Lecture Notes / Reading Material

Material for Exam #1
August 28	The atmosphere Composition of the atmosphere Vertical variation of temperature, pressure, and density in the atmosphere
September 2	Vertical variation of temperature, pressure, and density in the atmosphere Human response to air pressure and density changes
September 4	The Skew-T Diagram Water in the atmosphere A closer look at evaporation and condensation
September 9	A closer look at evaporation and condensation Relative humidity and Dew Point
September 11	Relative humidity and Dew Point Energy Transfer Temperature, humidity, wind, and human comfort Clouds
September 16	Clouds Conditions under which air is forced to rise Precipitation Hurricane Introduction and Formation
September 18	Hurricane Introduction and Formation Hurricane Movement and Damages
September 23	Atlantic Hurricanes and Their Effects on the United States End of Exam 1 Material
Material for Exam #2
September 30	Moving air parcels up and down through the atmosphere Precipitation Stability of the atmosphere
October 2	Stability of the atmosphere Thunderstorm Overview Thunderstorm Lifecycle and Severe Thunderstorms
October 7	Thunderstorm Lifecycle and Severe Thunderstorms Tornadoes
October 9	Lightning
October 14	Impacts of extreme weather on the United States Introduction to 500 mb weather maps
October 16	More on 500 mb weather maps The 500 mb weather pattern and weather terminology
October 21	Winds
October 23	Cyclogenesis (top part of page only) Numerical Weather Forecasting Ozone and the ozone hole Ultraviolet radiation and its effects
October 28	Ultraviolet radiation and its effects End of Exam 2 Material
Material for Exam #3
November 4	Weather vs Climate Solar Radiation and the Earth's Energy Budget I Infrared Radiation, Greenhouse Effect, and Earth's Energy Budget II
November 6	Infrared Radiation, Greenhouse Effect, and Earth's Energy Budget II Introduction to Climate Change Increasing Greenhouse Gases Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and the Carbon Cycle
November 13	Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and the Carbon Cycle Uncertainty in Climate Prediction and Climate Models Climate Models and their Prediction of Climate Change
November 18	Potential Impacts of Global Warming Reconstructing Past Climates The Climate of the Pleistocene Is the Earth's Climate Fragile or Robust? The Climate of the Holocene Controversy: Global Average Temperature Reconstruction over the last 2000 years
November 20	Controversy: Global Average Temperature Reconstruction over the last 2000 years The Present Warming: 20th Centrury through today Global Warming Summary and Discussion
November 25	Cause of Seasonal Changes on Earth Many Climates End of Exam 3 Material