Calendar

SES # TOPICS READINGS LABS KEY DATES
1 Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 1

Lab experiment 0
2 Equilibrium T of Earth Chapter 2
3 Greenhouse effect
4 More complex greenhouse models
5 Vertical structure of atmosphere: Hydrostatic balance Chapter 3 Problem set 1 out
6 Convection in water Chapter 4 Lab experiment II
7 Dry convection in air: Adiabatic lapse rate
8 Potential temperature

Problem set 1 due

Problem set 2 out

9 Moist convection Lab experiment I
10 Moist convection (cont.)

Problem set 2 due

Problem set 3 out

11 Meridional structure of atmosphere Chapter 5
12 Angular Momentum: Hadley circulation
13 Differentiation following the motion Chapter 6

Problem set 3 due

Problem set 4 out

14 Equations of motion applied to a fluid
15 Equations of motion for a rotating fluid Lab experiment III
16 Equipotential surfaces Lab experiment IV
17 Inertial circles Lab experiment V
18 Review and recap of frames of reference

Problem set 4 due

Problem set 5 out

19 Putting things on the sphere Lab experiment VI
20 Balanced flow: Geostrophy Chapter 7
21 Taylor Proudman theorem Lab experiment VII Problem set 5 due
22 Thermal wind Mid-term take-home test out
23 Ageostrophic motion and Ekman layers Lab experiment X
24 The Hadley circulation Chapter 8 Lab experiment VIII Problem set 6/7 (combined) out
25 The general circulation of the atmosphere Mid-term take-home test due
26 Atmospheric general circulation: Eddy regime Lab experiment XI
27 The ocean and its circulation Chapter 9
28 Ocean circulation: Inferences from balanced dynamics
29 Ekman layers in the ocean Chapter 10 Lab experiment XII

Problem set 6/7 due

Problem set 8 out

30 Taylor-Proudman on the sphere
31 Laboratory model of wind-driven ocean circulation Lab experiment XIII
32 Theory of ocean gyres
33 Thermohaline circulation Chapter 11
34 Theoretical ideas on thermohaline circulation

Problem set 8 due

Problem set 9 out

35 Laboratory model of thermohaline circulation Lab experiment XIV
36 The ocean and its role in climate Chapter 12
37 Source-sink flow and western boundary currents Lab experiment XV Problem set 9 due
38 Final exam