Climate of the ocean#

In this class you will get an introduction to fundamental processes of the climate system. On this website you will find interactive tutorials where we step by step build our own climate model. In the end we will use a comprehensive coupled ice-ocean model simulating the Baltic Sea.

Lecture content#

  • Fundamental processes of the climate system (greenhouse effect, radiation balance, climate sensitivity, stability and feedbacks)

  • Basic methods of the analysis and modeling of the climate system with focus on the ocean

  • Equations of motion of the large-scale circulation with focus on the ocean

  • Coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea-ice models

  • Spatial and temporal variability of the climate system

  • Anthropogenic climate change and natural climate variability (externally and internally driven climate variability)

Information about the course#

  • Lectures at Rostock University (master in physics)

  • 3 ECTS

    • 15 lectures at 90 minutes

    • tutorials and exercises

    • 45 minutes examination

Literature#

Climate assessment#

Atmospheric and oceanic fluid dynamics:#

  • James R. Holton: An introduction to dynamic meteorology

  • Geoffrey K. Vallis: Climate and the oceans

  • Geoffrey K. Vallis: Atmospheric and oceanic fluid dynamics

  • Olbers, Willebrand and Eden: Ocean Dynamics, Springer (2012)

Climate of the Baltic Sea Region:#

  • Lectures from Askö 2015 available as youtube movies

www.baltic.earth, Askö 2016 (pdf), password protected

Lecture Notes#