Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

Climate and Climate Change (250653) – Course 2024/25 PDF

Contents

The atmosphere Composition and temperature General circulation of the atmosphere Precipitation Exercises and practical work

Dedication

2h Large group + 1h Medium group + 4h 11m Self Study
Total: 7h 11m

The ocean * Composition and properties * Oceanic circulation * Temperature and salinity The cryosphere * Components of the cryosphere * Properties of the cryosphere The land surface and the terrestrial biosphere Exercises and practical work

Dedication

1h Large group + 1h Medium group + 2h 48m Self Study
Total: 4h 48m

The energy balance of the Earth * The heat balance at the top of the atmosphere: a global view * The "greenhouse" * today insolation at the top of the atmosphere * The heat balance at the top of the atmosphere: geographical distribution * Heat storage and transport * Heat balance at the surface Exercises and practical work

Dedication

2h Large group + 1h Medium group + 4h 11m Self Study
Total: 7h 11m

The hydrological cycle The carbon cycle * General information * Ocean Carbon Cycle * Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Exercises and practical work

Dedication

1h Large group + 1h Medium group + 2h 48m Self Study
Total: 4h 48m

Dedication

6h Laboratory classes + 8h 23m Self Study
Total: 14h 23m

History of Climate Change: causes and mechanisms

Dedication

1h Large group + 1h 24m Self Study
Total: 2h 24m

Internal climate variability * El Niño-Southern Oscillation * North Atlantic Oscillation * The Southern Annular Mode Exercises and practical work

Dedication

2h Large group + 1h Medium group + 4h 11m Self Study
Total: 7h 11m

The climate since the Earth's formation * Precambrian climate * Phanerozoic climate * Cenozoic climate The last million years: glacial interglacial cycles * Variations in orbital parameters and insolation * The orbital theory of paleoclimates * Glacial-interglacial variations in the atmospheric CO2 concentration The Holocene and the last 1000 years * The current interglacial * The last 1000 years * The last century Exercises and practical work

Dedication

2h Large group + 1h Medium group + 4h 11m Self Study
Total: 7h 11m

Modelling the climate system Introduction * What is a climate model? * Types of models * Models of energy balance * Models intermediate complexity * The general circulation models Exercises and practical work

Dedication

1h Large group + 1h Medium group + 2h 48m Self Study
Total: 4h 48m

Components of a climate model * Atmosphere * Ocean * Sea ice * Land surface * Marine biogeochemistry * Ice sheets * Coupling between the models of systems components to Earth Numerical solution of the equations * Consistency, stability and convergence * The time and space discretizations using finite difference Exercises and practical work

Dedication

1h Large group + 1h Medium group + 2h 48m Self Study
Total: 4h 48m

Checking the validity of the models * Verification, validation, test * Evaluate the performance of the model Exercises and practical work

Dedication

2h Large group + 1h Medium group + 4h 11m Self Study
Total: 7h 11m

The climate system response to a disturbance Climate and climate change response * The concept of radiative forcing * equilibrium response of the climate system - a definition of feedback * Transient response of the climate system Direct physical assessments * Steam water gradient feedback and comments * Rretroalimentación Clouds * Evaluations Cryospheric Exercises and practical work

Dedication

2h Large group + 1h Medium group + 4h 11m Self Study
Total: 7h 11m

Influences of human activities on climate and climate change. . Emissions . Land use changes . Ecosystems

Dedication

2h Large group + 2h 48m Self Study
Total: 4h 48m