ATMO 170A1:  Introduction to Weather & Climate 

Fall 2013 Section 001/004

MWF 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

PAS 201

Course Description

An introduction to the science of weather processes and climate, including the genesis of fronts and cyclones, precipitation processes, wind systems of the world, severe storms, weather forecasting and climate projections. Special emphasis will be given to phenomena that have strong impacts on human activities including snow, thunderstorms, hail tornadoes, hurricanes, El Nino, air pollution, ozone depletion and climate change. Fundamental importance of physics, chemistry and mathematics to atmospheric science will be highlighted.


Class Email:  Use List Serve for matters of general interest. 


Instructor:

Professor Steven Mullen
Email (use only for personal issues and to schedule appointments)
PAS Bldg Rm 552
Office Hours: MW 3:00 pm- 3:50 pm (subject to change)
                      F 11:00 am- 11:50 am
                      MW 10:30 am -12:00 pm by appointment only

Teaching Assistants:

Ms. Gina Medici   Email (use only to schedule appointments)
PAS Bldg Rm 588
Office Hours: M 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
                      W 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Mr. Ethan Smith   Email  (use only to schedule appointments)
PAS Bldg Rm 588
Office Hours: T 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
                      R 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Mr. Reid Strickler   Email (use only to schedule appointments)
PAS Bldg Rm 588
Office Hours: T 9:00 am – 10:30 am
                      R 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm


Class Materials:  Slides, homework, study guides, term project, dropboxes, digitial exams can only be accessed on D2L.


Topics - Reading Assignments - Questions for Review                                                                 Dates are tentative and subject to change with reasonable notice


Week of Important Dates Monday Wednesday Friday
1) Aug 26-Aug 30
FIRST DAY
 
How to E-mail a Professor
Mandatory Reading

Introduction
Why Study the Atmosphere?

Assign HW #1
Weather Event
Atmo. Composition and Structure
6th: 4-24, A: 455-457, C: 461-462

6th-Pg 24: 1.2, 3, 10, 14, 18, 19, 21
Weather and Climate
5' Iron Bar Example
6th: 4-24, A: 455-457, C: 461-462

6th-Pg 24: 1.2, 3, 10, 14, 18, 19, 21
2) Sept 2-Sept 6

LABOR DAY
No Class
Temperature and Heat
Inverted Water Glass Demos
6th: 28-33

6th-Pg 54: 2.1, 2, 3, 4
Radiation
Selective Absorption-Emission
6th: 34-46

6th-Pg 54: 2.7, 9, 10, 12, 13
3) Sept 9-Sept 13 HW #1 Due Monday Sep 9
5:00 pm
"Greenhouse" Effect
Surface Energy Balance

Light Bulb Demo
6th: 46-54

6th-Pg. 54: 2.17, 18, 20
HW #1 Due
5:00 pm
Weather Event
Seasons
Temperature Variations
Flashlight on Globe Demo
6th: 58-79

6th-Pg. 80: 3.1, 2, 5, 6, 14
Leftovers
Review for Quiz #1

Chapters 1-3
4) Sept 16-Sept 20
  QUIZ #1
In Class
Closed Book/Notes

Study Guide
Available approx 36 hours before exam
Air Pressure; Surface Weather Maps
6th: 150-156

6th-Pg 174: 6.1, 8, 9

Assign HW #2
Surface Map Analysis

Upper-Air Maps; Newton's Laws
Centripital Force Demo
6th: 156-165

6th-Pg 174: 6.10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 23
5) Sept 23-Sept 27
Surface Winds, Vertical Motion
6th: 165-174

6th-Pg 174: 6.24, 26
Air Masses & Fronts
6th: 214-233

6th-Pg 242: 8.1, 11, 12, 13

How to Analyze Surface Weather Map

In class discussison
6) Sept 30-Oct 4

Extratropical Cyclones
6th: 233-242

6th-Pg 242: 8.14, 15, 17

Assign HW #2
Surface Analysis

Leftovers
Review for Quiz #2

Chapters 6-8
QUIZ #2
In Class
Closed Book/Notes
7) Oct 7-Oct 11   Week 1
Data
Collection
Atmospheric Moisture
Web Bulb Temp Demo

6th: 84-96, B: 458-460, D:463-466

6th-Pg 113: 4.1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10 
Condensation: Dew, Frost, Fog, Clouds
Saturation Vapor Pressure Demo
6th: 96-113

6th-Pg 113: 4.13, 14, 15, 16
Cloud Types
Cloud in a Bottle Demo
6th: 96-113

6th-Pg 113: 4.13
, 14, 15, 16
8) Oct 14-Oct 18   Week 2 Data Collection Vertical Stability
Galileo Thermometer Demo

6th: 118-127

6th-Pg 146: 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Vertical Stability
Galileo Thermometer Demo

6th: 118-127

6th-Pg 146: 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Precipitation Processes
6th: 128-143

6th-Pg 146: 5.14, 16, 17

HW #2 Due
5:00 pm

Surface Map Analysis
8) Oct 14-Oct 18   Week 2 Data Collection Vertical Stability
Galileo Thermometer Demo
6th: 118-127

6th-Pg 146: 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Precipitation Processes
6th: 128-143

6th-Pg 146: 5.14, 16, 17

HW #2 Due
5:00 pm

Surface Map Analysis
Leftovers
Review for Quiz #3
Chapters 4-5
9) Oct 21-Oct 25 Week 3 Data Collection Local Winds; Monsoons
6th: 176-193

6th-Pg 210: 7.3, 4, 5
Global-Scale Circulations
6th: 193-202, 344-348

6th-Pg 210: 7.11, 12, 13

HW #3 Due
5:00 pm

Cloud Identification

Air-Sea Interactions: El-Nino
6th: 202-210

6th-Pg 210: 7.18, 19, 20
9) Oct 21-Oct 25 Week 3 Data Collection Leftovers
Review for Quiz #3
Chapters 4-5
QUIZ #3
In Class
Closed Book/Notes

Local Winds; Monsoons; Global Winds
6th: 176-197

6th-Pg 210: 7.3, 4, 5
10) Oct 28-Nov 1
Week 4
Data Collection
Last Week
Air-Sea Interactions: El-Nino
6th: 202-210

6th-Pg 210: 7.18, 19, 20
Thunderstorms
6th: 274-290

6th-Pg 310: 10.1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 06, 18
Thunderstorm Hazards
6th: 290-295

6th-Pg 310:
10.18, 19, 22, 21, 23
11) Nov 4-Nov 8

Thunderstorm Hazards (cont)
Tornadoes
6th: 295-309

6th-Pg 310: 10.28, ??, ??
Tornadoes
Hurricane (start)
6th: 314-340

6th-Pg. 341: 11.6, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17

Hurricanes
6th: 314-340

6th-Pg. 341: 11.6, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17
12) Nov 11-Nov 15
Project Due
Monday Nov 11 11:59 pm
VETERANS DAY
No Class

Project Due
11:59 pm
Note Time

Leftovers
Review for Quiz #4
Relevant Parts of
Chapters 7, 10, 11

QUIZ #4
In Class
Closed Book/Notes
13) Nov 18-Nov 22

Weather Forecasting
Overview
Chaos Demo
6th: 245-270

6th-Pg 270: 9.3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17
Air Pollution
6th: 406-412, 415-429

6th-Pg 430: 14.1, 5, 14, 15, 19, 23
6th-Pg. 402: 13.5, 6, 7, 11
Ozone Depletion
6th: 412-417

6th-Pg 430: 12.10, 11
14) Nov 25-Nov 29

Paleoclimate
6th: 376-401

6th-Pg. 402: 13.5, 6, 7, 10
No Class
THANKSGIVING
No Class
15) Nov 28-Dec 2

Global Warming Part I
6th: 376-401

6th-Pg. 402: 13.13, 17, 20
Global Warming Part II
6th: 376-401

6th-Pg. 402: 13.13, 17, 20
Leftovers
Review for Quiz #5
Relevant Parts of
Chapters 9, 11, 13, 14

16) Dec 5-Dec 9

Closing Business
Take FInal or Not?
Quiz #5 Online
Closed Book/Notes
Honor System
Dead Day
No Classes
Thursday Dec 8
Dec 12-Dec 16



FINAL EXAM
Counts as Two Quizzes
Tuesday Dec 17
3:30-5:30 pm