Course Outline:

  1. Composition, Structure, and State
    2. 1 Introduction: thermodynamic systems
    14.1 Planetary composition; atmospheric composition and mass
    1.1 Composition of the Ocean
    1.4 Pressure
    1.5 Density
    1.6 Temperature
    14.2 Planetary vertical temperature structure
    1.6 Kinetic-molecular model of the ideal gas
    1.7 Equation of State for Air
    1.8 Equation of State for Seawater
    1.9 Compressibility and Expansion Coefficients
    1.10a Hydrostatic equilibrium; ocean, constant density atmosphere
    1.10b Hypsometric equation

  2. First Law of Thermodynamics
    3. 2 Basic concepts
    2.1 Work
    2.2 Heat
    2.9 Heat capacity
    3, 3.2, 3.3 Basics of heat transfer, radiant energy
    11.1 Radiative transfer in the ocean
    2.3 First Law
    2.4 Applications of the First Law to Ideal Gases
    2.10 Dry Adiabatic Processes in the Atmosphere
    2.11 Adiabatic Processes in the Ocean
    14.2b Adiabatic processes in the Venusian atmosphere
    3.1 Time dependent thermodynamics

  3. Second Law of Thermodynamics
    4. 2.5 Entropy
    2.6 Second Law
    2.7 Equilibrium and the Combined First and Second Laws
    2.8 Calculation of Thermodynamic Relations
    3.4 Entropy and Diffusive Transfer Processes
    10.7.1 Heat conduction in sea ice
    3.5 Turbulent Transport
    3.6 Time-dependent Equations for the Ocean and Atmosphere

Exam I

  1. Phase Equilibria and the Thermodynamics of Water
    2. 4.1 Molecular Structure and Properties of Water
    4.2 Thermodynamic Degrees of Freedom
    4.3 Phase Equilibria
    14.4 Water on the terrestrial planets
    4.5 Colligative Properties of Water Solutions
    4.6 Simple Eutectics

  2. Nucleation and Diffusional Growth
    3. 5.1 Surface Tension
    5.2 Nucleation of the Liquid Phase
    5.3 Nucleation of the Ice Phase
    5.4 Diffusional Growth of Cloud Drops
    5.5 Ice Crystal Morphology and Growth

  3. Moist Thermodynamic Processes in the Atmosphere
    4. 4.4 Atmospheric Humidity Variables
    6.1 Applications of the Combined First and Second Laws
    6.2 Isobaric Cooling
    6.3 Cooling and Moistening by Evaporation of Water
    6.4 Saturation by Adiabatic, Isobaric Mixing
    6.5 Saturated Adiabatic Cooling
    6.6 The Ice Phase
    6.7 Conserved Moist Thermodynamic Variables
    6.8 Thermodynamic Diagrams
    7.1,7.2 Static stability

Exam II

  1. Cloud Characteristics and Processes
    2. 8.1 Cloud Classification and Characteristics
    8.2 Precipitation Processes
    8.3 Radiative Transfer in a Cloudy Atmosphere
    8.4 Fogs, Stratus, and Stratocumulus Clouds
    8.5 Cumuliform Clouds
    14.5 Clouds on the Terrestrial Planets
    14.6 Cloud Physics on Jupiter

  2. Surface Exchanges of Heat and Freshwater
    3. 9.1 Surface Energy Budget
    10.6 Surface Energy Balance over Snow and Sea Ice
    9.2 Surface Salinity Budget
    9.3 Surface Buoyancy Flux
    9.4 Air Mass and Upper Water Mass Modification
    11.2 Ocean Surface Layer
    11.3 Surface Density Changes and the Ocean Mixed Layer

  3. Planetary Energy and Entropy Balances
    4. 12.1 Planetary Radiation Balance
    14.3 Planetary Energy Balances
    12.2 Global Heat Engine
    12.3 Entropy and Climate
    12.4 Global Hydrologic Cycle

Exam III