Tropical Meteorology

3-0-9 units · Graduate

A description of the large-scale circulation systems of the tropical atmosphere and analysis of the dynamics of such systems. Topics include: Radiative-convective equilibrium; the Hadley and walker circulation; monsoons; tropical boundary layers; theory of the response of the tropical atmosphere to localized sea-surface temperature anomalies; intraseasonal oscillations; equatorial waves; El Niño/Southern Oscillation; easterly waves; and tropical cyclones.

Spring 2011

Topics

Radiative–Convective Equilibrium
The Zonally–Averaged Circulation
Asymmetric Steady Circulations
Intraseasonal Oscillations
Higher Frequency Disturbances
Tropical Cyclones

Readings

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: 12.810 ; or Coreq: 12.843 G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Sources

Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2011
MIT OCW calendar ↗
MIT OCW syllabus ↗
Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.