AOSC431 Atmospheric Physics and Thermodynamics
MWF 10:00 - 10:45 am, Room: Atlantic 2416    Credits: 3 
Prof. Ning Zeng, Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
and the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center
Course web: http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~zeng/AOSC431
cloud

Outline and schedule
 Textbook, grading, office hours
 Key concepts by chapter
Lecture notes

Outline
The general character of the atmosphere and its weather and climate systems, phenomena and distributions of variables (winds, temperature, pressure and moisture). Classical thermodynamics applied to both the dry and the moist atmosphere. Composition of the atmosphere; phase changes of water; stability concepts; Properties of aerosols and clouds, cloud nucleation and precipitation processes, atmospheric electricity.

Schedule
Lecture and discussion schedule (please read the referenced section of Wallace and Hobbs before coming to each lecture):
Lesson          

Subject Section in Text
Basics of the atmosphere
1
 Introduction to Atmospheric Science;
  History of Meteorology; Syllabus
 -
2
 Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere and Ocean
  Demo: Homemade barometer
 1.1-1.3.4
3
 Dynamics of the Atmosphere:
  Patterns of winds, pressure, precipitation
  Demo: Satellite cloud movie
 1.3.5-1.3.6



Atmospheric Thermodynamics
4
 Atmospheric Thermodynamics
  Gas laws, kinetic theory
3.1
5 Atmospheric Thermodynamics
  The hydrostatic equation
 3.2
6
 Atmospheric Thermodynamics
  The first law of thermodynamics
 3.3
7
 Student presentation:
  Weather observation with homemade barometer		 -
8
 Review
9
 MIDTERM EXAM I



10
 Adiabatic Processes
 3.4
11
 Thermodynamic diagrams: SkewT-logP chart
 -
12
 Lab: SkewT-logP chart I: Guided practice
13
 Water vaper in the air: humidity, saturation, condensation
 3.5
14
 Lift condensation level; saturated adiabatic lapse rate
 3.5
15
 Net effects of ascent followed by descent
16
 Lab: SkewT-logP chart II: moist processes
 3.5
17
 Static stability; Second law of thermodynamics 3.6
18
 Lab: SkewT-logP chart III: storm/rain analysis
Review
19
 MIDTERM EXAM II



20
 Lab: Atmospheric sounding or sensors

21
 Atmospheric Convection: From thermodynamics to cloud formation



Cloud Microphysics
22
 Cloud physics I:
  Aerosol; Warm Clouds; Demo: Cloud in a bottle

6.1–6.4
23
 Cloud physics II:
  Cold Clouds & Rain Making 		6.5–6.6
24
 Lab: Weather/stability indexes

25
 Cloud physics III:
  Lightning, Cloud Chemistry, Weather Modification

6.7–6.8
26
 THANKSGIVING — NO CLASS
27
 Cloud physics IV:
  Weather Modification



28
 Final project presentation
29
 Review
30
 Current topic (raindate)
TBD
 FINAL EXAM



Instructor: Prof. Ning Zeng (ATL2417, phone 301-405-5377); Office hours: MWF 10:45-12, by appointment, or drop by
Teaching Assistant: TBD
MetoGrads free tutoring hours: Monday 4:30-6 at Atlantic 3400 (or TBD)

Text book: Atmospheric Science: An introductory survey.  J.M. Wallace & P.V. Hobbs, Academic Press, 2006, ISBN-13: 978-0127329512.

We will be using mostly Chapter 1, 3, and 6 of this book, though the book itself surveys many aspects of the atmospheric science including Chapters 8/9 on convection, storms and boundary layer dynamics which are good applications of Chapter 3 (thermodynamics).

Reference book: A First Course in Atmospheric Thermodynamics; Grant W. Petty, Sundog Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-0-9729033-2-5.

This book is specifically on atmospheric thermodynamics so it covers more material in greater detail than the Wallace and Hobbs book which covers thermodynamics in one chapter (Ch.3). It is a good reading if you want to drill deeper into atmospheric thermodynamics, as well as many practical aspects including measurement techniques.

Grades:
Student grades will be based on:

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. Problem sets are normally due in one week.

Exams will be closed-book .

Final letter grades are assigned based on the percentage of total assessment points earned.

A+ 97.00%

B+ 87.00%

C+ 77.00%

D+ 67.00%

 

A   93.00%

B   83.00%

C   73.00%

D   63.00%

F <60.0%

A-  90.00%

B-  80.00%

C- 70.00%

D-  60.00%

 


Attendance:
You are expected to attend lectures and complete your assignments on time. The University of Maryland attendance policy allows for you to self-excuse yourself from ONE lecture or discussion session. For this course, if you miss lecture class participation due to illness and provide a self-written note, you will be permitted to drop those points. For any additional absences due to illness, you will not be afforded a makeup opportunity unless you provide documentation from a medical professional. Self-written notes cannot excuse you from exams. Any adjustments to exams will follow UMD absence policies. https://www.ugst.umd.edu/courserelatedpolicies.html

Late Policy:
If an assignment is one day late, only 90% of the points can be earned. If it is two days late, only 80% of the points can be earned. At three days late, only 70% of the points can be earned. Assignments will not be accepted more than three days late. No late final projects will be accepted for grading. If you cannot complete the assignment on time and need an extension, please email me before the due date. I understand that life happens, and due dates cannot be met all the time. If possible, I can grant an extension accordingly. Extensions for exams are not possible without appropriate documentation.

Participation
· Given the interactive style of this class, attendance will be crucial to note-taking and thus your performance in this class. Attendance is particularly important also because class discussion will be a critical component for your learning. · Each student is expected to make substantive contributions to the learning experience, and attendance is expected for every session. · Students with a legitimate reason to miss a session should communicate in advance with the instructor, except in the case of an emergency. · Students who miss a session are responsible for learning what they miss from that day.

Special needs: If you have a disability, religious observance, etc that requires accommodation, please let me know in advance so that appropriate accomodations can be arranged.