Climate II: Coupled Earth System Dynamics

This course explores the fundamentals of climate dynamics. Through examination of the coupled interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and cryosphere, students investigate how these systems drive climate variability and change across timescales ranging from weeks to millennia. Topics include: global energy balance, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, the hydrologic cycle, climate sensitivity and feedbacks, and paleoclimate. Students study a hierarchy of climate models, from theoretical frameworks to comprehensive general circulation models, and assess the mechanisms behind major climate feedbacks and modes of variability.