Simple Climate Models

Peters notes for the course can be downloaded from here:

Note 1: Radiative balance.

Note 2: Energy balance models.

Note 3: Climate statistics.

The course gives a modern accound for the physics underlying the climate dynamics.

Topics:

Radiative balance of the Earth, Sellers and Bodykos Models.
Timescales in the climate, from geology to fluid flow.
Large scale oceanic flow, thermohaline circulation, Stommels model.
Stochastic - and simple climate models.
Mechanisms for ice-ages, astronomical forcing.
Structure of glaciers, models of ice-surges.
Simple dynamical systems, bifurcation theory and chaos.
 

The course usually includes a week stay in October at Bornoe Oceanograpic Fieldstation, with lecturing, computer exercises and recreation.

Teachers: Jørgen Bendtsen, Peter Ditlevsen and Dorthe Dahl Jensen.
Material: Articles and notes.
Exam: Oral    Credits: 4 pts.    The course will be given fall 1999.