Professor: Peter J. Webster
Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences & Civil and Environmental Engineering
Course Outline: This is a course for scientists, engineers and policy students (with physics and mathematics background) aimed at providing a knowledge of the physics and thermodynamics of the current climate system. To this end, the physical structure of the climate system is described and explained in terms of fundamental principles. The relative roles of natural causes of climate change versus those which may be being induced by Another major aim is to arm students with the tools to enable them to assess what are the realities in the climate and global change debate and what ideas may have less credibility. Consideration is given to possible solutions to anthropogenic ranging from reductions in greenhouse gas production, the use of alternative fuels or alternative energy sources, and sequestering strategies. Finally, the impacts of a changing climate and the possible strategies for their mitigation will be viewed from a developed and developing nation perspective.
Primary Text: Hartmann: Global Physical Climatology, Academic Press.
Secondary Text: Web sites, handouts.
Syllabus:
The Physical System:
Climate Variability:
Modeling, Synthesizing and Predicting Climate:
Climate and Society:
Are there solutions to global warming?