Date | Subject |
January 25 | Review of AOSC 431, Introduction to 432 |
January 27 | Review of Vector Algebra, Calculus, Kinematics, Advection, Eulerian and Lagrangian Derivatives |
February 1 | The Simplest Climate Model, Analytical and Numerical Solutions |
February 3 | Air Masses, Fronts,
Scales of Motion, Observations, Cloud Types (Homework: home-made pressure gauge and observation through a storm) |
February 8 | Forces in the Atmosphere: Real and Apparent |
February 10 | Vertical Coordinate
Systems, Maps,
and Basics of Weather Forecasting |
February 15 | Conservation of Momentum, Mass and Energy |
February 17 | Primitive Equations, Scale Analysis;
Weather forecasting:
hands-on |
February 22 | Geostrophic, Cyclostrophic, Gradient Wind, Thermal Wind Balance |
February 24 | Divergence / Convergence, Confluence / Difluence; Weather forecasting |
March 1 |
Circulation and Vorticity; Weather forecasting |
March 3 | Waves in the atmosphere and ocean, analytical and numerical solutions to a wave equation |
March 8 | General circulation of the atmosphere, global patterns of wind, pressure, precipitation, temperature |
March 10 | Tropical circulation, SWE (Forecast discussion) |
March 15 | 1st Half Review |
March 17 | MIDTERM EXAM |
March 22 | No Class: Spring Break |
March 24 | No Class: Spring Break |
March 29 | Tropical dynamics, SWE presentation and discussion |
March 31 | QG (vertical motion, omega, height, vorticity), (Baroclinic and Barotropic Instability) |
April 5 | The Mid-latitude Cyclone, Cyclogenesis, Norwegian Cyclone Model |
April 7 | Climate variability and climate prediction: ENSO, NAO, monsoons |
April 12 | Numerical Weather Prediction |
April 14 | Climate change throughout Earth's history |
April 19 | Recent climate change or field trip (TBD) |
April 21 | Climate sensitivity and climate feedbacks, (Fcst Discussion: Jet Streams and Jet Streaks) |
April 26 | The natural and the disturbed carbon cycle, (Measuring CO2 with a gas analyzer) |
April 28 | Anthropogenic emissions: fossil energy and deforestation, (Fcst Discussion: Severe Weather) |
May 3 | Climate projection, the IPCC 4th Assessment Report |
May 5 | Review |
May 10 | Student final presentation |
Office hours: After class, by appointment, or drop by
Text book: Atmospheric
Science:
An
introductory
survey.
J.M. Wallace
& P.V.
Hobbs
Reference books: Mid-Latitude Atmospheric
Dynamics: J.E. Martin
Dynamical
Meteorology: J.R. Holton
Grading method
Homework: 30%
Midterm exam: 20%
Classroom participation: 10%
Final presentation 10%
Final exam: 30%
Homework rules:
You
may
discuss
homework
with
your
classmates,
but you should
write
everything down on
your own, in your own words, and you may not share your completed answers with
each other.
Exams will be
closed-book.