Earth's Past and Present Climate

The course examines the modern atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and other components of the Earth’s climate system, and considers how they have changed in the past. Topics include global energy balance, greenhouse gases, thermodynamics of the atmosphere, moisture and clouds, ocean biology, chemistry and physics. The general circulation of the atmosphere as well as the surface and deep ocean will be considered from first principles and modern observations. Multiple intervals of Earth’s past will be considered, including substantially warmer and colder periods than the modern, as well as the repeated oscillations between glaciations and interglacial episodes of the past two million years. Some emphasis will be place on relatively rapid climate changes that have occurred naturally in the past, and the course will conclude with a consideration of recent trends and future projections.