George Mason University
Climate Dynamics 710: Introduction to the Physical Climate System
Course Syllabus Spring 2012
David Straus and J. Shukla
Room and Schedule information:
Class location: Innovation Hall 139
Class time: Tuesday 10:30 AM to 1:15 PM
First Class: Tuesday January 24
Last Class: Tuesday May 1
Final Exam: Tuesday May 15
Notes:
(no class: Tuesday March 13 due to Spring Break)
Instructor Information:
David M. Straus
Office Hours: by arrangement
Primary References:
Hartmann, Dennis L. Global Physical Climatology. Academic Press, 1994.
ISBN-13 978-0-12-328530-0
ISBN-10 0-12-328530-5
Andrews, D. G., 2000. An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics., Cambridge University Press, 2000
ISBN-13: 978-521-62958-4
ISBN-10: 0-521-62958-4
Supplementary References:
Salby, Murry L. Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics. Academic Press, 1996.
ISBN-10: 0-12-615160-1
Masaki, Satoh. Atmospheric Circulation Dynamics and General Circulation Models Springer, 2004.
ISBN-10: 3-540-42638-8
Detailed Course Notes (subject to modification):
Topic 1: Global Energy Balance
Topic 2: Black-Body Radiation
Topic 3: Radiation and Climate – Part I
Topic 4: Radiation and Climate – Part II
Topic 4a: Long-Wave Radiation Model
Topic 5: Thermodynamics – Part I
Topic 6: Thermodynamics – Part II
Topic 7: General Circulation – Part I
Topic 8: General Circulation – Part II
Topic 9: (New) Transient Fluctuations
Transients in the General Circulation
Life Cycle of Baroclinic Waves: Theory
Topic 10 The Hydrological Cycle
Topic 11: Paleoclimate: Observations, Theory and Modeling
Topic 12: Oceans and Climate
Homework:
There will about 4 to 5 Homework Sets
Exams:
The course will have a
relatively short Mid-Term exam
and a Final Exam.
Grading:
Homeworks: 50%
Mid-Term 25%
Final 25%