Elucidating Land-Climate, Ocean-Climate Feedbacks
Interactions between the ocean, atmosphere, land, cryosphere, and biosphere control Earth's climate. Research performed within the EESS department aims to characterize and model the fundamental dynamics of the climate system to predict its response to anthropogenic forcing and to provide avenues for mitigation.
Related Courses
EESS 146B: Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics: the Ocean Circulation
Introduction to the physics governing the circulation of the atmosphere and ocean and their control on climate with emphasis on the large-scale ocean circulation. Overview of the structure and dynamics of the major ocean current systems that contribute to the meridional overturning circulation, the transport of heat, salt, and biogeochemical tracers, and the regulation of climate. Topics include the tropical ocean circulation, the wind-driven gyres and western boundary currents, the thermohaline circulation, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, water mass formation, atmosphere-ocean coupling, and climate variability.
EESS 37N. Energy and the Environment on the Back of an Envelope
Preference to freshmen. How quantitative understanding of the Earth helps inform decisions about energy supply. How can enough energy be provided to support future growth and development throughout the world without damaging the natural environment? Focus is on simple quantitative observations and calculations that facilitate evaluation of potential solutions to this problem; algebra only, no calculus. GER: DB-NatSci 3 units, alternate years, not given this year