GEOG 445: General | Schedule & Docs | Projects | Write-ups

Time:Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 pm - 12:15 pm
Place:1201 Lefrak Hall
Instructor:Axel Kleidon, 1159 Lefrak Hall, Department of Geography
Office hours:Tuesdays, Thursdays, 2 - 3pm, or by appointment
Contact:e-mail: akleidon AT umd DOT edu (preferred), phone: 301-405-3203, im: kleidon AT mac DOT com (AIM), axel DOT kleidon AT gmail DOT com (Jabber)
Textbook:Dennis L. Hartmann. Global Physical Climatology, Academic Press, ISBN 0-12-328530-5. Available at the University Book Center and the Maryland Book Exchange. Additional reading assignments will be provided in class.
Prerequisites:Introduction to Climatology (GEOG 345) required. Background in physical geography, mathematics and computer use is highly recommended. Check with the instructor if you are not sure whether you can meet the requirements.
Catalog:Quantitative investigations into the Earth's radiation balance, water cycle, and the interrelationship of climate and vegetation. Methodologies in climate research. Case studies related to global climatic change.
More details:The goal of this course is to provide you with an advanced understanding of processes within the climate system, how these processes shape the observed geographic distribution of climate, and how they relate to climatic changes of the past and to possible future climatic changes. We will first review the main components of the climate system, such as the surface energy balance, the water cycle, the general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans, its geographic variation, and how these processes interact with the biosphere. This understanding will then be applied to understand past changes, natural variability and potential future changes. The course will also provide an introduction to climate modelling as an important tool in current climate research. Within the context of assignments, simple simulation models will be used to give you an introduction into how models are being developed and used in climate research. See separate schedule for details of the course outline.
Feedback:In order for you to get most out of this class it is important to let the instructor know what you think about the class. You can fill out an anonymous web-form and submit it to the instructor. Follow this link to the form..