AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

"Metheorology and climatology" responds to the growing demand for training in a strategic sector such as that linked to atmospheric phenomena, with enormous implications also of a socio-political as well as economic nature (like the "global warming"). The main objective of the study subject is to provide the physical-mathematical bases of the discipline in order to instill in the student a strong critical sense that allows him to face such delicate problems with scientific and methodological rigor.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course focuses on the study of atmospheric phenomena and their influence on everyday life (just think to the global warming). In this case the Student will be able to:

•      know and describe the main meteorological phenomena;
•      select the correct study methods to solve specific problems;
•      interpret the analytical results deriving from the use of meteorological instruments;
•      critically evaluate the data collected during monitoring activities in order to correctly predict meteorological forecasts;
•      produce scientific and / or professional reports;
•      correctly interpret the "meteorological" signals that the environment around us sends us;
•      evaluate the meteorological information received objectively and critically
• critically evaluate current and future climate change from interpretation of climate model outputs and major global research projects and environmental treaties
• critically evaluate the impacts of climate change on the territory and population and mitigation strategies

TEACHING METHODS

The lessons are in person

"Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.”

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Force of Coriolis. Ekman's Spiral. Atmosphere. Solar constant. Albedo. Thermal balance. Radiative budget. Air temperature. Balance of the heat of the ocean. Atmospheric pressure. Humidity in the air. Clouds. Rainfall. Fog and mist, smog.

Examples of meteorological and/or climatological applications in the fields of wind engineering and wind enegy, realized through experimental and numerical techniques. The forced and convective lifting mechanisms of the air parcel. Reversible adiabatic processes, and irreversible and reversible pseudoadiabatic processe in the atmosphere. The potential temperature and the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR). The equivalent potential temperature and the saturated adiabatic lapse rate (SALR).

The environmental lapse rate. Radiosondaggi. The concept of static stability in the atmosphere based on the local method. The atmosphere in stable conditions, the frequency of Brunt-Vaisala, the lenticular clouds and gravity waves. The atmosphere in unstable conditions. Thermodynamic diagrams of the atmosphere. Determination of the lifting condensation level (LCL) and the level of free convection (LFC).

The temporal indices (CAPE, Whiting, Lifted Index). Determination of the convective condensation level (CCL), Stau and föhn, thermal inversions. The process of homogeneous nucleation in the clouds. Definition and role of condensation nuclei for the formation of cloud droplets. The heterogeneous nucleation and the effect of the solute. The growth processes of raindrops in hot clouds: condensation and collision-coalescence growth. Experiment in creating a cloud in the bottle. The Bergeron process in the cold clouds and the formation of snowflakes. Precipitation types: rain, frozen rain, sleet, snow, hail. The international classification of clouds. The cloud atlas of the WMO and their international coding.

Global circulation model; Oscillations and Teleconnections; Global and regional climatology; Jet Streams and Rossby Waves; Koeppen classification; Mid-latitude climate; Extra-tropical cyclones and thunderstorms; Paleoclimatology; Re-analysis; Global Climate Modelling (GCM); Earth System Modelling (ESM); Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project (CMIP); Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreements; Regional Climate Modelling (RCM)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

During the year, the PowerPoint of the lectures and various didactic material with character and Meteorological themes will be uploaded in the AulaWeb .

Recommended books:

1. Francesco Fantauzzo (1976), Dalla brezza all'uragano (meteorologia moderna) ;
2. M. Giuliacci, A. Giuliacci, P. Corazzon (2010), Manuale di meteorologia .
3. S. Gallino (2015), Il meteo per la vela.
4.  IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), https://www.ipcc.ch/
5.  John M. Wallace, Peter V. Hobbs - Atmospheric Science, Second Edition, An Introductory Survey, Academic Press (2006)
6.  Bridgman HA, Oliver JE. The Global Climate System: Patterns, Processes, and Teleconnections. Cambridge University Press; 2006.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons and timetables, please go to http://www.distav.unige.it/ccsambnat/orariolezioni

Class schedule

METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is conducted in an oral manner.

Every year, at the end of the teaching, a written test is organized for students of the current academic year only, with which those who wish can verify their skills and test the level of knowledge of the subject. The test is absolutely optional.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will focus mainly on the topics covered during the lessons and during the seminars/study visit at the ARPAL Weather Center, and will have the purpose of assessing whether the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge and has acquired the ability to link all the theoretical information by applying it to situations real (weather forecast). The property of language and the knowledge of the correct scientific and technical terminology will also be evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

We recommend to follow the lessons.

Students with a certification of physical or learning disability filed with the University can find information on support services at the web page https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/studenti-disturbi-specifici-apprendimento-dsa, provided by the "Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with Learning Disorders." They can also contact Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Distav contact for disabilities.