GEOPHYS 311 : Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Physics

Science

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines the physical and dynamic processes shaping the atmosphere and oceans, covering the thermodynamics of the climate system and the dynamics of global atmospheric and oceanic circulations. Explores the fundamental physical processes that control Earth’s climate and investigates the dilemmas they present in our current understanding of climate.

Course Overview

This course introduces the physical processes important to the atmosphere and ocean. It provides the essential introduction to the physics of weather and climate. It includes: fluid dynamics common to the atmosphere and ocean; thermodynamics of the atmosphere and ocean; atmospheric radiation; and climate physics. This course is ideal preparation for those wanting to continue studies in atmospheric and climate science in Honours and postgraduate levels. The skills and expertise developed in this course are particularly useful for those wishing to have a career involving weather, marine and climate information, or undertaking activities in fields related to environmental engineering and sustainability which require understanding the scientific underpinnings of climate change.

Delivery:
• 3 sessions/week including lectures, tutorials, and in-class tests (2 in the semester).
Students who are approved to take this course remotely will have alternative arrangements made

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from PHYSICS 201, 231, and 15 points from GEOPHYS 213, PHYSICS 213, and 15 points from ENGSCI 211, MATHS 253, 260, PHYSICS 211 Restriction: GEOPHYS 331

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the basic features of the structure of the atmosphere and ocean (Capability 1)
  2. Explain the basic flow of energy through the climate system (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  3. Explain the basic flow of radiant energy in the atmosphere (Capability 1 and 3)
  4. Explain how the Coriolis force affects the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean (Capability 1 and 2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Test
Exam

Special Requirements

Participate in lectures and in-class tests, tutorials and lab classes.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 34 hours of lectures, 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 16 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is  required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials may be available as recordings should the need arise. 
The course will not include live online events. Attendance on campus is required for the exam, or otherwise follow university guidance.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Recommended reading :

“Physics of Radiation and Climate,” MA Box & GP Box, CRC Press, 2016.
“An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics” 2nd Ed., D.G. Andrews, Cambridge, 2010.
“Elementary Climate Physics” F.W. Taylor, Oxford 2005
“Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere and Ocean,” J. Curry & P. Webster, Academic Press, 1999

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Level 1: Delivered normally as specified in delivery mode.
Level 2: You will not be required to attend in person. All teaching and assessment will have a remote option. The following activities will also have an on-campus/in-person option: [Lectures, labs, tutorials, office hours, field trips, etc.] Level 3 / 4: All teaching activities and assessments are delivered remotely.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 13/07/2022 04:06 p.m.