Climatology

Code:

GEOGR074

Acronym:

CLIM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Geography

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
E-learning page:	https://moodle.up.pt/
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
GEOGR	91	study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The main goal of the subject Climatology is to transmit to the students a corpus of knowledge in the scope of climatology in order to enrich their capacity of analysis and comprehension of the existing relational web between the various components of the Ecosystem at a global, regional and local scale

Learning outcomes and competences

It is expected that at the end of this UC, the Students are able to: (1) understand the Earth as a dynamic and articulated system of biogeophysical and anthropogenic components; (2) know and distinguish basic fundamental concepts in the field of climatology; (3) know the main variables, factors and processes that characterize the climate system and its spatial diversity at global scale; (4) develop a critical attitude to climate system in its temporal variability and spatial diversity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

none

Program

1. Climate and Climatology - introductory concepts

2. The theoretical-methodological support of the General Theory of Systems

3. The Atmosphere – a subsystem of the climatic system. Composition and Structure

4. The energy in the climatic system and the Earth's thermal balance

5. Atmospheric humidity

6. Atmospheric stability and instability

7. Elementary mechanisms of ascension and subsidence

8. Precipitation – explanatory theories, characteristics and types and global patterns

9. Atmospheric circulation, mechanisms and general dynamics

10. Air masses and fronts

11. Weather conditions and relative placement of air masses and fronts

12. Climate classifications

Mandatory literature

CUADRAT, J., PITA, M; Climatología, Ediciones Cátedra, 1997
PEIXOTO, J.P.; O ciclo da água em escala global, C.N.A., 1979
DAVEAU, S.; O ambiente geográfico natural. Aspectos fundamentais., C.E.G., 1976
HAMBLIN, W. K.; CHRISTIANSEN, E. H.; Earth’s Dynamic Systems, 2001
MONTEIRO, A.; Geografia Física I, ed. da autora, 1996
GRISOLET, H.; GUILMET, B.; ARLERY, R.; Climatologie, methodes et pratiques, Gauthier-Villars, 1973
LENCASTRE, A.; FRANCO, F. M.; Lições de Hidrologia, UNL, 1984
GIL OLCINA, A., OLCINA CANTOS, J.; Climatologia General, Ariel, 1997
HUFTY, A.; Introducción a la Climatologia, Ariel, 1984
ESCOURROU, G.; Climatologie pratique, Masson, 1978
MONTEIRO, A.; O clima urbano do Porto. Contribuição para a definição de estratégias de planeamento e ordenamento do território, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica, 1997
SELBY, M.J.; Hillslope Materials and Processes, Oxford University Press, 1993
HENDERSON-SELLERS, A., ROBINSON, P.J.; Contemporary Climatology, Longman Scientific & Technical, 1987
PEIXOTO, J.P.; A radiação solar e o ambiente, C.N.A., 1981
PÉDELABORDE, P; Introduction à l’étude scientifique du climat, Sedes, 1971
Strahler, Arthur N.; Geografía física. ISBN: 84-282-0847-6
Barry, Roger Graham; Atmosfera, tiempo y clima. ISBN: 84-282-1182-5
Hamblin, W. Kenneth; Earth.s dynamic systems. ISBN: 0-13-142066-6
PEIXOTO, J.P.; O sistema climático e as bases físicas do clima, S.E.A.R.N., 1987
ESTIENNE, P., GODARD, A.; Climatologie, Armand Colin, 1970

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expository classes, that aims to provide students the concepts and methodologies in the field of climatology, are complemented with classes devoted to the analysis and discussion of texts, images and/or documentaries. These classes are based on information previously collect by the teacher (refeferences, documentaries, images, internet sites, ...), which is organized in Moodle . On the other hand, the development of practical exercises is particularly important in this UC, as they allow some knowledge and skills to be acquired by its application to specific contexts.

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science > Earth science > Physical geography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho de investigação	35,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

two written tests

Calculation formula of final grade

test 1 (50%); test 2 (50%)

Examinations or Special Assignments

none

Internship work/project

none

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with the Assessment Regulations
Test (100%)

Classification improvement

In accordance with the Assessment Regulations

Observations

none