Foundations of Climate Science (ACM20160)
Stage 2 Module
- Credits: 5
- Level: 2
- Semester: 2
- Subject: Applied and Computational Mathematics
- School: Mathematical Sciences
- Module Coordinator: Dr. Conor Sweeney
Lecture Topics
- What is the climate?
- Components of the climate system
- Climate cycles.
- Wind forces
- Global-scale winds
- The ocean
- Climate patterns
- The energy cycle
- Past climates
- Natural climate change
- Anthropogenic climate change
- Climate modelling
Outline
In this module, we study the processes that determine the Earth’s
climate. We introduce simple models that can help explain global
energy balance, account for global-scale winds and describe the ocean
circulation. We study patterns in the climate, such as the North
Atlantic Oscillation Index and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. To
understand the current climate, we also study its history, how it has
evolved and what causes it to change. Finally, we discuss
human-induced greenhouse warming, what we know now, and how we can
attempt to predict the climate of the future.
What will I learn?
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Describe the salient features of the modern observed climate
- Describe the key mechanisms controlling the surface temperature distribution
- Discuss the key mechanisms controlling the general circulation of the atmosphere and ocean.
- Understand the primary mechanisms involved in human-induced climate change
- Interpret the findings of IPCC AR4 (later, AR5) and its consequences for the Irish climate.
Recommended Textbook
Meteorology: Understanding the Atmosphere (any edition)
by: Stephen A Ackerman & John A Knox
