The course presents the climate of the earth as embracing basic physical, chemical, biological and geological properties of the ocean and atmosphere. Atmospheric and oceanographic circulations, how they are generated and what their role is in climate of the earth, is addressed in detail. Using geologic methods for reconstruction the climate record of the earth over the last few millions of years is presented and examined as a guide for understanding possible future climate changes. A general introduction to physical, chemical and biological oceanographic processes is presented. The course emphasizes concepts rather than mathematical formulation.
Laboratory exercises, one mid-term and a final.
Topics include weathering, erosion and sedimentation, groundwater, glaciers, deformation, metamorphism, plutonism and volcanism. Mid-term, final, laboratory and oral presentations. Theory of seismic reflection technique. Acquisition, data-processing and interpretation of seismic reflection data, seismic stratigraphy. Applications to hydrocarbon prospecting, structural geology, tectonics, stratigraphy, and deep continental structure.