1. 1. Introduction to the Climate System
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Overview of Midlatitude Climate
1.3 Overview of Tropical Climate
Key Concepts from today’s Lecture:
The climate system and its interacting components
External and internal influences on the climate system
Heat Capacity differences between land and ocean and the consequences of this for climate
Clausius Clapeyron equation and how this relates to variations in humidity and rainfall in the atmosphere

2. 1.1 Introduction: The Global Climate System
Figure 1.1

3. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.2

4. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.3

5. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Compare heat capacity of air and water

6. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.4

7. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.5

8. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.6

9. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.7

10. 1.1 Introduction: The Atmosphere
Figure 1.8

11. 1.1 Introduction: The Ocean
Figure 1.9

12. 1.1 Introduction: The Ocean
Figure 1.10

13. 1.1 Introduction: The Ocean
Figure 1.11

14. 1.1 Introduction: The Ocean
See IRI for ENSO discussion:

15. 1.1 Introduction: The Ocean
Figure 1.12

16. 1.1 Introduction: The Land Surface
Figure 1.13

17. 1.1 Introduction: The Land Surface
Figure 1.14

18. The Sahara (>20N) The World’s Largest Desert
Size: 9,000,000 square miles
Temperature: 136F (58oC)
Rainfall: Half of the Sahara receives < 0.79 inches per year
Dust: World’s Largest Dust Source

19. The Sahel (15-20N)

20. The Soudan (10N-15N)

21. The Guinea Coast (10N-15N)

22. 1.1 Introduction: The Cryosphere

23. 1.1 Introduction: The Cryosphere
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (orange line shows average minimum ice extent (for period) has lowest sea ice extent in more than 30 years.

24. 1. Introduction to the Climate System
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Overview of Midlatitude Climate
1.3 Overview of Tropical Climate
Key Concepts from today’s Lecture:
The climate system and its interacting components
External and internal influences on the climate system
Heat Capacity differences between land and ocean and the consequences of this for climate
Clausius Clapeyron equation and how this relates to variations in humidity and rainfall in the atmosphere
Next Lecture will be concerned with the regional circulations and related weather that characterizes midlatitudes and the tropics