An introduction to the composition of the Atmosphere, energy flows, and large-scale weather systems and climate processes. Radiation and climate, role of the oceans, greenhouse effect, atmospheric dynamics, global circulation, thunderstorms, hurricanes, mid-latitude weather systems, weather and climate forecasting. This course is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of basic meteorology, essential background for further studying changes in weather and climate. The topics to be discussed in this course include atmospheric structure, energy transfer, water balance, wind systems, global circulation, air pollution, climate and climate change. Lectures will be supplemented by discussions on live weather conditions and forecasting and severe weather events.
