Climatology

  1. The Earth's Energy Budget
    1. Solar Radiation (Insolation)
      1. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
        1. Ultraviolet Radiation
          1. Visible Light
            1. Infrared Radiation
            2. Solar Constant and Solar Variability
              1. Measurement of Solar Constant
                1. Causes of Solar Variability
                  1. Solar Irradiance Variations
                  2. Milankovitch Cycles
                    1. Eccentricity
                      1. Orbital Shape Changes
                        1. Timescales of Eccentricity
                        2. Obliquity (Axial Tilt)
                          1. Effects on Seasonality
                            1. Timescales of Obliquity
                            2. Precession
                              1. Wobble of Earth's Axis
                                1. Impact on Climate Patterns
                              2. Seasonal and Latitudinal Distribution
                                1. Solar Zenith Angle
                                  1. Day Length Variations
                                    1. Polar Day and Night
                                  2. Earth's Radiation Balance
                                    1. Shortwave and Longwave Radiation
                                      1. Incoming Solar Radiation
                                        1. Outgoing Terrestrial Radiation
                                          1. Net Radiation Balance
                                          2. Albedo (Surface Reflectivity)
                                            1. Surface Types and Albedo Values
                                              1. Seasonal and Geographic Variations
                                                1. Planetary Albedo
                                                2. Absorption, Reflection, and Scattering
                                                  1. Atmospheric Absorption
                                                    1. Surface Absorption
                                                      1. Rayleigh and Mie Scattering
                                                        1. Cloud Effects
                                                        2. Radiation Budget Components
                                                          1. Top of Atmosphere Balance
                                                            1. Surface Energy Balance
                                                              1. Atmospheric Energy Balance
                                                            2. The Greenhouse Effect
                                                              1. Natural vs. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
                                                                1. Role in Earth's Temperature Regulation
                                                                  1. Human Influence on the Greenhouse Effect
                                                                  2. Key Greenhouse Gases
                                                                    1. Water Vapor (H2O)
                                                                      1. Sources and Sinks
                                                                        1. Feedback Mechanisms
                                                                        2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
                                                                          1. Natural Sources
                                                                            1. Anthropogenic Sources
                                                                              1. Atmospheric Lifetime
                                                                              2. Methane (CH4)
                                                                                1. Natural Sources
                                                                                  1. Anthropogenic Sources
                                                                                    1. Global Warming Potential
                                                                                    2. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
                                                                                      1. Agricultural Sources
                                                                                        1. Industrial Sources
                                                                                          1. Atmospheric Chemistry
                                                                                          2. Fluorinated Gases
                                                                                            1. Types and Uses
                                                                                              1. Atmospheric Lifetimes
                                                                                                1. Ozone Depletion Potential
                                                                                              2. Radiative Forcing
                                                                                                1. Definition and Measurement
                                                                                                  1. Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
                                                                                                    1. Climate Sensitivity
                                                                                                  2. Energy Transfer Mechanisms
                                                                                                    1. Radiation
                                                                                                      1. Principles of Radiative Transfer
                                                                                                        1. Stefan-Boltzmann Law
                                                                                                          1. Wien's Displacement Law
                                                                                                          2. Conduction
                                                                                                            1. Heat Transfer in Solids and the Surface
                                                                                                              1. Thermal Conductivity
                                                                                                              2. Convection
                                                                                                                1. Atmospheric and Oceanic Convection
                                                                                                                  1. Sensible Heat Transfer
                                                                                                                  2. Latent Heat Transfer
                                                                                                                    1. Phase Changes of Water
                                                                                                                      1. Role in Weather and Climate
                                                                                                                        1. Evapotranspiration

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                                                                                                                    1. Introduction to Climatology

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                                                                                                                    3. Components of the Climate System