Earth and Climate Physics
Course content
The purpose of the course is to provide an overview of the Earth and its climate system and the underlying physical processes, and to develop simple numerical models of phenomena related to the Earth and its climate.
The course provides a basic understanding of the various components of the Earth’s climate system and their interactions. The course introduces the fundamental physics principles and observations needed to understand the present and past climate, and the basic processes that shape the Earth and influence climate evolution on a planetary scale. The physics principles involve thermodynamics, radiation physics, heat transfer, celestial mechanics, fluid mechanics, and various other processes. Simple numerical models are developed as an integrated part of the course to investigate Earth system phenomena. The numerical modelling will involve solving simple partial differential equations.
Themes:
- The surface energy balance and heat transport
- Large scale ocean circulation
- Glacial cycles and ice sheet dynamics
- Orbital parameters and variation of temperature with season and latitude
- Atmospheric composition and evolution of climate
- Interactions between the major elements in the climate system: the atmosphere, the ocean, the ice sheets, the solid earth and the biogeochemical system.
The course contains lectures, exercises and computer exercises where the students work with simple models. The students form groups of 2-3 students and choose an exam modelling project. The groups will work on their projects during the remaining exercises of the course. We recommend that Python or Matlab is used for the modelling.
MSc Programme in Climate Change
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
MSc Programme in Physics
MSc Programme in Physics with a minor
subject
Skills
After completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the role of the atmosphere, the ocean the ice sheets and the solid Earth in the climate system.
- Describe the climate evolution of the Earth (snowball Earth, greenhouse Earth, glacial cycle, global warming) and the key physical processes.
- Use simple numerical models to describe the interaction between the atmosphere, the ocean, the ice sheets and the solid Earth.
- Develop a numerical model (in Python/Matlab or equivalent).
- Present and discuss the results of the numerical model in a written report.
Knowledge
During the course, simple models of the Earth's climate system
will be presented. Emphasis will be placed upon physical
interactions and feedbacks between the atmosphere, the oceans, and
the ice sheet components of this system. Some subjects that will be
covered will be energy balance and heat transport, large scale
ocean circulation, glacial cycles and ice sheet dynamics, orbital
parameters and variations of temperature with season and latitude.
Competences
Through this course, the students will see how the fundamental
physics principles governing the components of the Earth and its
climate system result in complex behavior when interacting on a
planetary scale. They will further see how simple numerical models
can be used to obtain understanding about a complex topic such as
the Earth’s climate. The student will be competent in using and
extrapolation knowledge from these models. Development of numerical
models has applications in a wide range of fields within
physics.
Lectures, exercises, computer exercises, project work.
See the course page at Absalon.
Knowledge of physics and mathematics equivalent to the first
year of the BSc in Physics
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment, ~4 weeksOral examination, 30 minutes
- Type of assessment details
- A written report based on the modelling project (contributes with 50%) and a 30 min oral exam with no preparation time (contributes with 50%). The written report and the oral exam must be passed separately in order to pass the exam.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
-
Oral exam, 30 minutes with no preparation. If the report was not passed, a new report must be submitted 1 week before the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assessment
The highest grade, 12, is achieved if all skills are demonstrated with none or only few errors.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 35
- Preparation
- 136
- Practical exercises
- 25
- Project work
- 10
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NFYK15008U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- no limitation
The number of seats may be reduced in the late registration period - Studyboard
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- The Niels Bohr Institute
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Christine Schøtt Hvidberg (2-71764e7c70773c79833c7279)
Er du BA- eller KA-studerende?
Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende