G 431

G 531

Dynamic Meteorology 

Spring 2005

The undergraduate (G431) and graduate (G531) versions of this course meet together. While the general topic for both courses is the same, their requirements and organization differ considerably.

The undergraduate course is a formal lecture course, with exercises and exams (see below). The emphasis here is on the step-by-step introduction of the physics of atmospheric motion including its mathematical underpinnings.

The graduate course follows the lectures of G431, but is enhanced with more challenging exercises and a small individual term paper.

Course Administration (G431 / G531, Mode 1)

Instructor:

 Dr. H.P. Schmid

Office:

 102 Student Building 

Phone:

 855-6125

Office Hours:

 by appt. 

E-mail:

 hschmid


 

Lectures:

 MW 1:00P-2:15P; Room: to be determined

Prerequisite: 

 MATH M211-M212, PHYSICS P201 or P221 (P221 recommended), GEOG G304 or consent of instructor 

Exercises:
  • Material covered in the lectures will be supplemented with several take-home exercises that will be handed out throughout the semester.
  • For the exercises, it is assumed that students are proficient in the use and programming of standard spreadsheet software, such as MS-Excel.
  • Graduate students will get supplementary exercise questions and are required to write a small term paper.
    		•
     

    Grading: 

    		 Exercises (approximately 4 - 5) 
    40%
    Mid-term exam Wed., March 2, in class 
    25%
    Final exam (tentative)
         		 Wed., May. 4, 05:00PM-7:00 PM 
    (we will find a more convenient time for the final)
    35%
     

    Objectives:(based on John A. Dutton in his book Dynamics of Atmospheric Motion) 

    The central goal of atmospheric science is to learn about the winds, to understand why they come to life, why they take the forms and patterns they do, why they change and evolve and finally die in the birth of new winds.

    The theoretical study of atmospheric motion is the province of dynamic meteorology. The subject involves a variety of techniques and concepts, and it has two major goals. The first is to provide understanding of the many facets involved in the phenomenon of atmospheric motion; the second is to provide a rational basis for prediction of future atmospheric events.

    All atmospheric phenomena - from a gentle and silent winter snowfall to a howling summer thunderstorm - are part of the complex chain of processes in an atmosphere that is forced into a ceaseless motion by thermal effects on a rotating planet. To study and understand these processes, to predict them and control them, it is necessary to have a theory that explains them. And this requires concepts and techniques from mathematics, thermodynamics, mechanics, and fluid dynamics. 

    This course intends to lead towards an understanding of the theory of atmospheric motion. The necessary concepts of mathematics, thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, as they are applied to the atmosphere, will be introduced as part of the course. 

    Policies:

    Late exercises will have 10% deducted per day. No exercises will be accepted after graded exercises have been returned to the class. The examinations will be comprehensive, covering the material of the entire course up to that point (lectures, exercises and readings). The nature and style of questions is likely to be similar to that of the exercises. Make-up exams are not available except in the case of illness (with proper documentation). It is your responsibility to inform me prior to the exam if you are unable to attend.

    While regular class attendance is not compulsory, it is strongly recommended, as there will be course material that is only covered in lectures and is not included in the text or other readings.

    Communication about the class can be via e-mail, by telephone, in writing, or verbal in class or during office hours. It is your responsibility that questions or comments about class material, exercises, grading , absences or any other class related matter reach me in a timely manner. Equally, it is your responsibility to be informed about lecture material, assignments, announcements, notices, or any other information given out in class.

    Students should show common courtesy and observe basic rules of behavior in class. The policy on academic dishonesty included in the schedule of classes will be strictly followed. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.

    Readings:

    Text:

    Gordon, A., W. Grace, P. Schwerdtfeger, and R. Byron-Scott: 1998, Dynamic Meteorology – A Basic Course, Arnold, London, 325 pp.

    Unfortunately, this book is out of print, but individual chapters are available electronically through E-Reserves: http://ereserves.indiana.edu/eres/coursepage.aspx?cid=3164

    password: enquire with the instructor

    The text is also available in the Geography & Map Library.
    Supplementary: Holton, J.R.: 1992, An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 3dr Ed., Academic. Press, San Diego, 511 pp, (QC880.H65). (H)

    Atkinson, B.W. (Ed.): 1981, Dynamical Meteorology - An Introductory Selection, Methuen, New York. 228 pp. (QC865 .D95 1981)

    These supplementary texts are available on reserve in the Geography and Map Library, 015 Student Building. The book edited by Atkinson contains essays and chapters by eminent meteorologists. It was written for a non-specialist audience and emphasizes explanatory description rather than rigorous theory. Holton (1992) is more in-depth and mathematically rigorous than Gordon et al. (1998). Material out of these texts will be used and presented in class as the need arises. Individual Chapters will also be available on E-Reserves for this course from time to time.

    Readings from these texts will be supplemented by other selected material and copies will be deposited at the reserve desk in the Geography and Map Library, 015 Student Building, or on E-Reserves.

    Course Outline:

    The topics listed in this course outline are an intended program. Special needs or interests of the class or any other event may warrant spending more or less time on a particular subject, or the introduction of subjects not listed in this outline.

    Topic
    1. Introduction: Overview, objectives and methods; atmospheric motion the space/time framework of scales of atmospheric phenomena; Dynamic Meteorology: fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere; principles of fluid dynamics and their application to the atmosphere; the scientific method and the role of mathematics in Dynamic Meteorology.

    2. Basic thermodynamics of the atmosphere: Application of thermodynamics to the atmosphere: equation of state; work; heat; the first law of thermodynamics; adiabatic processes; potential temperature and entropy

    3. The equations of motion (0) - Principles: Forces on an air parcel; balance of forces; acceleration; notation and conventions

    4. Hydrostatic equilibrium: The hydrostatic equation as a simplified equation of vertical motion; pressure-height relationships for model atmospheres; buoyancy, stability and instability; energy of displacement; convective available potential energy; lapse rates

    5. The equations of motion (I) - the Coriolis force: Fixed and rotating frames of reference; heuristic and mathematical formulations of the Coriolis force

    6. The equations of motion (II) - transformations and derivations in various coordinates: The pressure gradient force in three dimensions; the quasi-geostrophic equations of motion; the Coriolis force as a result of conservation of angular momentum; the equations of motion on a rotating plane; transformation to polar coordinates (rotating disc); transformation to spherical coordinates (rotating sphere); transformation to more practical coordinates: tangential, curvilinear coordinates.

    7. Balanced flow - simple practical models of large scale steady state dynamics: The geostrophic approximation; gradient wind (cyclonic and anticyclonic); cyclostrophic wind (a simple tornado model); inertial flow and inertial oscillations

    8. Unbalanced flow - accelerations and changes in time: Pressure tendency and the isallobaric wind; divergence, the continuity equation: convergence and vertical motion

    9. Circulation, vorticity and the long-wave equations: Circulation theorem; vorticity; curvature and latitude vorticity; Rossby waves; long-wave theory; potential vorticity

    10. Baroclinicity: Pressure coordinates; thermal wind and advection of thickness

    11. Applied topics: Friction in the boundary layer; wave depressions and frontal theory; the tropical cyclone

    The Atmospheric Science Program at IU