1. Introduction to the Climate System

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1. Introduction to the Climate System  

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Overview of Midlatitude Climate
• 1.3 Overview of Tropical Climate
• Key Concepts from todays Lecture
• Earths energy balance (basics)
• Atmospheric circulations in midlatitudes jets,
  cyclones and anticyclones
• Atmospheric circulations in tropics monsoons,
  ITCZ, seasonality
• Physics of large-scale circulations in the
  tropics

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The amount of energy received by the earth
Solar Radiation Received at TOA

Figure 2.1
Outgoing radiation
Solar absorbed
Northward transport of energy
Northward transport by atmosphere
Figure 2.2
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Annual variations in energy received by the earth


Figure 2.3
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Mean Meridional Circulations

Figure 2.4
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.5
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.6
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.7
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.8
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1.2 Introduction Overview of Midlatitude
Climate  
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Asymmetric Circulations


Figure 2.9
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Asymmetric Circulations


Figure 2.10
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Asymmetric Circulations


Figure 2.11
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Figure 2.12
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Rainfall


Figure 2.13
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1.3 Introduction Overview of Tropical Climate  
Figure 2.14
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.15
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.16
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1.3 Introduction Overview of Tropical Climate  
Figure 2.17
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Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.18
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1.5 Zonal and time mean circulations


Figure 2.19
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1.3 Introduction Overview of Tropical Climate  
Figure 2.20
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Figure 2.21
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Tropical Synoptic Weather Systems

• Westward moving synoptic waves characterize the
  whole tropics
• They are tropospheric waves, that modulate the
  rainfall and move at about 8m/s and have
  wavelengths of 2000-4000km.

Figure 2.22
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Figure 2.23
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Figure 2.24
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1. Introduction to the Climate System  

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Overview of Midlatitude Climate
• 1.3 Overview of Tropical Climate
• Key Concepts from todays Lecture
• Earths energy balance (basics)
• Atmospheric circulations in midlatitudes jets,
  cyclones and anticyclones
• Atmospheric circulations in tropics monsoons,
  ITCZ, seasonality
• Physics of large-scale circulations in the
  tropics