Meteorology 6210- Dynamic Meteorology

Instructor- John Horel

Office Hours: T-TH 1-2 or by appointment; INSCC 483

Phone: 581-7091

Course Description:

A survey of the causes for atmospheric motions spanning the continuum from planetary to convective scales. The physical reasoning for the normally balanced state of the atmosphere is developed as well as the underlying factors for the often violent instabilities that lead to the explosive development of mid-latitude cyclones or severe thunderstorms. The fundamental principles of numerical weather prediction are summarized.

Class Hours: TH 10:45-12:05.

Classroom: 490 INSCC

Prerequisites: Graduate Standing

Grading: The course grade will be determined from class participation and assignments (25%), 2 midterms (25% each), and final (25%).

Text: Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics by Murry Salby

Course Outline: (by week)

Week

0 : If possible, before start of semester. Math review. Reading Assignment: Chris Riegel notes pp 5-104 (pick up notes from me)

1 : (1 class) Math review. Reading Assignment: Chapter 1. Recommended: Schaum's Outline on Tensor Analysis. Assignment: tensor algebra

2 : Hydrostatic Equilibrium and Stability. Reading Assignment: Chapters 6 and 7.1, 7.2. Assignment:

3 : Vertical motion and buoyancy. Reading Assignment: Chapter 7. Assignment: Field Program!

4 : Kinematics of Fluid Motion. Reading Assignment: Chapter 10.1-10.5. Assignment:

5 : Navier Stokes Equations. Reading Assignment: Chapter 10.6-10.7. Assignment:

6 : Equations of motion on a sphere. Reading Assignment: Chapter 11.1-11.4. Assignment:

7 : Midterm. Semester Break

8 : Large-scale balances. Reading Assignment: Chapter 12.1-12.4. Assignment:

9 : Potential Vorticity. Reading Assignment: Chapter 12.5. Holton: Chapter 4. Assignment:

10 : Quasi-geostrophic balance. Reading Assignment: Chapter 12.5. Holton: Chapter 6. Assignment:

11 : Shallow water waves. Internal gravity waves. Reading Assignment: Chapter 14.1-14.3. Assignment:

12 : Rossby waves. Midterm. Reading Assignment: Chapter 14.5. Assignment:

13 : Barotropic and baroclinic instability. Reading Assignment: Chapter 16.1-16.2. Assignment:

14 : Dynamics of convection. Reading Assignment: handout. Assignment:

15 : Overview of NWP. Data assimilation. Reading Assignment: handout. Assignment:

16 : NWP methods. Reading Assignment: handout. Assignment: