Introduction to Climatology

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Introduction to Climatology

• (Dr. Scott Sheridan, GEOG31064)

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Famous graphs in climatology
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Famous graphs in climatology
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Famous graphs in climatology

• Per capita carbon emissions
• US
• Canada
• EU-25
• China
• (1950-2004)
• Which is which?

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Weather vs. Climate

• Weather variables
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Clouds
• Dew point
• Precipitation
• Wind
• Visibility
• Weather describes current conditions and
  understanding fundamentals (with goal of
  prediction)

• Climate describes long-term synthesis
• Means
• Extremes
• Frequencies
• Spatial patterns
• Impacts are also assessed

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Climatology

• Descriptive climatology
• Physical climatology
• Dynamic climatology
• Applied (synoptic) climatology
• Climate change

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History of climatology

• Ancient Greeks

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History of climatology

• 1500s to 1700s
• Invention of thermometer, barometer, etc.
• Weather records begin
• 1800s
• First maps developed (von Humboldt)
• Spatial patterns assessed

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History of climatology

• WW1 Polar Front Theory
• WW1-2 Upper atmosphere investigated, jet streams
  investigated
• 1960s Satellites
• 1985 Ozone hole discovered
• Late 1980s-1990s Climate change
• 1998 Kyoto protocol

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Climate variability
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Measurements
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The climate system
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The climate system