eddies and fronts.

Waves and tides.

Block Four. Climate variability (Three lectures)

El Nino and Southern Oscillation.

North Atlantic Oscillation.

Climate states over the history of the planet and the possible connection to different ocean gateways and circulations.

Conclusions

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
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Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Laboratory Work
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Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Completing coursework exercises and providing feedback