Module Identifier WS12210  
Module Title THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE WATER CYCLE  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Dr Tony Jones  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Dr Tom Coulthard  
Course delivery Lecture   20 x 1 hr  
Assessment Supplementary examination   2 Hours Same format   100%  
  Exam   2 Hours Multiple-choice written paper, computer marked   100%  

Module description


The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle provides the basic framework for understanding and investigating the earth-atmosphere system, the dynamics of global change and its implications for life on earth. This module aims to provide an integrated introductory knowledge of the physical interactions between terrestrial, marine and atmospheric systems.


LECTURE THEMES

  1. The climate system and global warming (2)
  2. Radiation and atmospheric structure
  3. The global heat budget
  4. The global hydrological cycle
  5. Evaporation procdesses and oceanic patterns
  6. Clouds and precipitation processes (2)
  7. The cryosphere
  8. Global patterns on runoff
  9. The General Circulation of the Atmosphere (2)
  10. Mid-latitude circulation and weather processes
  11. Tropical circulation, weather and climate
  12. Historical climate change
  13. Factors in historical climate change
  14. Storms, floods and droughts (2)
  15. Human modification of the water balance (including case studies from representative climates) (2)

Module Aims


The module aims to impart an understanding of the processes that generate and control weather and climate, and of the water cycle through ocean, atmosphere and land phases.

Module objectives / Learning outcomes


By the end of the module students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of :-

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Barry, R.G. and Chorley, R.J.. (1998) Atmosphere, weather and climate. 7th. Routledge, London ISBN 0-415-07761-3
Christopherson, R.W. (2001) Geosystems. 4th ed.. Prentice Hall, New York. #30.99 including CD-Rom ISBN 0-13-061345-2
Drake, F.. (2000) Global warming: the science of climate change. Arnold, London ISBN 0-340-65302-7
Jones, J.A.A.. (1999) Global hydrology: processes, resources and environmental management. Longman, Harlow ISBN 0-582-09861-0
Robinson, P.J. and Henderson-Sellers, A.. (1999) Contemporary climatology. 2nd. Longman, Harlow ISBN 0-582-27631-4