Earth Sciences

AIMS

This course provides students with an up-to-date introduction to meteorology, including a description of the Earth's atmosphere, its weather processes, and climatic conditions. The course gives a thorough explanation the mechanisms for the various atmospheric processes, providing students with a sound understanding of the physical principles involved without going into too much mathematical detail. It includes detailed discussion of environmental problems relating to the atmosphere such as ozone depletion, low level air pollution and global warming, and considers the role in meteorology of technological advances such as weather forecasting models and meteorological satellites.

OUTCOMES

Practical and Transferable Outcomes:

• effective communication of information in writing;
• skills in writing, comprehension of scientific data and papers, mathematical calculation, independent study, IT skills.

CONTENT

• Characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere;
• Warming the Earth and the atmosphere;
• Air temperature;
• Humidity, condensation and clouds;
• Cloud development and precipitation;
• Air pressure and winds;
• Atmospheric circulations;
• Air masses, fronts and middle latitude cyclones;
• Weather forecasting;
• Thunderstorms and tornadoes;
• Hurricanes;
• Air pollution;
• Global climate;
• Climate change.