GEOG 4271/5271 The Arctic Climate System
Course Description
The Arctic region plays a key role in regulating global climate. The Arctic is also in the
midst of rapid change, with impacts on physical, biological and human systems both
within and beyond the region. This comprehensive assessment of the Arctic climate
system begins with an overview of the Arctic's basic physical characteristics and climatic
features. Attention then turns to the atmospheric energy budget, the atmospheric
circulation, the surface energy budget, the hydrologic cycle, and the fascinating
interactions between the atmosphere, Arctic Ocean and its sea ice cover. A review of
Arctic climate history over the past two million years provides the context for an
evaluation of recent climate variability and trends, and the future state of the Arctic. The
final segment of the course explores the impacts of a rapidly changing Arctic on society,
including issues such as increased access to oil, gas and mineral wealth at the bottom of
the ocean, increased commercial shipping and the potential for growing conflict between
stakeholders. Several classes will be reserved for special topics. The course will use the
instructor's textbook "The Arctic Climate System" (available in paperback), and
additional readings and material. It is assumed that the student will have already taken a
course in climate science or meteorology.
Syllabus
Week 1: Introduction (Chapters 1 and 2)
The history of Arctic exploration
A climatically important region undergoing rapid change
The Arctic’s growing economic and strategic importance
The Arctic Ocean
The Arctic lands
Basic climatic elements
Week 2: The Arctic energy budget (Chapter 3)
Role of the Arctic in the global energy budget
The Arctic energy budget: focus on the seasonal cycle
Week 3: The atmospheric circulation (Chapter 4)
Circulation of the troposphere
Circulation at the surface
Circulation of the stratosphere
Winter – focus on the Icelandic Low region
Modes of circulation variability
Summer – focus on the central Arctic Ocean and Arctic frontal zone
Polar lows
Week 4: The surface energy budget (Chapter 5)
Basic considerations
Radiative terms
Cloud radiative forcing
The non-radiative terms
The Arctic temperature inversion
Climate feedbacks and the surface energy budget
FIRST QUARTER EXAM (20% of grade)
Week 5: The hydrologic cycle (Chapter 6)
Precipitation
Net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation)
The Arctic terrestrial drainage system
The freshwater budget of the Arctic Ocean
Week 6-7: Arctic ocean-sea ice-climate interactions (Chapter 7)
The shrinking sea ice cover
Sea ice formation, growth and morphology
Sea ice motion, thickness and deformation
Case studies: September ice extent for 2007 and 2008
The Fram Strait outflow, thermohaline circulation and Arctic back door
Week 8: Climate regimes of the Arctic (Chapter 8)
The climate of Greenland
Polar desert
The maritime Arctic
The central Arctic Ocean
Week 9: Special topics and MID TERM EXAM (20% of grade)
Week 10: Modeling the Arctic system (Chapter 9)
Single column models
Numerical weather prediction models
Sea ice and ice-ocean models
Global climate models
Land surface models
Regional models
Ecosystem models
Week 11: Arctic paleoclimates (Chapter 10)
The distant past
Types of paleoclimate records
Chronology of the Quaternary
The last glacial cycle and rapid climate shifts
Deglaciation and the Holocene
Week 12-13: Recent climate variability, trends and the future (Chapter 11)
Summary of observed variability and change
The North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic Oscillation
The summer dipole
Projected change through the 21st century
Week 13: Special topics and THIRD QUARTER EXAM (20% of grade)
Week 14: NO CLASSES, FALL BREAK
Week 15: Presentation of papers by graduate students
Week 16: Broader Issues: The accessible Arctic
Commercial shipping/tourism
Resource exploration and production (oil, gas, minerals)
Conflicts between stakeholders
Week 17: Special topics AND FINAL EXAM (20% of grade, non-cumulative)
There will be four exams (20% each of final grade, 80% total) with short answer and
essay sections. Students will also be required to write a term paper (20% of grade) on a
topic of their choice relevant to the class (15 pages for undergraduates, 20 pages for
graduate students, not including references). Examinations for graduate students will
have more difficult questions. Graduate students will be required to present their term
paper to the rest of the class during week 15. All students will be expected to actively
engage in discussions stemming from lectures presented in each class. Participation will
be considered in the final grade.
Required Readings
Serreze, M.C. and R.G. Barry (2005), "The Arctic Climate System", Cambridge
University Press, 385 pp., HB ISBN 0521814189, available as paperback (PB ISBN
0521116007)
Articles from "Geophysical Research Letters" and other journals regarding key topics,
recent advances and notable events (exam questions and special topic classes may draw
from these articles)