Overview
This course is the second of three courses at the junior level that focus on applying the fundamentals of fluid dynamics to the atmosphere. During the first quarter, the emphasis was on developing specific skills in computational science and applied math.
In the second quarter, the emphasis shifts to applying the material developed in the companion course, Meteorology 511. During the first few weeks, basic information on the lab facilities and observing the atmosphere is presented. This allows sufficient time for some of the concepts to be developed in Meteorology 511. First, the kinematics of the wind field are developed with attention placed on the scalar fields of divergence, vorticity, and deformation. The advection of scalar fields by the vector wind will also be studied. Then, the focus changes to the dynamical causes for and interrelationships between wind, pressure, and temperature. Towards the end of the quarter, applications of conservation of mass will be developed.