Meteorology 551- Fundamental Applications of Dynamic Meteorology

Instructor: John Horel

Office hours: 11-12 T-Th; 1:00-2:00 M-W

Purpose of Course: (1) develop the fundamental kinematic and dynamical concepts regarding motion in the atmosphere. (2) begin to develop an awareness of the day-to-day changes in weather as observed from the surface of the earth and by remote instrumentation.


Format: lecture- 3 hours per week (11-12:15 MW). You are strongly encouraged to attend the weather discussions MWF 12:30-1:00. The format of this course is substantially different from previous years in that the course has changed from primarily a laboratory course to primarily a lecture course. The weather discussion period and self-guided study will supplement the course to replace the laboratory time. The advantage to the student is that what was given only 1 credit in previous years is now given 3 credits- a more accurate reflection of the effort involved.
Grades: 25% mid-term; 35% final; 40% assignments. 10% will be deducted for each class period that an assignment is late. Assignments later than 3 days receive no credit.
Text: H. B. Bluestein. Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology in Midlatitudes. Volume I. Dynamic Meteorology by J. R. Holton is also used. Other handouts/manuals will be distributed in class.
Required equipment: colored pencils (red, green, blue, yellow), several #2 pencils; eraser; straight edge (or ruler); divider.
wk 1 Overview of the synoptic lab facility.
wk 2-3 Observing the atmosphere.
wk 4-6 Kinematics of the wind field and advection of scalar fields.
wk 7-9 Geostrophic, gradient wind balance, thermal wind balance.
wk 10-11 Conservation of mass and vertical motion.

Updated January 3, 1994