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Climate Dynamics

 

Introduction

The study of climate may be the broadest of all scientific problems, Harvard and MIT cover many of the major elements of climate dynamics, so students are encouraged to take advantage of courses, seminars, possible collaborations, and other expertise offered at both institutions. The following listing of available courses is by no means exhaustive: a broad spectrum of additional relevant offerings are available in all aspects of physical, chemical and biological sciences, mathematics, that bear on the understanding of climate. The suggested curriculum below is meant as a guideline; current or prospective students are invited to consult with their advisers and with any faculty members for further advice.

Harvard Courses

Graduate climate courses:

Mathematics and Statistics courses:

Relevant but not climate-focused graduate courses:

Relevant for undergraduate students:

See also: Harvard Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics

MIT Courses

Graduate climate courses:

Proposed Curriculum

First Year, Fall Term

  • One math course based on EPS math requirements (e.g., APM 201, see EPS Graduate Student Handbook)
  • Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics (Harvard EPS 232; MIT 12.800)
  • Introduction to climate phenomenology (e.g. Harvard EPS 208; MIT 12.842)
  • Elective (e.g. Harvard Eng Sci 220 Fluid Dynamics; MIT 12.864)

First Year, Spring Term

  • Second math course based on EPS math requirements (e.g., APM 202 or STAT 210, see EPS Graduate Student Handbook)
  • Waves (MIT 12.802)
  • General circulation of the oceans or general circulation of the atmosphere (MIT 12.801; MIT 12.812)
  • One of the following courses, which can also be taken in the second year:
    • Climate Dynamics (Harvard EPS 231)
    • EPS 230
    • EPS 237

Second Year

  • One of the following courses, which can also be taken in the first year:
    • Climate Dynamics (Harvard EPS 231)
    • EPS 230
    • EPS 237
  • Instability theory (e.g., Harvard EPS 234 or MIT 12.824)
  • Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Ocean (e.g., MIT 12.820)
  • Atmospheric convection and tropical meteorology (e.g., MIT 12.811)
  • EPS 235 Stochastic Methods in Climate Dynamics
  • Time series analysis and inverse methods/ Inference From Data and Models
  • Nonlinear dynamics and chaos
  • Breadth courses: (e.g. Harvard EPS 281)

Faculty

Typical undergraduate backgrounds for students are listed in parenthesis.

  • Brian F. Farrell: Dynamic meteorology (applied math, physics)
  • Peter Huybers: Glacial cycles, climate change across space and time scales (applied math, physics)
  • Zhiming Kuang: Tropical convection and large scale dynamics, remote sensing (applied math, physics)
  • Marianna Linz: Climate dynamics, heat transport in the ocean, geophysical flows (applied math, physics)
  • Kaighin McColl: Surface hydrology, remote sensing, boundary-layer meteorology, land-atmosphere interactions (applied math, physics)
  • Jerry Mitrovica: Ice age geodynamics, plate tectonics, mantle dynamics and structure, paleo- and modern climate, sea level change, planetary rotation, space geodesy (applied math, geology/Earth sciences, geophysics, physics)
  • Daniel Schrag: Climate and climate change, paleo climate, geochemical oceanography, mitigating future climate change (chemistry, geology/Earth sciences, physics)
  • Eli Tziperman: Climate dynamics and nonlinear climate dynamics, El Nino, past climates, physical oceanography (applied math, physics)
  • Robin Wordsworth: Theoretical and numerical modelling of planetary climate, paleoclimates of Earth and Mars, exoplanet atmospheric composition and habitability, radiative transfer, geophysical fluid dynamics