53:179 Hydroclimatology (3 sh)

This course covers topics in global and regional-scale hydroclimatic processes, including atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, climate dynamics of the global water cycle, occurrence of flood-producing rainfall and droughts, and teleconnections associated with climate anomalies.

After taking this course you will understand basic atmospheric dynamic principles used in weather forecasting, the climate dynamics controlling the global distribution of precipitation, the effects of regional anomalies, such as El Nino, on weather and climate in North America, and the use of weather and climate predictions in decision-making.

This course is offered every other year in the Spring semester. It is intended for graduate students, and senior undergraduates who want to obtain more depth of knowledge in hydrology.

Text:

• Wallace, J. M., and P. V. Hobbs, 1977: Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey (optional)
• Holton, J. R., 1979: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 2nd Edition (optional)
• Hartmann, D. L., 1994: Global Physical Climatology (optional)
• Peixoto, J. P. and A. H. Oort, 1992: Physics of Climate (optional)

Pre-requisites:

• 57:078 Principles of Hydrology

Co-requisites:

• None

Next required course(s):

• None

Technical electives (for more depth in this subject):

• 53:178 Hydrometeorology
• 53:195 Surface-Atmosphere Processes, Weather, and Climate Change

Technical electives (for more breadth in this subject):

• 53:116 Probabilistic Methods in Hydroscience
• 53:117 Remote Sensing
• 53:280 Hydrosystems Design and Operation

Detailed Course Outline:

• Atmospheric Thermodynamics
• Atmospheric Convection
• Atmospheric Dynamics
• Atmospheric Boundary Layer
• General Circulation
• General Circulation Models (GCMs)
• Climate Change
• Climate of North America
• Precipitation
• Extreme Rainstorms
• Probable Maximum Precipitation
• Monsoons
• Droughts
• El Nino/Southern Oscillation

Course Home Page:

• None