introduction to climate contents for students

the climate contents

1. 1.1.TheConceptsofWeather,Climate,
MeteorologyandClimatology
1.2.Elementsandmeasurementofweather
andclimate
1.3.Controlsofweatherandclimate
1.4.Weatherandclimatedata
1

2. 2
2.1. Origin and Nature of the Atmosphere
2.2. Composition and vertical structure of the
Atmosphere
2.3. Atmospheric Variation with Altitude, Latitude
and Season
2.4. Significance of the Atmosphere

3. 3
3.1.ThenatureandcharacteristicsofSolarRadiation
3.2.Sourcesofearth’senergyandenergytransfer
processes
3.3.Reflectionandscatteringofsolarradiation
3.4.Solarradiation/Isolation
3.4.1.Theglobalandsurfaceradiationbudget
3.4.2.Variabilityanddistributionofisolation
3.4.3.Measuresofsunshineandradiation
3.5.Temperature
3.5.1.SpatialandTemporalVariationofTemperature
3.5.2.Factorsforvariationoftemperature
3.5.3.Measuresoftemperature
3.5.4.Heatingandcoolingofatmosphere,landmass,
andwaterbody

4. 4
4.1.Theconceptofairpressure
4.2.Airpressure
4.2.1.Verticalandhorizontalvariationofairpressure
4.2.2.Globalpressurebelts
4.2.3.Factorsforvariationofairpressure
4.2.4.Measuresofairpressure
4.3.Wind
4.3.1.Causesofwind(airmovement)/lawsofhorizontalmovement
4.3.2.ForcesaffectingWinds
4.3.3.Typesofwinds–global/Planetary,regionalandlocal
4.3.4.Upperaircirculation–jetstream(concept,origin&effects)
4.3.5.Windmeasurement
4.4.ClimateandWeatherPhenomena
4.4.1.AirMassandfronts:Typology,origin,characteristics
4.4.2.CyclonesandAnti-cyclones
4.4.3.Hurricanes,ThunderstormsandTornadoes
4.4.4.ElNinoandLaNina

5. 5
5.1.AtmosphericMoisture
5.2.Evapo-transpiration
5.2.1.FactorsthataffectEvapo-transpirationrate
5.2.2.MeasuresofEvapo-transpiration
5.3.Atmospherichumidity
5.3.1.TypesofHumidity-absolute,relativeandspecific
5.3.2.Factorsofatmospherichumidity
5.3.3.Temporalandspatialvariationofhumidity
5.3.4.AtmosphericEquilibrium:Stabilityandinstability
5.3.5.Measuresofhumidity
5.4.Cloudformation,typeandcharacteristics
5.5.CondensationProcessandforms
5.6.Precipitationanditstypes
5.6.1.Processesofprecipitationformation
5.6.2.FormsofPrecipitation
5.6.3.Precipitationtypes
5.6.4.Precipitationmeasurement
5.6.5.Globaldistributionofprecipitation

6. 6
6.1.Climaticclassification:GeneralConsiderations
6.2.Historyandphilosophicalbaseofclimateclassification
6.3.Significanceofclimateclassification
6.4.ApproachestoClimaticClassification
6.4.1.Geneticclassifications(basedonthegeographic
determinantsofclimate,surfaceenergybudget,andderived
fromairmassanalysis).
6.4.2.Empiricalclassifications
6.4.2.1.Koppenclimateclassification
6.4.2.2.Thornthwaiteclassification
6.4.2.3.Oliverclassification
6.5.AnoverviewofWorldClimaticregions:Tropical,Temperate,
cold,Deserts

7. 7
Assessment&Evaluation
Mid-TermExam 30%
IndividualorGroup
assignment,Quizzes,
participationandclass
attendance 20%
FinalExam 50%