ATMO 200: Fall 2018
Atmospheric Processes and Phenomenon
Learning Objective: Upon completion of this course, students will have a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the primary processes that control the state of the atmosphere, weather, and climate. Students will practice observing, connecting physical processes with their governing equations, and will be able to apply what they learn to understand the weather here in Hawaii.
Topics: Atmospheric variables (temperature, pressure, density, humidity etc.), gas laws, radiation balance and processes, thermodynamics, conservation laws, laws of motion, clouds and precipitation, convection, atmospheric circulations, mid-latitude and tropical weather systems, severe weather, forecasting, and climate.
Resources:
Atmospheric Science: ATMO 200 Companion Text edited by Alison Nugent:
http://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/atmo/
Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-Based Survey of Atmospheric Science by Roland Stull:
https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/
Visuals shown in Class:
NWS skywatcher chart: https://forecast.weather.gov/jetstream/synoptic/clouds_max.htm
NASA Aerosols: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRsY_UviBPE
This page will be updated throughout the Fall 2018 semester as the course progresses.
Week 1 (8.20, 8.22, 8.24): Chapter 1
M: Course Overview, PSet 1 assigned
W: The Earth as a part of the solar system, retaining an atmosphere
F: -- No class, Hurricane Lane! --
Week 2 (8.27, 8.29, 8.31): Chapter 1
M: SI Units, Atmospheric pressure and density, Ideal Gas Law
W: Buoyancy
F: Hydrostatic balance, PSet 1 due, PSet 2 assigned
Week 3 (labor day, 9.5, 9.7): Chapter 3
M: -- No Class, Labor Day --
W: Atmospheric temperature structure
F: Lapse Rates & Stability, PSet 2 due, PSet 3 assigned
Week 4 (9.10, 9.12, 9.14): Chapter 4
M: Mixing & Diurnal changes in stability
W: Moisture in the atmosphere, PSet 3 due
F: Moisture & Saturation
Week 5 (9.17, 9.19, 9.21): Chapter 4, Chapters 6 and 7
M: Exam Review, Group Project Due
W: Exam 1 covering 1st 4 weeks of class, and PSets 1-3
Th: Field Trip to KHON2, meet there at 3:15
F: Latent Heating, Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate, Moist Stability, PSet 4 assigned
Week 6 (9.24, 9.26, 9.28): Chapters 4, 6, and 7
M: Exam 1 Returned, LCL, Cloud Types
W: Humidity, Aerosols/CCN, & Clouds Cont.
F: Particle Scattering, PSet 4 Due, PSet 5 assigned
Week 7 (10.1, 10.3, 10.5): Chapters 5 and 7
M: Microphysics
W: Precipitation Processes
F: Balloon Launch!, PSet 5 due, PSet 6 assigned
Week 8 (10.8, 10.10, 10.12): Chapter 2 and 11
M: (Sub Today) Global distribution of heat
W: (Sub Today) Precipitation & Global Circulation
F: Coriolis Force, Global Circulation, PSet 6 Due
Week 9 (10.15, 10.17, 10.19): Chapter 2 and 11
M: Global Circulation Patterns
W:Coriolis, Global climate, circulation etc.
F: Exam 2 covering PSets 4-6, PSet 7 Assigned
Week 10 (10.22, 10.24, 10.26): Chapters 9 and 10
M: Geostrophic Wind, synoptic charts
W: Wind force balances, cyclones, anti-cyclones
F: ABL wind balance, Air masses, PSet 7 Due, PSet 8 AssignedAssigned
Week 11 (10.29, 10.31, 11.2): Chapters 12 and 13
M: Fronts and storms
W: Mid-latitude frontal cyclones and air mass thunderstorms
F: Convective Storms, PSet 8 Due, PSet 9 Assigned
Week 12 (11.5, 11.7, 11.9):
M: Review of storms, storm impacts
W: Storm occurrence, CAPE &CIN
F: LFC & EL, Stability & Buoyancy, PSet 9 Due
Week 13 (veterans day, 11.14, 11.16):
M: No Class, Veterans Day
W: Tropical cyclones
F: Hawaiian weather phenomenon
Week 14 (11.19, 11.21, thanksgiving):
M: Exam 3 covering PSets 7-9
W: Intro to climate, PSet 10 Assigned
F: No Class, Thanksgiving!
Week 15 (11.26, 11.28, 11.30):
M: ENSO
W: Greenhouse gases, atmospheric window
F: One layer atmosphere and climate feedbacks
Week 16 (12.3, 12.5):
M: Climate feedbacks, climate regulators, PSet 10 Due
W: Climate game
Final Exam Date: Monday December 10th, 12-2 set by the University calendar.