Overview
Principles of meteorology, with particular reference to weather systems; climate variability and change; projected future trends; climate change policy; a project and laboratories as required.
The field of atmospheric sciences covers a broad range of subjects related to the properties and processes of the Earth's atmosphere. Their focus varies, ranging from the surface to the upper layers of the atmosphere. Not only is there an interest in the fundamental properties of the atmosphere, but also in the interactions of the atmosphere with the Earth's surface, as well as how the atmosphere affects human activities. More recently, there has also been a much greater awareness of the need to better understand the extent to which human activities have modified atmospheric processes and phenomena in the context of climate variability and change.
In this paper the fundamental processes controlling our atmosphere and weather are initially examined, which provides a platform to examine in detail climate change in the present and future. All topics, including the detailed study of weather systems and climate change, are described in a New Zealand weather and climate context.
About this paper
| Paper title | Climate Change: Present and Future |
|---|---|
| Subject | Geography |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2024 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,173.30 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 54 GEOG points
- Restriction
- GEOG 282
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
- The content of the paper assumes that students have undertaken at least one introductory paper in Physical Geography or related subject.
- Contact
- geography@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View further information about GEOG 388
- Teaching staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Nicolas Cullen
- Paper Structure
The course is structured in such a way that the specific topics described above are by and large investigated in 3 lecture blocks:
- Firstly, a theoretical description of the processes responsible for motion and weather in the atmosphere is given, which includes principles of divergence, convergence and vorticity.
- Secondly, knowledge obtained in the first lecture block is used to better understand weather systems that affect New Zealand. A detailed assessment of one week’s weather using synoptic charts and other meteorological data sets is required.
- Thirdly, an assessment of climate change in New Zealand and elsewhere and policy to respond to observed climate variability is made.
- Teaching Arrangements
2 lectures per week and 7 x 3 hour laboratories scheduled over the 13 weeks of semester.
- Textbooks
Required: Sturman, A. and Tapper, N. (2006), The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand. Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Environmental literacy.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of this paper students should be able to:
- Understand the atmospheric processes responsible for controlling the generation and decay of weather systems.
- Identify factors that are important in controlling day-to-day weather changes using a range of atmospheric data products.
- Appreciate the critical issues related to climate change confronting New Zealand and elsewhere, and understand the importance of global citizenship to tackle the problems associated with climate change.
- Critically assess the interconnections between the atmopshere and other components of the physical environment.
- Independently design and conduct a detailed analysis to assess atmopsheric processes governing variability in weather systems.
- Critically evaluate and present both observed and modelled atmospheric data using the latest digitally-based weather and climate data products.
Timetable
Overview
Principles of meteorology, with particular reference to weather systems; climate variability and change; projected future trends; climate change policy; a project and laboratories as required.
Climate change is arguably the biggest environmental challenge of our time. It is affecting our weather and climate, agriculture, native ecosystems, infrastructure, health and biosecurity. If left unchecked it will have broad social and economic impacts. We cannot afford to ignore what is happening in New Zealand and globally and we must start taking action immediately. To ensure we are well informed and in a position to support efforts to directly tackle problems associated with climate change, it is crucial that we learn how our earth-atmosphere system is changing and to have detailed knowledge about how these changes will impact our environment and society in the present and future.
The purpose of this course is to build on the fundamental principles related to weather and climate that students are introduced to in GEOG 101. In this course the fundamental processes controlling our atmosphere and weather are initially examined, which provides a platform to examine in detail climate change in the present and future. All topics, including the detailed study of weather systems and climate change, are described in a New Zealand weather and climate context.
About this paper
| Paper title | Climate Change: Present and Future |
|---|---|
| Subject | Geography |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 54 GEOG points
- Restriction
- GEOG 282
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
- The content of the paper assumes that students have undertaken at least one introductory paper in Physical Geography or related subject.
- Contact
- geography@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View further information about GEOG 388
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Professor Nicolas Cullen
- Paper Structure
The two key objectives of this course are to:
- Give students an opportunity to better understand the atmospheric processes responsible for controlling the generation and decay of our weather systems
- Examine the critical issues linked to climate change in the present and future
Specific topics include: general circulation of the atmosphere; atmospheric stability and air-mass characteristics; origins of horizontal airflow; three-dimensional motion and weather systems; fronts and depressions; anticyclones; climate records and past climate variability; the greenhouse effect and links to the lapse rate; feedbacks and uncertainty; projections and impacts; carbon budgets and New Zealand’s unique emission profile; extreme weather and its links to climate change processes in the present and the future.
The course is structured in such a way that the specific topics described above are by and large investigated in two lecture blocks:
- A theoretical description of the atmospheric processes responsible for weather systems is given, followed by an assessment of how weather systems are formed and impact the New Zealand region
- The mechanisms responsible for climate change, the impacts and implications of climate change and some of the policies to respond to the observed changes are examined
- Teaching Arrangements
Two lectures per week and seven 3-hour laboratories scheduled over the 13 weeks of semester.
- Textbooks
Required: Sturman, A. and Tapper, N. (2006), The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand. Second Edition, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Environmental literacy.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of this paper students should be able to:
- Understand the atmospheric processes responsible for controlling the generation and decay of weather systems
- Identify factors that are important in controlling day-to-day weather changes using a range of atmospheric data products
- Appreciate the critical issues related to climate change confronting New Zealand and elsewhere, and understand the importance of global citizenship to tackle the problems associated with climate change
- Critically assess the interconnections between the atmosphere and other components of the physical environment
- Independently design and conduct a detailed analysis to assess atmospheric processes governing variability in weather systems
- Critically evaluate and present both observed and modelled atmospheric data using the latest digitally-based weather and climate data products
- Assessment details
Assessment consists of a laboratory programme worth 30% (on-going during the semester), a student-led report focusing on weather systems worth 15% and an external examination worth 55% (final examination).