Module manager: Prof Ian Brooks
Email: i.m.brooks@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Physical science background (i.e., environmental science, physical geography, chemistry, physics, mathematics)
| SOEE3410 | Atmo & Ocean Climate Change |
SOEE5835M
This module is not approved as an Elective
The response of the climate to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations is controlled by a wide array of physical processes and feedbacks in both the atmosphere and ocean. This module will examine a range of these processes, including: atmosphere and ocean circulation, the surface energy balance, control of radiative energy balance by aerosol and cloud processes, ocean-atmosphere gas exchange, polar climate processes, and aspects of the water budget influencing sea level rise. The interlinked nature of many of the processes, and feedbacks between them are emphasised, and the way in which processes are represented in climate models is introduced. The module is closely aligned with topics of active research within the School of Earth and Environment, and draws upon this research to provide examples. The lectures are regularly updated to include details of the latest research results relevant to the topics covered.
The overarching objective of this module is to provide a clear understanding of the primary physical processes in atmosphere and ocean that control climate.
The module is broadly split into sections addressing:
- Large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulations, their role in transporting energy within the climate system, and the changes (observed and expected) resulting from a warming climate
- Thermodynamic feedback processes within the atmosphere
- Aerosol and cloud processes and their interaction with solar and infra-red radiation
- Surface exchange processes and the surface energy budget
- Polar climate and the processes resulting in polar amplification of climate warming
- Sea level rise
- Tipping points within the climate system
- Fundamentals of modelling of climate and how this, along with observations, provides a theoretical understanding
Throughout the module the linkages and feedbacks between these processes and different parts of the climate system are emphasised.
Another common thread is to provide a fundamental understanding of the way in which these processes are represented in climate models via simplified parameterizatons, and the limitations in model accuracy that may result from such parameterizatons.
The coursework is designed to utilise the understanding gained from the lectures to conduct a research investigation into tipping points within the climate system using a very simple climate model.
On successful completion of the module students will achieve the following learning outcomes:
1. Understand the physical processes within the atmosphere and oceans that control climate, including details of:
- surface-atmosphere interactions
- cloud and aerosol processes and how they control the radiation budget at the surface and top of atmosphere
- large-scale ocean and atmosphere circulations
- The turbulent exchange of heat at the surface
- The physical and chemical controls of the exchange of gases – in particular carbon dioxide – between atmosphere and ocean
2. Understand the changes in these processes resulting from forced climate change, and the feedback processes that reinforce or supress climate warming.
3. Analyse the outputs of a simple climate model under different forcing scenarios, applying the understanding gained about physical processes to explain the observed model outputs.
4. Explain, in detail, the physical processes and feedbacks that control specific aspects of the climate system and its response to forced increases in greenhouse gases.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1) Analytical skills - application of knowledge gained to interpret the results of a simple climate model for different forcing scenarios.
2) Critical thinking – applying knowledge gained to think through the chain of consequences of a change to climate forcing to explain the observed outcomes from a simple climate model.
3) Research skills – develop a coherent research plan to conduct a modelling experiment that investigates an open-ended climate change problem. This includes applying subject knowledge to define physically realistic changes, explaining how they might come about, and conducting a range of experiments to investigate climate and model sensitivity to those changes, and explain the outcomes.
4) Academic writing – ability to present the results of the modelling experiments in a coherent and logical manner, explaining the reasoning behind the approach and the interpretation of results. Use appropriate referencing.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 17 | 1 | 17 |
| Practical | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Seminar | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Independent online learning hours | 20 | ||
| Private study hours | 109 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Within coursework workshops in computer cluster.
Post-coursework feedback session.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 50 |
| Coursework | Online Time-Limited Assessment | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 29/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team