Tropical Meteorology

As taught in: Spring 2005

Image of clouds.

Moist convection. (Image by Prof. Kerry Emanuel.)

Instructors:

Prof. Kerry Emanuel

MIT Course Number:

12.811

Level:

Graduate

Course Features

Course Description

This course describes the behavior and dynamics of the tropical troposphere, from the large-scale energy balance down to cumulus convection and tropical cyclones. 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.