Unpublished,

The general circulation of the atmosphere

.
(2020)

Abstract

Course notes for the honours/master's level unit "General circulation of the atmosphere", ran during semester 1, 2020. The unit was taught by Martin Singh. This unit introduces students to the large-scale circulation in Earth’s atmosphere and the processes by which this circulation is maintained. The unit will begin with a discussion of the mathematical techniques used to estimate the atmospheric state and analyse the behaviour of atmospheric circulations. This will include an introduction to state estimation and data assimilation as well as a discussion of Reynold’s decomposition and its application to the analysis of atmospheric motions. Next, the unit will introduce the basic theory underpinning the tropical general circulation, including the Hadley circulation and monsoons. Theoretical concepts will be demonstrated using real-world data from the atmosphere and in qualitative experiments using a rotating tank apparatus. The unit will also consider the midlatitude circulation and the maintenance of the global angular momentum budget. Concepts of eddy-mean flow interaction and the transformed Eulerian mean will be used to explain the formation of jets at midlatitudes, and the existence of the thermally indirect Ferrel cell. Finally, the course will consider the water budget of the atmosphere and theories of how it may vary in the future. This will serve as an entry point for students to engage with the scientific literature regarding changes in the atmospheric general circulation with climate change.

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