OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the theoretical and practical bases for studying the physical aspects of the Earth's climate system, its dynamics and the factors that determine its variability.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of this course is to provide the student with the necessary basic culture and operational tools to analyze the main meteorological parameters that influence the climate, delving into the phenomena linked to the atmosphere and the general circulation of the oceans and their main mechanisms of variability. To this end, lectures and practical exercises are planned to learn the main methods of analyzing meteorological and climate data.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

- know the structure of the atmosphere and its composition, the main meteorological phenomena that occur in it and the correlations with the surrounding environment,

- read meteorology from a more mathematical/modelling point of view,

- acquire the skills necessary to interpret the information obtainable from the internet and meteorological news,

- verify the environmental status from a meteorological point of view,

- collaborate with teachers in meteorological environmental characterization.

TEACHING METHODS

in-presence lessons.

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

Atmosphere: subdivision by temperature; Coriolis force; main physical parameters (cloud humidity, pressure, temperature) - Precipitation hydrometeors - Hot and cold clouds, Mists
     Solar constant
     Radiative balance/Global energy balance (electromagnetic radiation, Sun-atmosphere-earth system, Greenhouse effect)
     The hydrological cycle (precipitation, runoff, losses)
     Single cell and 3 cell circulation model - Cyclones and Anticyclones
     Circulation in the atmosphere (winds, thermal gradient, barometric pressure)
     Oceans in the climate system (ocean circulation, surface flows, currents)
     Ocean circulation and its variability (wind-driven and thermohaline ocean circulations, deep circulation)
     Ocean heat budget
     Climate variability (teleconnective indices, oscillations and climate changes)
     Analysis of climate variability and change using existing or model-derived observational data.
     Visit to the CMIRL Weather Center (if possible)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Notes and material provided by teachers during the course

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARCO CAPELLO (President)

LAURA CUTRONEO

GABRIELE FERRETTI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The student must demonstrate the ability to connect topics not mnemonically but by reasoning.

The oral exam will mainly focus on the topics covered during the theoretical lessons, and will aim to evaluate both whether the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge and whether he has acquired the ability to connect all the theoretical information by applying it to real situations. Language skills and knowledge of correct scientific and technical terminology will also be assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

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.