BHU+2102+CLIMATOLOGY

** SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES ** ** Department of Humanities ** ** BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (ARTS/SCIENCE) ** **__ Course Outline, Dec 2016 – Nairobi Campus __** COURSE TITLE : CLIMATOLOGY COURSE CODE : BHU 2102 LECTURE HOURS : 40 HOURS PREREQUISITE : NONE FACILITATOR : DR. KENNEDY OBIERO By the end of this course, the student should be able to:
 * MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY **
 * Purpose **: To introduce students to atmospheric dynamics and climate change
 * // Learning Outcomes //**
 * 1) Describe climate and its effects on our resources
 * 2) Examine the components of the water balance
 * 3) Explain the relationship/link between human beings and climate

(1) Introduction – definitions of atmospheric properties, climate and climate change (2) Micro climatology and its causes (3) Radiation, its distribution and effects on atmospheric motions/dynamics (4) Soil climate, its measurements and effects on crop production (5) The water balance and its applications (6) Atmospheric Heat Island (7) Urban Climates (8) Climate change, its causes, consequences and management of climate change (9) Climate Sensitivity (10) Global Modeling and climate studies (11) Examinations
 * Course Contents **

Lectures, Library research, laboratory, discussion, group work, measurement, guest speakers and internet
 * Teaching Methodologies **

Whiteboard/Blackboard, Textbooks, Handouts, Internet sites, weather elements measuring equipment and overhead projectors
 * Instructional Materials/Equipment **
 * 1) A. K. Barua (2005). **//Climatology//**. Dominant Publishers & Distributors
 * 2) **//Clitchfield, H. (2004). General//** Climatology. New Delhi:Prentice Hall
 * 3) Getis, A., Getis, J. & Fellmann, J. D. (2004) **//Introduction to Geography//**, McGraw Hill, New York.
 * 4) Guapta, A. D. & Kapoor, A. N. (2004). **//Principles of Physical Geography//**. New Delhi: S. Chand & Co.
 * 5) John E. Oliver, John J. Hidore and Mary Snow (2009). **//Climatology: An Atmospheric Science//**; Prentice Hall.
 * 6) Thomas A. Blair (2007): **//Climatology//**: General and Regional, Blair Press.
 * Further Reading **
 * 1) Sellers H. and Robinson P. J. (2007) Revised Ed.: **//Contemporary Climatology//**. London: Essex..
 * 2) Ayonde, J. O. (2000). **//Introduction to Climatology for the Tropics//**. John Wiley and Sons Chichester: Reprint.
 * 3) Read Internet and other library sources


 * CLIMATOLOGY CLASS DECEMBER 2016 **
 * Hallo my dear Climatology students, we will not be able to meet today 12/12/2016. I am in Naivasha and travelling back today due to a research task I was undertaking. DOWNLOAD THE COURSE OUTLINE MEANWHILE AS IT IS AND SOME NOTES. I WILL BE IN NAIROBI FROM TOMORROW 13/12/2016. We will discuss the way forward. **
 * Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.**
 * Thank you. **
 * __Your lecturer Dr. Kennedy Obiero__**

Lesson 1 – Monday 12/12/2016 - The word climatology has been derived from two Greek words: (i) **//Klima//** – referring to the supposed slope of the earth – the current concept of latitude. (iii) **//Ology –//**The study of something or the science of something - The Greeks perceived the variation of climate according to latitude. The divided the earth into three climatic zones: - **The zone was inhabitable** – unsuitable for human habitation. Anybody who ventured into the zone would be burned by the high temperatures of the region. Earlier explorers avoided this region due to its perceived torrid nature. - This region is equated to the temperate latitudes of the world. (c ) **Frigid Zone** – These are the Arctic and Antarctic zones. They were perceived to be too cold for human habitation. The current Finland, Sweden and Norway (Scandinavian countries). - The Greek idea of the variation of climate with latitude was indeed true and correct as we even know it today.
 * Introduction to Climatology **
 * (ii)** **//Logos//** **–** A discourse or study
 * (a)** **Torrid Zone** – Hot climatic regions of the world, the present Equatorial climatic regions
 * (b) Temperate zone** – This was the habitable zone occupied by the Greeks and their neighbours.

**// (a) //** **// It is defined as the science of weather and climate. The emphasis is on the atmosphere being the laboratory of weather and climate. //** **// Weather //** – totality of atmospheric conditions at any particular time and place. - Consists of short-term variations of energy and mass within the atmosphere system. - Weather variations is expressed in terms of climatic/weather elements (properties of the atmosphere). - The elements explaining the day-to-day state of the atmosphere may be measured using instruments (thermometer for temperature, rain-gauge for rain, baromether for atmospheric pressure among others. - Climate –This is the sum total of weather experienced in a place over the years.  - Climate is more than the statistical averages (means). It also involves extremes, trends, fluctuations and probabilities over time and space.  - Climate affects human welfare and human activities equally affect climate.  ** (b) ** ** Climatology is the study of the processes involving energy, moisture and motions in earth’s atmosphere climate system. **  - There are three crucial areas; exchange of heat, moisture and momentum in the atmosphere producing weather and climate.  - Examination of world climates and thirdly climate and human beings – economic, social and political issues (Applied Climatology). ** (c) ** ** According to the International Meteorological Vocabulary; ‘Climatology is a science that studies the causes, variations, distributions and types of climates’. ** - Climatology studies climates as they exist at different places and times on earth and reasons for their existence and behavior. ** Climatology and Meteorology ** - These two are related sciences of the atmosphere. - Meteorology is a whole science of the atmosphere dealing with the physics, chemistry, dynamics of the atmosphere and their direct effects upon the earth’s surface, ocean and life. - Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere over few hours, days and weather forecasting - Meteorology not only looks at the day to day conditions of the atmosphere but also their causes. - The meteorologist has many instruments or devices to assist him in deciding what the atmosphere will be in future. - Weather stations (manual and automatic), radiosondes and computers are useful tools. - Climatology examines the records of the meteorologist to explain atmospheric behavior over a long period of time. It extends the findings of meteorology over space and time as long as observations can permit. - Climatology extends the daily records of the atmosphere into the distant past and future. - Climatology involves collection and interpretation of observed data using instruments of a meteorologist and statistical techniques such as time series. - Climatology uses the tools of a Geographer such as maps. ** Branches of Climatology ** (i) ** Physical Climatology ** - - This deals with the physical elements and processes of the atmosphere over the earth’s surface and over a long period of time. (a) It examines the causes of variation in heat exchange over the earth’s surface (b) Examines moisture exchange in the atmosphere (c) Looks at movement of fluids/water and gases (d) Explains why climates differ (ii) ** Regional Climatology ** – Explains the spatial and temporal variations of climates throughout the world. (iii) ** Microclimatology **– Explain climate from medium to small scale areas. Deals with highly localized climates due to local factors. (iv) ** Topoclimatology **– studies climatic variations in relation to surface conditions (topographic differences). (v) ** Applied climatology **– study of climate in relation to human welfare. Applying climate to human activities. - They involve use of climate knowledge to solve specialized issues of human welfare. (a) ** Bioclimatology ** – Deals with climate and the human body processes. (b) ** Agroclimatology ** – Relationship between climatology and agricultural production. Climate and its effects on crop and animal husbandry. (c) ** Medical climatology **– Variation of diseases due to climate. Spatial and temporal variation of disease due to climate. (d) ** Urban climatology **– Impact of urbanization on climate. Modification of climate due to urbanization. Tarmacked surfaces, buildings, increase energy consumption etc. - ** The concept of __urban heat island__ **– Towns are generally warmer than the country side due to green house effect. - The tarmacked roads absorb a lot of heat increasing surface temperatures. - Rainfall tends to be high due to reduced wind velocities, obstruction by buildings and turbulence. - Refers to variation of climates near the earth’s surface over small areas. Study of localized climates e.g., around a plant. - Some of the microclimates are created by human endeavour e.g., once a dam is constructed, a cool and humid micro-climate is created. - Tarmac roads create warm temperatures. - Forest cover creates cool temperatures and increases rainfall due to frictional effect of tress on wind velocities. Forced ascent over trees lead to cooling and rainfall. - ** Examples of micro-climates ** – Weather around dams, urban heat island (towns warmer due to buildings and tarmac roads, forested areas cool than urban areas. (i) ** Energy balance ** – The difference between incoming and outgoing radiation. A bare ground or ice body will reflect a lot of heat (high albedo) thus creating cool climate. (ii) ** Surface Boundary layer **– Buildings, trees create their own local climate .g., in the morning East side of the building is warm as sun rises from the east. (iii) ** Presence of wind **– variation of wind velocities generate local clmates. When wind encounters an obstruction, velocity is reduced creating cool temperatures. (iv) ** Surface physics **– this change the physics od the ground surface. More heat is absorbed making the area warm. Night heat loss high thus cold temperatures. (v) ** Deforestation **– Alters surface physics. Increase in absorption of incoming radiation, increase temperature of surface. Creation of forests create cool micro climate. (vi) ** Agriculture and microclimate **– the tea bushes create micro climate in terms of moisture and temperature. (vii) ** Mulching and **micro-climatology. Mulching conserves soil moisture, prevents soil erosion among other benefits.
 * Definition of Climatology **
 * ‘New’ Branches of Climatology **
 * Topic 2 – Microclimatology **
 * Causes of Microclimates **

- All bodies emit energy or Radiation. This is in the form of waves (Please study the **wave theory** with related terms – crest, trough, wave length and frequency). - The waves vary in terms of wavelength and this variation of energy waves in terms of wavelength is known as **electromagnetic radiation**. - Radiation of interest in climatology is solar radiation that is energy from the sun. The energy from the sun is known as incident radiation. As it passes through the atmosphere, it may be absorbed, reflected or scattered. - The amount of energy at the top of the atmosphere (100%) is not the same amount of energy that reaches the earth’s surface. With cloud cover for example, less of the energy reaches the earth’s surface. - **Blackbody radiation** – A blackbody is defined as a body that absorbs all incident radiation in all wavelengths.
 * Radiation Distribution **

** TO BE CONTINUED **