ATMO 170A1: Introduction to Weather & Climate
Fall 2017 - OnlineSections 104 & 105
Course Description
An introduction to the science of weather and climate. Topics are selected from atmospheric composition, energy balance, wind systems, genesis of fronts and cyclones, precipitation processes, clouds, severe weather, weather and climate forecasting, climate and optical phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the illustrating the fundamental importance of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biological processes to the atmospheric sciences. The first part of the course concentrates on fundamental concepts (e.g. energy conservation, heat transfer, phase changes of water, force and momentum) that are needed to understand the structure and behavior of the atmosphere. The second half deals with specific meteorological phenomena. Emphasis is given to phenomena that have strong impacts on human welfare and economic livelihood such as winter storms, heat waves, drought, floods, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, air-sea interactions (El Nino/La Nina events), climate change (natural and anthropogenic), ozone depletion and regional air pollution.Learning Goals and Student Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should:1) Understand how the warming of the earth by the sun and energy transfer through the atmosphere drive weather and climate change.
2) Appreciate the impact that weather and climate has on life, and that life has on the atmosphere.
3) Be in a position to evaluate the soundness of ''weather/climate science'' that appears in the mainstream media and to make informed decisions on what to do about projected anthropogenic changes in extreme weather events and climate.
Instructor:
Professor Steven Mullen
Email (use only for
personal issues or to schedule appointments)
PAS
Bldg Rm 552
Office Hours: Tu Th 12:00-1:30 pm MST (Mountain Standard Time is
GMT-7) or by appointment
(Office Hours subject to change with advance notice.)
Teaching Assistants:
Mr. Jorge ArevaloPAS Bldg Rm 526
Office Hours: Mon Wed 2:00-3:00 pm MST (Mountain Standard Time is GMT-7) or by appointment
(Office Hours subject to change with advance notice.)
Ms. Maddie Powell
PAS Bldg Rm 526
Office Hours: Tue Thur 1:00-3:00 pm MST (Mountain Standard Time is GMT-7) or by appointment
(Office Hours subject to change with advance notice.)
The TA's request that you email them before coming to office hours so an exact time can be scheduled to avoid simultaneous arrival of multiple students
Textbooks:
Required Textbook
C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Hanson
Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 8th Ed.
An eBook version of the textbook is automatically included as part of the course at an additional cost of $80.00. The cost includes access to the eBook though the semester. You will be charged $80.00 by the Bursar's Office unless you cancel the subscription before the end of the online add/drop period. Access to eBook is via D2L. The Inclusive Access Program with D2L access is the cheapest available eBook version of the text.
If you would rather have a hard copy of the textbook instead of an eBook, the ISBN is 978-1-305-62845-8 for the bound book and 978-337-27610-8 for the loose-leaf version. Hard copies are available special order from the ASUA Bookstore or from several online vendors. I do not know the prices, but their costs are greater than $80.00 price of the Inclusive Access Program and do not include access to some animations and videos that the eBook includes. If you purchase a physical copy of the book, be certain to cancel the Inclusive Access Program within the first two weeks of the term to avoid being billed.
Although I do not recommend using an earlier edition of the textbook, I can report that some students in prior sections used cheaper copies of the 7th edition (and even the 6th edition) and successfully passed the course. If you decide to use an earlier edition of the textbook, you are 100% responsible for aligning similar subject matter in an older edition so that matches the material in the reading assignments that are posted below.
There may be mandatory readings from sources other than the textbook. They would be announced and posted on D2L.
Other Course Materials:
Syllabus and email policy
(both mandatory readings), auxiliary readings, homework assignments
and term project, and online exams are only accessible on
D2L.
Class List Serve:
Use the class list serve for issues and questions of general interest to the entire class.
Key Dates
Textbook and required readings with suggested pacing.
Dates
of quizzes are firm and are not subject to change.
This is an evolving document. Posted due dates, except for the quizzes and the final, are subject to change with reasonable advanced notice. Additional assignments may be added in due course.
*An asterisk denotes chapters and topics with fundamental concepts that the student must master in order to understand the material that follows.
Module 1: Energy
Weeks 1-2: Earth's Atmosphere
Aug 21 - Aug 28
Chapter 01 - Ahrens (focus on topics below); Appendix A; Appendix C.
Reading: pp. 2-25; 463-465 (Appendix A-Units, Conversions, Abbreviations); 468-469 (Appendix C-Weather Symbols and the Station Model).
Topics - Scientific Method; Weather, Climate and Meteorology*; Atmospheric Composition*; Vertical Structure*.
Study ''Questions for Review'' at end of the Chapter 01: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 22, 24
Weeks 2-3: Heat Transfer
Aug 28 - Sept 05
Chapter 02* - Ahrens. Appendix B: Laws of Radiation: Stefan-Boltzmann Law and Wien's Law.
Reading: pp. 26-53; 466-467 (Appendix B-Equations and Constants)
Topics - Temperature*; Temperature Scales*; Heat Transfer*; Latent Heat*; Laws of Radiation*; ''Greenhouse'' Effect*; Energy Balance*; Seasons*.
Pay special attention to Special Topics 2.1 (Rising Air Cools and Sinking Air Warms) and 2.4 (Is December 21 Really the First Day of Winter?)
Study ''Questions for Review'' at end of the Chapter 02: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20
Extra Credit Homework Opportunity - Syllabus Knowledge (D2L Quizzes Section)
Due Date: Friday, Sept 01 by 5:00 pm
Holiday: Labor Day
Monday, Sept 04
Homework - Memorable Weather Event (First Draft)
Due Date: Tuesday, Sept 05 by 5:00 pm
Week 3: Air Temperature
Sept 06 - Sept 12
Chapter 03 - Ahrens (last subsection on thermometers and measuring temperature will not be covered on the quizzes)
Reading: pp. 54-72 (up to but not including "Measuring Air Temperature") plus pp. 76-77 Chapter Summary and Questions
Topics - Temperature Variations; Regional Temperature Controls; Air Temperature and Human Comfort.
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 03: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 14, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18
Written Homework - Energy
Due Date: Monday, Sept 11 by 5:00 pm.
Quiz 1
Sept 12 Tuesday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm MST
Module 2: Wind
Weeks 4 - 5: Air Pressure and Winds
Sept 13 - Sept 23
Chapter 06* - Ahrens. Appendix B: Gas Law (Equation of State); Geostrophic Wind Equation; Hydrostatic Equation.
Reading: pp. 146-171
Topics - Ideal Gas Law*; Pressure* and Pressure Gradient Force*; Isobaric Maps*; Coriolis Effect*; Geostrophic Wind*; Curved Flow*; Friction and Surface Winds*; Prevailing Wind and Wind Rose.
Pay special attention to Special Topics 6.1 (Gas Law), 6.2 (Isobaric Maps) and 6.3 (Estimating Wind Direction and Pressure Patterns Aloft from Watching Clouds)
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 6: 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27
Homework - Interpreting Upper-Air Maps (D2L Quizzes Section)
Due Date: Friday, Sept 29 by 5:00 pm.
Weeks 5-6: Air Masses, Front and Mid-Latitude Cyclones
Sept 24 - Oct 03
Chapter 08* - Ahrens
Reading: pp. 208-240
Topics - Air Masses*; Fronts*; Mid-Latitude Cyclones*
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 8: 1, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Week 6
Auxiliary PowerPoint Presentation (to be posted) on How to Analyze Surface Weather Maps
Weeks 5-6
Auxiliary material on Time Zones and Latitude-Longitude
Sept 25-Oct 03
Chapter 01- Grence and Nese (2010)
Reading: pp. 3-10
Posted on D2L under Content > Table of Contents > Textbook Access > Module 2: Air Motions
Weeks 5-6
Auxiliary material on Vorticity, Divergence and Vertical Motion
Sept 25-Oct 03
Chapter 12 - Ahrens and Hanson
Reading: pp. 337-342
Posted on D2L under Content > Table of Contents > Textbook Access > Module 2: Air Motions
Written Homework - Dynamics
Due Date: Monday, Oct 2 by 5:00 pm.
Quiz 2
Oct 3 Tuesday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm MST
Module 3: Moisture and Optics
Weeks 7 - 8
Oct 04 - Oct 14 or longer
Chapter 04* - Ahrens
Reading: pp. 78-112
Topics - Hydrological Cycle. Evaporation*, Condensation*, Saturation*. Humidity Measures*. Fog and Clouds.
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Weeks 8 - 9
Oct 14 - Oct 24 or longer
Chapter 05* - Ahrens
Reading: pp. 114-145
Topics - Adiabatic Processes*. Buoyancy* and Vertical Stability*. Precipitation Processes. Precipitation Types. Doppler Radar.
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 16, 17
Written Homework - Moisture
Due Date: Monday, Oct 23 by 5:00 pm.
Quiz 3
Oct 24 Tuesday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm MST Week
Module 4: High Impact Weather Phenomena
Weeks 10 - 11: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Oct 27 - Nov 3 or longer
Chapter 10 - Ahrens (Sections on ''Observing Tornadoes and Severe Weather'' and "Storm Chasing..." will not be covered, although research using new observing systems and fine-scale numerical models are bringing remarkable insights into severe thunderstorms.)
Reading: pp. 272-311; 315-317 Chapter Summary and Questions
Topics - Ordinary and Severe Thunderstorms. Hazards: Lightning, Microburst Winds, Haboobs, Hail, Flash Flooding,Tornadoes
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 10: 1, 4, 5, 7, 14, 19, 22, 23, 30, 31
Holiday: Veteran's Day
Friday, Nov 10
Weeks 11 - 12: Hurricanes
Nov 6 - Nov 14
Chapter 11 - Ahrens (Section on ''Some Notable Hurricanes'' will not be tested, but narratives on Katrina and Sandy, both of which occurred recently and caused more than 100 billion U.S.D. of damage, are worth the read.)
Reading: pp. 318-336; 348-349 Chapter Summary and Questions
Topics - Hurricane Formation and Distribution. Hazards: Winds, Coastal Storm Surges, Inland Fresh Water Flooding
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 11: 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Written Homework - High Impact Weather
Due Date: Monday, Nov 13 by 5:00 pm.
Quiz 4
Nov 14 Tuesday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm MST
Module 5: Anthropogenic Impacts: Air Pollution, Climate Change
Weeks 13 - 14
Nov 15 - Nov 27
Chapter 14 - Ahrens
Reading pp. 414-440
Topics - Primary and Secondary Air Pollutants. SMOG. Acid Rain. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 14: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 23, 25, 28
Holiday: Thanksgiving Break
Nov 23-Nov 26
Weeks 14 - 15
Nov 27 - Dec 6
Chapter 13 - Ahrens
Reading pp. 381-412
Topics - Past Climates. Recent Warming. Projected Future Climate Changes
Study ''Questions for Review'' at the end of Chapter 13: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Written Homework - Anthropogenic Impacts
Due Date: Wednesday, Nov 29 by 5:00 pm (Note earlier than normal due date to allow teaching team ample time to grade the assignment.)
Quiz 5
Dec 6 Wednesday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm MST
Final (Counts as Two Quizzes)
Dec 14 Thursday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm MST
w)