Climatology


course ID

Lecturer

CFU

9

Length

14 Weeks

Semester DD

Second


Course details

Introduction to the Earth's climate system. Black body spectrum: the classical limit and implications for the terrestrial radiation.


- 0D model: radiative balance with references to the solar planets. Simplified models of energy balance : interaction albedo - temperature and the faint young sun paradox. Stability, instability, and feedback processes.Paleoclimatic variability, processes of glaciation, " snowball earth". Methods of isotopic datation and reconstruction of time series.


- 1D models: Equation of radiative transfer model "gray gas" greenhouse runaway effect, the ultraviolet absorbing atmosphere. Spectral properties of the atmosphere. The role of clouds and convection.

- Atmospheric energy balance. Entropy in the climate system. Outline of ocean circulation and ocean- atmosphere exchange processes. Coupled ocean-atmosphere energy balance. Transport of energy and water cycle. Observed radiative and energy balance.


- Biosphere and biogeochemical cycles. Greenhouse gas - chemical and dynamic interaction. The carbon cycle and ocean acidification. Cycle of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere and climate role in stratospheric ozone. The course includes exercises to do in the classroom and a series of exercises of numerical calculation and data analysis.

Objectives

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Teaching is divided into lectures, exercises. The course of study is aimed at providing a solid basic preparation in Physics with the possibility of deepening specific topics of physics following the two different curricula ("Physics" and "Physics of the Atmosphere and Meteorology").

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: students, in relation to the different curricula and possible study plans, have the opportunity to deepen specific topics of physics with teachings that include among others biophysics, astrophysics, meteorology, electronics. operate professionally in defined areas of application or as preparation for addressing the master's degree course in physics.

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Students must acquire useful knowledge to operate professionally in defined areas of application or as preparation for addressing the master's degree course in physics.