Climate as a problem in physics

The logical fundamentals of the theory of climate are outlined: (1) The cli mate system OLA (Ocean- Land- Atmosphere) is defined; (2) Analogous to the theory of turbulence, the notion of climate is defined as a multicomponent random function in the OLA space-time (or, equivalently, as a statistical e nsemble of states the OLA system passes through in a period of several deca des); (3) The solar climate - i.e. the distribution of solar radiation in t he upper atmosphere - is determined, to be employed as the boundary conditi on for the OLA system; (4) 'Horizontal' heat and mass transfer processes be tween the equatorial and polar zones are described; (5) The 'vertical' proc esses of radiative- convective heat and mass transfer, in particular the 'g reen house effect' of water vapour and small gas admixtures, are discussed; (6) The 'vertical' radiative heat transfer processes in an aerosol-contain ing atmosphere is considered, including the 'antigreen house effect' of vol canic and smoke aerosols, and the 'nuclear night' and 'nuclear winter' scen arios.