Climate System: Components and Forcings

This lecture introduces the components of the climate system, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. It covers the definitions of the climate system, the role of solar radiation as the main driver, and the external forcings such as solar cycles, volcanic activity, and anthropogenic influences like greenhouse gases and aerosols. The interactions within the climate system are discussed, highlighting the complexity and non-linear nature of these relationships. Various phenomena like El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are explained as examples of internal teleconnections affecting global climate patterns.