Module Information
Module Identifier
GS12210
Module Title
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
Academic Year
2018/2019
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Practical | 1 x 2 Hour Practical |
| Lecture | 22 x 1 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Multiple-choice online exam | 100% |
| Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours Multiple-choice online exam | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On succesful completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of :-
- the fundamental processes of exchange within the earth-atmosphere system
- issues of global warming and changing water resource patterns
- the role of the oceans in the earth-atmosphere system
- an historical perspective on changes in climate and use this knowledge to assess future global change
Aims
The module aims to impart an understanding of the processes that generate and control weather and climate, and of the water cycle through ocean, atmosphere and land phases.
Brief description
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle provides the basic framework for understanding and investigating the earth-atmosphere system, the dynamics of global change and its implications for life on earth. This module aims to provide an integrated introductory knowledge of the physical interactions between terrestrial, marine and atmospheric systems.
The following themes will be covered:
The Hydrological Cycle
Solar radiation and atmospheric energy
Global heat budget
Evaporation processes
Cloud formation and precipitation
Basics of atmospheric circulation
Patterns of atmospheric circulation in tropics and mid-latitudes
Storms in the tropics and mid-latitudes
How atmospheric circulation influences global climate (inc El Nino)
Global run-off
The cryosphere
Global water resources
The SimSphere model: an introduction, practical
Environmental change during the Quaternary
Human impacts on the water cycle
Revision
The following themes will be covered:
The Hydrological Cycle
Solar radiation and atmospheric energy
Global heat budget
Evaporation processes
Cloud formation and precipitation
Basics of atmospheric circulation
Patterns of atmospheric circulation in tropics and mid-latitudes
Storms in the tropics and mid-latitudes
How atmospheric circulation influences global climate (inc El Nino)
Global run-off
The cryosphere
Global water resources
The SimSphere model: an introduction, practical
Environmental change during the Quaternary
Human impacts on the water cycle
Revision
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4