Course Information:

Logo

EVSC 350: Atmosphere and Weather

Instructor: Michael E. Mann

Office: 353 Clark Hall; Ph: 924-7770; email:mann@virginia.edu

Office Hours: TuWed 2-3:15 or by appt

Webpage: http://www.people.Virginia.EDU/~mem6u/350home.html

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad introduction to the physical principles governing the behavior of the Earth’s. We will cover the fundamentals--thermal structure and composition, air masses and fronts, environmental radiation, atmospheric thermodynamics, and atmospheric fluid dynamics--necessary to understand weather, large-scale motion of the atmosphere, climatology, and climate change, and the linkages of these phenomena with the global environment.

Required Textbook

[available from University of Virginia bookstore; 2 copies on reserve in Science & Engineering Library, Clark Hall]
  • Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment, by C. D. Ahrens, 2000 (sixth edition)

Suggested References

[on reserve in Science & Engineering Library]

  • Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers, by R. S. Stull, 2000 (second edition).
  • Atmosphere, Weather and Climate, by R.G. Barry and R.J. Chorley, 1998 (seventh edition)
  • Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey, by J.M. Wallace and P.V. Hobbs, 1997.

 

Evaluation

Several problem sets will be given through the semester. Problems and questions will help students enhance their understanding of the concepts presented in lectures. Although no credits will be given towards the final grade, it is expected of students to complete the problem sets. Consultations should be made with the instructor whenever in need of clarification of concepts. Most of the material covered in exams will be taken directly from lectures and class discussions. Therefore, class attendance is exceedingly important in this course. There will be two term exams and a final, comprehensive exam scheduled for the following dates.

 

Exam 1:

30%

Thursday, February 25 (regular class period)

 

Exam 2:

30%

Thursday, April 1 (regular class period)

Final Exam:

40%

Wednesday, May 12 from 09:00 to 12:00 hours

Make-up exams will not be given unless students provide valid excuses. The final grade will be determined according to the following scale:

 

 

A+: Above 95

A: 90–94

A-: 85–89

 

B+: 80–84

B: 75–79

B-: 70–74

C+: 65–69

C:60–64

C-: 55–59

D+: 50–54

D: 45–49

D-: 40–44

F: Less than 40

 

 

Laboratory

The laboratory is listed as an independent course, and is required for Environmental Sciences majors. Taking the laboratory will enhance understanding of the material covered in lectures and provide opportunities to become acquainted with modern meteorological instrumentation commonly used to probe the state of the atmosphere. Three laboratory sessions are offered. Students should enroll in one laboratory session only. A laboratory manual, available from the University Bookstore, is required. Graduate teaching assistants run the laboratories. Questions related to the laboratories should be addressed to the teaching assistants. At least one field trip will be scheduled to visit the meteorological observatory located in Fluvanna county (Pace Estate).

COURSE OUTLINE: SPRING 1998

 

1. UNITS AND NOTATION

Ahrens Appendix A; Stull Appendix A

2. COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

Ahrens Chapter 1
    • Major and minor constituents

 

    • Greenhouse gases

 
    • Sources and sinks of gases

 

3. ATMOSPHERIC THERMAL STRUCTURE

Ahrens Chapters 1-3; Stull Chapters 1, 3
    • Vertical variations of temperature

 
    • Latitudinal variations of temperature

 
    • Seasonal variations of temperature

 
    • Measuring temperature

 

4. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Ahrens Chapter 9; Stull 9

    • Ideal gas law

 
    • Virtual temperature

 
    • The hydrostatic equation

 
    • The hypsometric equation

 
    • Reduction of pressure to sea level

 
    • Measuring atmospheric pressure

 

5. AIR MASSES AND FRONTS

Ahrens Chapter 12; Stull Chapter 12

    • Origin of air masses

 
    • Fronts

 
    • Cyclogenesis

 

6. RADIATION

Ahrens Chapter 2; Stull Chapter 2

    • Electromagnetic spectrum

 
    • Radiation laws

 
    • Diurnal and seasonal disposition of radiation

 

    • Measuring radiation

 

    • Global energy balance

 
    • Energy balance at the Earth’s surface

 

7. ATMOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMICS

Ahrens Chapters 5, 7-8; Stull Chapters 5, 7-8

    • Moisture variables

 
    • Evaporation, condensation, and latent heat

 
    • First and Second Laws of thermodynamics

 
    • Atmospheric stability

 
    • Thermodynamic diagram

 
    • Clouds, precipitation, and associated processes

 

8. ATMOSPHERIC FLUID DYNAMICS

Ahrens Chapters 9,-11; Stull Chapters 9-11

    • Forces and their balances

 
    • Newton’s Second Law

 
    • Winds: geostrophic, gradient, cyclostrophic, and thermal wind

 
    • Divergence and vorticity

 
    • Global-scale and local wind circulations

 

9. TROPICAL WEATHER SYSTEMS

Ahrens Chapter 16; Stull Chapters 16

    • Cyclones

 
    • Monsoonal

 
    • El Niño

 

10. AIR POLLUTION

Ahrens Chapters 17; Stull Chapters 17

    • Types of airborne pollutants

 
    • Atmospheric controls on pollutants dispersion

 
    • Atmospheric transport of pollutants

 

Back