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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2010/2011
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Meteorology

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 Earth. The climate system is so complex that we approach it by constructing models of 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 variablity.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Mathematics for Physics 4 (PHYS08038)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements In addition to passing Mathematics for Physics 4 a further 30 credits at level 9/10 from schedule Q or N is also required
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
First Class Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: King's Buildings. Lecture - Room 5327, JCMB
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes Stationery Requirements Comments
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:0012 sidesSchool's calculators allowed only
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:
o zero-dimensional energy-balance models
o zonal energy balance models,
o one-dimensional radiative-convective models of the atmosphere,
o general circulation models and;
o the components of earth system models
- Write down and solve the equations of a zero-dimensional energy balance model, with various types of feedback
- Interpret, use and evaluate a wide range of numerical and graphical data to set and achieve goals
- Understand the meaning of the term &«Climate sensitivity&ª, calculate it for a zero-dimensional energy balance model and be aware of available evidence for its magnitude
- Extend a zero-dimensional energy balance model to form a zonal energy balance model, by parametrizing the transport of heat between latitudes, solve the resulting equation numerically, either as a simple iterative process or by casting it as a partial differential equation (PDE), and understand what use may be made of such a model
- Understand how a PDE (and hence many climate models) may be solved numerically
- Critically understand how radiation travels through the atmosphere and how it is absorbed and emitted
- Explain in detail 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
- Understand some of the uses of climate models, such as the understanding of paleoclimates and the prediction of anthropogenic climate change
- Make judgements where data is limited or comes from a range of sources.

The student will also:
- Be familiar with climate history from millennia to recent decades and have a broad understanding of causes of changes
- Understand the origin of predictions of future climate change and its uncertainty
- Be aware of how understanding and knowledge in this subject is developed
- Be able to offer professional level insights and interpretations to issues
Assessment Information
Examination
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, CUP. 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, CUP.
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 doesnt provide background.
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywords Not entered
Contacts
Course organiser Dr Gabriele Hegerl
Tel:
Email: Gabi.Hegerl@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Mrs Helen Mckeating
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Helen.McKeating@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 31 January 2011 8:01 am