Atmosphere–Ocean Interactions (海气相互作用)
Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University
This course focuses on the physics and climatic effects of atmosphere–ocean interactions at a variety of scales. The course begins with an introduction to the atmosphere–ocean climate system and general circulation, including reviews of the relevant thermodynamics and dynamics and an examination of boundary layers on both sides of the ocean surface. The second half of the course focuses on coupled atmosphere–ocean variability, including the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), coupled monsoon systems, the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), interannual and decadal variations in the northern Pacific Ocean, and coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea ice interactions in the Arctic. The course concludes with a discussion of the role of atmosphere–ocean coupling in forced climate change, particularly the evolution of long-lived greenhouse gases.
The materials provided on this website are a work in progress. Most of the original figures are based on atmospheric and ocean reanalyses, typically following published works. The data products used for figures are linked near the bottom right corner of the slide. I have also included materials and illustrations from other sources, with acknowledgements and direct links where appropriate; please contact me if you find any materials that are unattributed or misattributed. See also my short course in Python, which is related to this course. Comments, questions, and constructive feedback are welcome.
Note (16 April 2022): the cloud links have expired and no longer work. I am in the process of updating these lectures for this semester's version of the course and will soon make all materials available through a different system. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with requests.
Syllabus (2020 version)
- An overview of the coupled ocean–atmosphere system (energy balance)
[lecture slides] - Thermodynamics review, part 1 (the ocean's role in climate stability)
[lecture slides] - Thermodynamics review, part 2 (the atmosphere's role in ventilating the climate system)
[lecture slides] - Transfer laws, part 1: momentum (wind-stirred boundary layers)
[lecture slides] - Transfer laws, part 2: enthalpy (buoyancy-driven boundary layers)
[lecture slides] - Waves
[lecture slides] - Adjustment and balanced flow
[lecture slides] - Hot towers and theories for the intertropical convergence zone
[lecture slides] - Atmosphere–ocean coupling in the tropics: the El Niño–Southern Oscillation
[lecture slides] - Atmosphere–ocean coupling in the tropics: the Madden–Julian Oscillation
[lecture slides] - Atmosphere–ocean coupling in the tropics: coupled monsoon systems
[lecture slides] - Teleconnections between the tropics and extratropics
[lecture slides] - Extratropical air–sea interactions: the North Pacific
[lecture slides] - Atmosphere–ocean–sea ice interactions in the Arctic
[lecture slides] - Air–sea interactions of long-lived greenhouse gases
[lecture slides]