Geography 310W: "Introduction to Global Glimatic Systems"

Geography 310W is an advanced undergraduate course in Climatology that emphasizes study of the patterns of interannual climate variability (climate fluctuations) and the physical processes responsible for those variations (climate dynamics). Interannual climate variations include regional- to large-scale anomalies of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, etc., that become manifest as drought, floods, heat and cold waves, etc. The physical processes associated with climate fluctuations include the following: interactions among the climate-system components (atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere); external forcing (e.g., solar variations, volcanic activity); and long-distance interactions involving the coupled atmospheric-ocean circulations, or teleconnections (El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Arctic Oscillation (AO), and the Pacific-North America (PNA) pattern). Climatic teleconnections manifest shifts in the atmospheric pressure “centers of action”, storm tracks, jet stream positions, etc. In addition to the study of these climate patterns and processes, the course examines the role of human activities in climate, particularly “global warming”, desertification, deforestation and afforestation, urbanization, irrigation for agriculture, and aviation impacts. In this regard, a key issue that is addressed is the potential role of human activities on the frequency and intensity of teleconnections, such as ENSO, and of severe storms (thunderstorms, tornadoes) and hurricanes; possibly the result of modifications to the oceanic Thermo-Haline Circulation. Students write a term paper, as well as critiques of a number of published articles relating to the above topics in climate dynamics. There is a mid-term (essay) exam but no final exam.

Professor: David Reusch