CLIMATE RISK
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2015/2016
- Teacher
- MASSIMILIANO FAZZINI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- GEO/04
Training objectives
- The course includes 48 hours of teaching including lessons and exercises.In particular it is provided 44 hours of lectures and 4 hours of visit to the functional regional of Civil Protection - Bologna. Upon course completion, the student will be aware of the basics of statistical climatology or environnmental , both on the distribution of space - altitudinal and temporal parameter examined. It will also be capable to issue a weather forecast at different spatio - temporal scales, knowing to use various prediction tools existing in the web.
Prerequisites
- There are no prerequisites in order to attend this course. However, essential is a thorough grasp of the principles of thermodynamics and mathematical analysis (integrals, derivates)
Course programme
- 1 - General climatology and statistics - 24 hours
• Difference between climatology and meteorology, Elements of thermodynamics physics. Atmospheric composition and structure (two hours)
• Features solar and terrestrial radiation. Energy balance of the Earth-Atmosphere system ; greenhouse. (two hours)
• Air temperature: difference between temperature and heat; mechanisms of warming the atmosphere. Factors that influence the temperature. Vertical thermal gradient. Adiabatic, superadiabatic and sub adiabatic atmosphere (two hours)
• Atmospheric Pressure: definition of pressure. A measurement of pressure and conversion factors. Factors influencing the change of atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure and weather conditions: the relationship between high and low pressure and weather. Definition of cyclone, anticyclone, promontory, wedge trough; Thermal and dynamic cyclone and anticyclone (4 hours)
• Air humidity and precipitation (1 hour)
• Climatology: major climate classifications: descriptive, physical and quantitative hierarchical types: the classification of Koppen - Geiger; the climate of Italy in detail.
• basic climatological statistics. Climatological and bioclimatic indices. Analysis of climatological time series. (7 hours)
2 - Definition of climatic risk.
Cloud Formation: convective, cyclonic, orographic and frontal lifting. Cloud types: high, medium, low and strong vertical extension; cumulus, and stratiform and stratum - cumulus clouds(2 hours)
• Dynamics of the atmosphere: the definition of the wind. Forces acting in the atmosphere: the force of the pressure gradient, the Coriolis force, the friction force, centrifugal force, the force of gravity. Origin of wind: the gradient strength. The wind in the free atmosphere: geostrophic wind (Law of Buy Ballot). Frictional force and wind near the ground. Definition of wind shear. The wind rose. Beaufort Scale. (2 hours)
• General circulation of the atmosphere: definition and origin. Hadley circulation theory. Actual circulation observed at a planetary scale: three-cell model (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar) and modern theories. Westerlies and trade winds. ITCZ. Rossby waves. Polar Front. (2 hours)
• Storms: convective, frontal and orographic. Life cycle of a thunderstorm. Multicellular thunderstorm. Supercell thunderstorm. Formation of a tornado and the Fujita scale. (2 hours)
• Description of a tropical cyclone. Hurricanes and the Saffir-Simpson scale. (1 hour)
• Poor visibility: mist and fog, heavy rainfall, storms, blowing snow, fog. Classification of the fog. Radiation and advection fog (1 hour)
• Weather satellites: geostationary and polar types. Geostationary satellites in Europe: the first and second generation Meteosat (MSG). Satellite images in the infrared, visible and water vapor band. Satellite image interpretation and recognition of the type of clouds. (3 hours)
Weather radar: operation principle, the equation of the radar, products for prediction nowcasting (2 hours)
• Soundings and Thermodynamic diagrams (2 hours)
• The weather prediction models. GCM, LAM, Ensemble model Forecast (2 hours)
• Reading and interpretation of weather maps at different levels. Didactic methods
- Lectures with particular use of modeling products available on the Internet real time. The lectures will be supplemented by seminars held by technicians currently operating in functional centers of Civil Protection and the visit to the Regional Functional Centre of Civil Protection in Bologna
Learning assessment procedures
- The aim of the examination is to verify the level of achievement of learning objectives previously indicated.
The exam is divided into two parts, which take place on the same day or at days to be agreed with the students.
A test carried out of the PC, aimed at the elaboration of a operartional weather forecast, in which students must demonstrate the understanding of the process that leads to the correct drafting of the document and know how to use the various forecasting products, available online.
The expected time for the test is two hours. And 'it allowed to consult books, smart phones, calculators.
The discussion of a final report including statistical analysis of two sets climatological commonly selected.
• The final score is the average of the two scores.
• To pass the examination, it’s necessary to obtain a minimum score of 18/30.
• If a single test is not sufficient or if the total score is less than 18, you must repeat both tests. Reference texts
- PPT and PDF presentations; documents supplied by the teacher; product of physical - mathematical modeling available online; dispense computerized and paper
