Climatology
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course will permit to the students to know the atmospheric processes and the climate system thus supporting their understanding of dynamics and evolution of natural phenomena. During the course will be explained methods and techniques to perform meteorological investigations and to analyse climate at both local and regional scale. The lectures will be scheduled both in the classroom and in the field (e.g: at the surface of the widest Italian valley glacier where an automatic weather station was installed by the UNIMI staff and this has been running since 2005). Moreover in the PC room some practical lectures will be done to give to the students the technical know- how to process and analyze meteo and climate data.
Expected learning outcomes
The students will acquire competence and skills for collecting, processing, analyzing and modelling meteorological data.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
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
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
The lessons will be held using the Zoom platform and can be followed both synchronously on the basis of the second semester timetable and asynchronously because the audio-lessons (consisting of desktop recording of the teacher with audio commentary), the slides shown and possibly the in-depth material will be left available to students on the ARIEL teaching platform. In any case, it is strongly recommended to attend synchronously since the lessons will also constitute a time for reviewing, deepening and clarifying any doubts and/or curiosities on the topics proposed, and for carrying out numerical exercises and other support activities.
The procedures and criteria for participating in face-to-face lessons, which require a reservation with a special app, will be published in time on the ARIEL pages of the course, as well as all the above material and notices relating to any update related to evolution of the legislation imposed by Covid-19.
The exam will take place in oral form using the Zoom platform, in case of the regulations allow an exam in presence, it will be always in oral form.
The procedures and criteria for participating in face-to-face lessons, which require a reservation with a special app, will be published in time on the ARIEL pages of the course, as well as all the above material and notices relating to any update related to evolution of the legislation imposed by Covid-19.
The exam will take place in oral form using the Zoom platform, in case of the regulations allow an exam in presence, it will be always in oral form.
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
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
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
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
Prerequisites for admission
Maths, Physics, Physical Geography
Teaching methods
The course will permit to the students to know the atmospheric processes and the climate system thus supporting their understanding of dynamics and evolution of natural phenomena. During the course will be given both lectures on the theoretical basis of Climatology and technical practical activities to understand how to manage and analyse climate and meteo data.
The practical activities will be done in the computer rooms (Labs) of UNIMI.
Only in the Academic year 2019-2020 the practical activities will be done by using ZOOM and by sharing with the teacher Excel worksheets and data.
In the Academic year 19-20 the lectures will be given by Zoom as well, nevertheless videos and data will be also available at the ARIEL web site of the course.
The practical activities will be done in the computer rooms (Labs) of UNIMI.
Only in the Academic year 2019-2020 the practical activities will be done by using ZOOM and by sharing with the teacher Excel worksheets and data.
In the Academic year 19-20 the lectures will be given by Zoom as well, nevertheless videos and data will be also available at the ARIEL web site of the course.
Teaching Resources
slides of the lectures available at the ARIEL web site, videos of the lectures available at the ARIEL website
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral. The students can present an original work they performed by analysing climate and/or meteo data or they can discuss a paper (dealing with a climatological topic) they have selected on an international peer reviewd journal.
GEO/04 - PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Senese Antonella
Professor(s)