George Mason University
Climate Dynamics 710: Introduction to the Physical Climate System
Course Outline Spring 2008
Primary Text:
Hartmann, Dennis L. Global Physical Climatology. Academic Press, 1994. (ISBN 0-12-328530-5)
Supplementary Texts:
Salby, Murry L. Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics. Academic Press, 1996. (ISBN 0-12-615160-1)
Andrews, D. G., 2000. An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics., 2000
(ISBN 0-978-0-521-62958-4)
Detailed Course Notes:
Topic 1: Introduction to the Physical Climate System Ð Global Energy Balance
Topic 2: Black-Body Radiation
Topic 3: Radiation and Climate Ð Part I
Topic 4: Radiation and Climate Ð Part II
Topic 5: Thermodynamics Ð Part I
Topic 6: Thermodynamics Ð Part II
Topic 7: General Circulation Ð Part I
Topic 8: General Circulation Ð Part II
Topic 9: Transients in the General Circulation
Topic 10 The Hydrological Cycle
Topic 11: Paleoclimate: Observations, Theory and Modeling
Topic 12: Oceans and Climate