The Atmosphere, the Ocean, and Environmental Change – Free Course

This course explores the physical processes that control Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and climate.

Quantitative methods for constructing mass and energy budgets. Topics include clouds, rain, severe storms, regional climate, the ozone layer, air pollution, ocean currents and productivity, the seasons, El Niño, the history of Earth’s climate, global warming, energy, and water resources.

1. Introduction to Atmospheres
2. Retaining an Atmosphere
3. The Perfect Gas Law
4. Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere; Residence Time
5. Earth Systems Analysis (Tank Experiment)
6. Greenhouse Effect, Habitability
7. Hydrostatic Balance
8. Horizontal Transport
9. Water in the Atmosphere
10. Clouds and Precipitation (Cloud Chamber Experiment)
11. Circulation of the Atmosphere (Exam I review)
12. Global Climate and the Coriolis Force
13. Coriolis Force and Storms
14. Convective Storms
15. Frontal Cyclones
16. Seasons and Climate
17. Seasons and Climate Classification
18. Ocean Bathymetry and Water Properties
19. Ocean Water Density and Atmospheric Forcing
20. Ocean Currents
21. Ocean Currents and Productivity
22. El Niño
23. Ice in the Climate System
24. Ice and Climate Change
25. Isotope Evidence for Climate Change
26. Global Warming
27. Climate Sensitivity and Human Population
28. The Two Ozone Problems
29. The Ozone Layer
30. Energy Resources, Renewable Energy
31. Renewable Energy

Textbooks:

  

Instructor: Ronald B. Smith

Price: Free

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