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Past Courses

AOS 123: Climate Change Adaptation Challenge

Semester: 

Winter

Offered: 

2023

Development of fundamental understanding of climate change adaptation challenges facing humanity. Such challenges stem from changes in physical climate system, such as warming and increases in heat extremes, loss of snow and ice, sea level rise, increases in extreme precipitation, deepening drought, increases in wildfire, deteriorating air quality, changes in ocean circulation, and ocean acidification. Examination of all these challenges, as well as associated stresses on human and natural systems. Examination of these issues from local, regional, and global perspectives, emphasizing...

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AOS 217: Regional Climate Dynamics

Semester: 

Winter

Offered: 

2022

Graduate level course. Global distribution of climate regimes with spatial scales smaller than 100 km. Mechanisms maintaining regional climate variation against larger-scale atmospheric and climate gradients. Regional climate/ecosystem/human system interactions.

S/U or letter grading. Lecture and discussion, 4 units. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour.

AOS 200B: Introduction to the Dynamics of the Earth System

Semester: 

N/A
Graduate-level course. Overview of general circulation of atmosphere and ocean; global energy balances; coupled circulations (such as El Nino); mesoscale, synoptic, and tropical phenomena; boundary layers, clouds, and convection; biogeochemical cycles; climate variability and change. 

AOS 217: Mesoclimates

Semester: 

N/A
"Mesoclimates" is a relatively informal graduate-level reading course designed to explore special topics within regional climate and regional climate change. In the most recent quarter, we explored the topic of "Changes in Extreme Hydrologic Events at the Regional Scale." Essentially, we read papers giving insight in future regional changes in heavy precipitation and drought. On both topics, we began with the global perspective, and then focused in on a particular region: California.