Theory of Weather and Climate - 2024 entry

This module is designed to give you an overview of the key physical processes determining the behaviour of the Earth's ocean and atmosphere, exploring both some of the major processes involved and the fundamental theory behind them. An informative subtitle might be climate physics for the mathematically literate. The module builds upon basic principles and key equations (such as hydrostatic balance, ideal gas law, adiabatic fluid motion etc) to bring to life an application of the content from MTH3007 - Fluid Dynamics. Topics covered will include radiative energy transfer, the structure, motion and thermodynamics of the atmosphere, the surface energy balance, and the main components of the general circulation (Hadley cells, Walker cells, jet streams etc.). The emphasis, where possible, will be on simple analytical models (such as shallow water equations and Ekman layers) for commonly observed phenomena and on the development of physical intuition. The material is developed further in modules such as MTHM019 Fluid Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans.

Prerequisite module: MTH3007 or equivalent

By the end of this module, you will have an understanding of the basic physics of the Earth’s weather and climate, and will comprehend the structure and principal circulations of the atmosphere and the ocean.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Appreciate how mathematics can be used to understand the physics of weather and climate;

2 Comprehend the physics responsible for the general circulation;

3 Understand in detail radiation, dynamics and atmospheric thermodynamics;

4 Demonstrate a familiarity with the terminology and physical mechanisms of common meteorological phenomena;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5 Understand the role of mathematical modelling in real-life situations;

6 Recognise how many aspects of applied mathematics learned in earlier modules have practical issues;

7 Develop expertise in using analytical and numerical techniques to explore mathematical models;

8 Formulate simple models;

9 Study adeptly the resulting equations and draw conclusions about likely behaviours;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

10 Display enhanced numerical and computational skills via the suite of practical exercises that accompany the formal lecture work;

11 Show enhanced literature searching and library skills in order to investigate various phenomena discussed;

12 Demonstrate enhanced time management and organisational abilities.

- Motivation: the observed state of the atmosphere

- Planetary scale energy balance (for planets with and without atmospheres)

- Surface energy balance

- Vertical structure and thermodynamics (dry and moist) of the atmosphere

- Rotating fluid dynamics: (Geostrophic flow, the thermal wind, Ekman transport, Potential vorticity and quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity)

- Waves (Plane waves. Shallow water theory. Inertial, Kelvin, Rossby and buoyancy waves)

- Instability (barotropic via Rayleigh and Fjortoft theorems, baroclinic via the Eady model)

- Wind-driven circulation in the ocean (Ekman spirals, Ekman pumping)

- Recap of how the theory above explains surface pressure maps, the jet stream, frontogenesis, Hadley and Walker cells etc.

* Please refer to reassessment notes for details on deferral vs. Referral reassessment

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Reading list for this module: