Lecture 1: Introduction I will introduce: 1.Me 2.The course 3.The book 4.Chapter 1

Who Am I? Name:Zong-Liang YANG Associate Professor Education: BSc and MSc in Meteorology PhD in Atmospheric Science Research: Modeling Global Climate and Hydrology Biosphere-Atmosphere Interaction Global Change, Monsoon Flood Modeling, Air Pollution Teach: Living with a Planet, Earth, Wind and Fire Physical Climatology Climate: Past, Present and Future Office:GEO 5.220DA Hours:WF 4-5pm or by Appointment Phone:

My Personal Biography Tucson: 8 years Austin: 1 week

GEO 302C Climate: Past, Present and Future Textbook: Ruddiman, Earth’s Climate: Past and Future 19 chapters Course website Click Schedules for lists of lecture topics and reading assignmentsSchedules Three mid-term exams, 25% each, with the lowest grade dropped Up to 10 labs, a total of 25% (TAs: Lindsey Gulden, Lacki Lynch) Final exam, 25%. All add up to 100%. No makeup exam. Attendance will be counted for each class and lab. Extra credit opportunities. Blackboard “login” with your UTEID. From there select “S06 climate: past, present, future”

Chapter 1: Overview of Climate Science We will discuss: 1.What are the components of Earth’s climate system? 2.How does climate change differ from day-to- day weather? 3.What factors drive changes in Earth’s climate? 4.How does the climate system work?

Chapter 1: Overview of Climate Science This lecture discusses: 1.What are the components of Earth’s climate system? 2.How does climate change differ from day- to-day weather? 3.What factors drive changes in Earth’s climate?

The Habitable Earth The earth is the only habitable planet in our solar system. Oceans: 70% of the surface Land: 30% Earth’s climate is favorable to life. In the era of population explosion, climate change is critical to human life.

Weather versus Climate  Short-term (and large) fluctuations that arise from internal instabilities of the atmosphere  Occurs as a wide variety of phenomena that we often experience  Effects are immediately felt  Social and economic impacts are great but are usually localized  Many such phenomena occur as part of larger-scale organized systems  Governed by non-linear chaotic dynamics; not predictable deterministically beyond a week or two The condition of atmosphere at a given time and place Weather

Temperature Scales Fahrenheit: USA Celsius: most other countries Kelvin: scientific calculations Temperature at the Earth’s surface varies just above or below the freezing point of water. Globally averaged surface temperature = 59°F (15°C)

Surface Weather Map Meteorologists generate diagrams of observed weather from ground- based instruments. This surface map overlaps in time with the above satellite image. Meteorologists may study larger weather patterns with space borne instruments, while ground-based tools often measure a) air temperature b) air pressure c) humidity d) clouds e) precipitation f) visibility g) wind at a single point.