ATMO 451/551a Home Page Fall 2008

last updated 12/12/2008 03:15 MST

Interesting articles

Record rainfall in Mexico for June, July and August 2008 see items marked in yellow to the left; discussion

9/15/08 NY Times article on one climate record in NY.

ATMO 451/551a Introduction to Physical Meteorology

Location: PAS488, MWF 11:00-11:50

Professor: E. Robert Kursinski, Office PAS 580, office phone: 621-2139 e-mail: kursinski@atmo.arizona.edu

Purpose and Scope of class:

This class introduces students to the physics and chemistry needed to understand Earth and planetary atmospheres. It provides an introduction to thermodynamics, kinetics theory, chemistry, aerosols, clouds, precipitation and radiative transfer.

Homework:

Homework will generally be assigned every week.

Grading:

The grade will be divided up between homework, a midterm and a final exam as follows: 60% Homework, 20% midterm and 20% Final Exam.

Required Textbook

Atmospheric Science, An Introductory Survey, John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs, 2^nd Ed., 2006, Academic Press.

Supplemental References

• Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics, Murry L. Salby, 1996, Academic Press
• Geodynamics: Applications of continuum physics to geological problems, D.L.Turcotte and G. Schubert, 1982, Wiley & Sons
• Thermal Physics, C. Kittel, 1969, Wiley & Sons
• Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, from Air Pollution to Climate Change, John H. Seinfeld and Spyros N. Pandis, 2^nd Ed., John Wilet & Sons Inc.
• An Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation, K. N. Liou, 2002, Academic Press
• Atmospheric Radiation Theoretical Basis, R.M.Goody and Y.L.Yung, 1989, Oxford Press

Homework Solution

2: pdf pdf

3: pdf pdf xls

4: pdf pdf

5: pdf pdf

6: pdf pdf

7: pdf pdf

Tests

Midterm pdf word

Course Outline/Material covered in lectures: pdf word

Lectures

Aug 25 pdf Word A survey of rationale for studying Atmospheric Science

Aug 27 pdf Word Units (first version)

Pdf Word Brief intro to Composition, temperature, gas law, homosphere, pressure scale height

Pdf Word Temperatures of planets (under construction)

Pdf Word Comparison of planets (under construction)

Sept 3 pdf Word Thermodynamics

Sept 5 pdf ppt Simple explanation for Global Warming

Sept 8 pdf Word Impulse and Work

Pdf Word Kinetic theory explanation for gas pressure: Temperature a kinetic energy

Sept 12 pdf word specific heats

Sept 15 pdf word 1^st law of thermodynamics & specific heat at constant pressure

Sept 17 pdf word latent heats

Sept 22 pdf word dry adiabats

Sept 29 pdf word gravity

Oct 3 pdf word thermal expansion

Oct 6 pdf word water vapor variables

Oct 13 pdf word Entropy

Oct 13 pdf word Clausius Clapeyron equation

Oct 15 pdf word moist adiabat

Oct 17 pdf word flow over a mountain

Oct 29 pdf word Equivalent potential temperature

Oct 31 pdf word Diffusion

Nov 5 pdf word Eddy Diffusive fluxes of sensible and latent heat

Nov 10 pdf word cloud and rain fall speeds

Nov 10 pdf word cloud droplet activation

Nov 12 pdf word cloud growth by diffusion

Nov 21 pdf word Warm rain initiation

Nov 26 pdf word Maxwellian distribution of particle velocities

Dec 1 pdf word Carnot Cycle and heat engine theory

Dec 5 pdf word Using the heat engine to understand heat transfer by baroclinic eddies pdf