Earth’s atmosphere. General notions, magnitude of the atmosphere, composition of lower atmosphere. Solar and terrestrial radiation, atmospheric temperature and pressure, geopotential, simple atmospheric models. Water vapor in the atmosphere.
Atmospheric Thermodynamics. State equation, laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic processes in the atmosphere. Atmospheric Stability, Criteria of instability (Vertical temperature gradient, potential temperature, energy).
Cloud Physics. Water vapor condensation, cloud classification, rain formation theory.
Atmospheric Dynamics. Forces defining the air motion, equations of motion, synoptic scale winds, air motion in the atmospheric boundary layer, thermal circulation. General atmospheric circulation, planetary winds, troposhperic winds – Ηadley cells, tropospheric long (Rossby) waves.
Air Masses. Air masses, fronts, low pressure centers, high pressure centers. Cyclogenesis.
Climate Dynamics. Climate Classification, Climate Variability, Climate Equilibria, Sensitivity and Feedbacks. Climate Change – climatic models.