Ocean, Atmosphere, Climate

The "Ocean, Atmosphere, Climate" module introduces the fundamental principles of atmospheric and oceanic dynamics, and provides a critical, documented look at climate change. Teaching is based on analysis of official documents describing global change, documented lessons on key issues, and applications to case studies in different global contexts.

• Enable students to develop their skills in understanding the relationships between climate change and atmospheric and oceanic processes, as well as some of their impacts on the Earth system.
• Encourage students to develop critical thinking skills with regard to climate change issues.

Training courses that include this module in their offering will endeavor to put in place a portfolio of knowledge/skills that will be carefully documented in this module.

Final test: 1-hour written test in class

• Introducing the IPCC and its reports
• Causes of past climate change (Milankovitch, eg. Little Ice Age)
• Current climate change (observations, models, causes)
• Radiation balance, greenhouse effect (greenhouse gases, ozone layer), sensible and latent heat coupling
• General atmospheric circulation, geostrophic winds, fronts, jets, depression/anticyclone,
•  Impact of climate change on extreme events (e.g. cyclones, Mediterranean episodes)
• Societal impact and political choices (conventions, COPs)
• General ocean circulation (engines, Munk, main ocean currents, numerical models)
• North Atlantic circulation
• The conveyor Belt
• Ocean-atmosphere coupling. Energy and heat transport. Water cycle.
• Regionalizing climates
• Carbon and CO2 cycles in the Atmosphere, Ocean and Lithosphere
• What if the gulf stream disappeared?
• Sea-level rise, process and evolution.                                        
• TD: El Niño, North Atlantic Ocean, Indian monsoon, equatorial convergence, sea level rise (paleoclimatic evidence)