Climatology

A.Y. 2018/2019
6
Max ECTS
48
Overall hours
SSD
GEO/04
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
This course will give competence and skills of physical climatology to permit to our students to understand the atmosphere dynamics and the climate processes. These information represent fundamental and precious tools to analyze and manage natural ecosystems. Methods and techniques to be applied to perform meteorological surveys and several approaches to analyze climate pattern and trend within a regional scale will be described and explained. The course will take advantage from field activities (mainly at the Forni Glacier, the widest Italian valley glacier where a UNIMI permanent Automatic Weather Station has been running since the last decade) and laboratory experiences to permit to the students to acquire competence and skills for collecting, processing, analyzing and modelling meteorological data.
Expected learning outcomes
The students will acquire competence and skills for collecting, processing, analyzing and modelling meteorological data.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Introduction to Physical Climatology
Climate: definition
The solar system, its planets and their atmospheres
The Earth atmosphere: composition and features
Classification of Earth atmosphere
Processes and phenomena characterizing the lower atmosphere
Processes and phenomena characterizing the mean atmosphere
Processes and phenomena characterizing the upper atmosphere
The radiative terrestrial energy budget
The radiative atmospheric energy budget
Not radiative contributions to Earth energy budget
The greenhouse effect
Global warming: evidences and effects
The Kyoto protocol
Sub-surface energy fluxes: magnitude, measurements and features
The hydrological balance (terrestrial and atmospheric): definition and features
The Italian climate
Introduction to meteorology
Meteorological stations
Instruments and sensor for meteorological studies
Accuracy and precision of meteo instruments
Analysis and processing of meteo data
Meteorological data base
GEO/04 - PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours