PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE

This course will provide the students with understanding of how the Earth's atmosphere and climate operate. After a brief introductory overview to define terminology and key physical and mathematical concepts, the course will focus on the fundamental processes that operate in the atmosphere and in the coupled ocean-atmosphere system, thereby determining their state and variability. Lectures will also provide elements to understand anthropogenic and natural climate changes.

acquisition of theoretical knowledge about the fundamental atmospheric and oceanic processes that determine state and variability of the climate system; development of skills in applying theoretical knowledge, by quantitative analysis of data describing atmospheric and climatic phenomena; acquisition of judgment ability by developing critical thinking regarding the attribution of climate changes.

basic knowledge of geography, physics, especially classical thermodynamics, mathematics, especially calculus and geometry, chemistry

introduction to the Earth's atmosphere and its evolution; key concepts of atmosperic physics and fluidodynamics; ocean and its role for climate; radiative balance and conceptual climate models; external forcings of climate; climate sensitivity; feedbacks; stochastic atmospheric and climate variability; climate modes and regional climates; ocean-atmosphere coupled models; anthropogenic climate change and future climate projections.

Andrews, D.G., An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics, Cambridge University Press, 2010, 0521693187
"Introduction to Climate Science" ebook by Andreas Schmittner (Oregon State University), also available online for free.
"Introduction to climate dynamics and climate modelling" freely available at: http://www.climate.be/textbook/ebook.html
Peixoto J.P., Oort A.H. Physics of climate, 1992, 520 pp.
IPCC-AR5 report and IPCC specific reports, available here: https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/

The oral exam is thought to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the student in the various topics touched in the course. After a first question at will, that serves as an introduction to the exam and offers the possibility to test the knowledge aquired about a topic of special interest for the student, the exam continues touching upon other various arguments of the course.

oral

28-30L: full grasp on the topics covered in class and in supporting texts; ability to prioritize information; use of appropriate technical terminology;
26-27: good knowledge of the topics covered in class and, to a lesser extent, in supporting texts; fair ability to organize information and present it orally; familiarity with technical terminology;
24-25: not always in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in class and in supporting texts; generally clear oral presentation but not always with correct use of technical terminology;
22-23: often superficial knowledge of the topics covered in class and in supporting texts; unclear oral presentation and lacking in technical terminology;
18-21: knowledge of the topics covered in class and in supporting texts is at times incomplete; confused oral presentation, with little use of technical terminology.

frontal lesson with possibility of seminars and experimental activities (analysis of climatic data)