GEOS583

041592

Natural variability in the Earth's climate system is generated by complex physical processes that govern the redistribution of energy and moisture over a rotating sphere with heterogeneous boundary conditions. Despite this complexity, much of the variability in the Earth's climate system on interannual to decadal time scales can be explained by a few major modes ('patterns') of climate variability. In this course, we will discuss these major modes of climate variability, including: El Nino-Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, Monsoons, and Annular Modes. We will assess the dynamics/physical mechanisms driving these modes of variability and their impact on weather, climate and society. We will also investigate the evolution of each mode through time, using paleoclimatic evidence to assess how they have changed in the past and climate model simulations to project how they are expected to change in the future. By assessing the evolution of these modes of variability and the physical mechanisms behind them, we gain an improved understanding of how changes in climate forcing (e.g., greenhouse gases, solar radiation, volcanic eruptions) affect global and regional climate. The class will be a mixture of lectures, discussions, and student presentations.

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Graduate

GIDP - GC (Global Change)

GEOS483