The Atmosphere, the Ocean, and Environmental Change
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.
This Yale College course, taught on campus three times per week for 50 minutes, was recorded for Open Yale Courses in Fall 2011.
Syllabus
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.
Ahrens, C. Donald. Essentials of Meteorology. Brooks Cole, 2004.
Weekly reading assignments, eight problem sets give students experience with quantitative heat and mass budget analyses, five laboratory exercises, and four exams.
Problem sets: 30%
Three mid-term exams: 30%
Final Exam: 40%