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 625-332 Mechanisms Of Climate

Credit Points

25

Coordinator

Dr R C Lile

Prerequisites

Earth Sciences 625-226, 625-227; Mathematics 620-141, 620-142, 620-130 or equivalent.

Semester

2

Contact

36 lectures (three per week), 60 hours practical (five hours per week)

Subject Description

Global climate as a holistic system. Atmosphere-ocean-land interactions and the heat engine. Hadley and Walker circulations, the ocean global thermohaline circulation. Convection, radiation, and cloud processes. Volcanic eruptions, aerosols, climate feedbacks. Biogeochemical and hydrological cycles. The cryosphere, glaciers and sea-ice. Surface energy balance, applications to ocean mixed layer and temperature variations, land surface-atmosphere interactions, influence of soil moisture. Remote sensing and applications in monitoring status of various components of the climate system.

On completion of this subject, students should have an understanding of the workings and connectedness of the climate system as a whole.

Assessment

Practical work, assignments and a research report totalling up to 7000 words.



Search : Index : Faculty of Science : Earth Sciences
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Status:                   Official 1998
Last Modified:            Tuesday October 21 17:12
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Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au