Course: CLIM 753
Term: Fall 2011
Time: Tuesday 1:30 PM - 4:10 PM
Location: Innovation Hall Room 338
Full Course Title: General Circulation of the Atmosphere
Course Description: Gives an observational overview and several theoretical perspectives of the
atmospheric circulations and the transport of energy, momentum and moisture on various time scales, and how these transports affect the climate.
Tropical and extra-tropical mean flow and transient structures are discussed theoretically and observationally. Research techniques are also emphasized.
Instructors: David M. Straus, V. Krishnamurthy
Contact: Dr. David M Straus
E-mail: dstraus@gmu.edu , straus@cola.iges.org
Course Notes: http://mason.gmu.edu/~dstraus/CLIM_753_syllabus.htm
References: (supplemental reading):
Andrews, D.G., J.R. Holton and C.B. Leovy, 1987: Middle Atmosphere Dynamics. Academic Press.
Gill, A. E., 1982: Introduction to Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics. Academic Press.
Grotjahn, R., 1993: Global Atmospheric Circulations. Oxford University Press.
Haltiner, G. J., and R. T. Williams, 1980: Numerical Prediction and Dynamical Meteorology. John Wiley & Sons.
Hoskins, B. J. and R. P. Pearce, 1983: Large Scale Dynamical Processes in the Atmosphere. Academic Press.
James, I. N., 1994: Introduction to Circulating Atmospheres. Cambridge University Press.
Lindzen, R. S., 1990: Dynamics in Atmospheric Physics. Cambridge University Press.
Peixoto, J. and A. H. Oort, 1992: The Physics of Climate. American Institute of Physics.
Salby, M. L, 1996: Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics. Academic Press.
Wiin-Nielsen, A. and T.-C. Chen, 1993. Fundamentals of Atmospheric Energetics. Oxford University Press
Unit 1 (Class 1) (David Straus)
1b. Review of Primitive Equations and Conservation Laws
Appendices for Primitive Equations
1c. Available Potential Energy
Unit 2 (Classes 2 and 3) (David Straus)
Observations and Theories. The Hadley cell and its role in meridional transport. The necessity of eddies.
The global mean meridional circulation.
Isentropic Coordinates: Mean Meridional Circulation and Heating.
Unit 3 (Classes 4 and 5) (David Straus)
Stationary Waves in mid-latitudes: Observations and transports.
Stationary Waves in mid-latitudes: Theory of Zonal Propagation.
Stationary Waves in mid-latitudes: Theory of Meridional Dispersion.
Stationary Waves in mid-latitudes: Theory of Vertical Propagation.
Unit 4 (Classes 6 and 7) (David Straus)
Mid-latitude transient fluctuations: Observations, theories and modeling. Transport by high and low frequency fluctuations. Storm tracks, blocking and regimes.
Unit 5 (Class 8) (David Straus)
Eddy-Zonal Flow Interaction and The Eliassen-Palm Flux
Empirical Orthogonal Functions
Unit 6 (Classes 9 and 10) (V. Krishnamurthy)
Tropical Stationary Waves: General Observations in the Global Tropics
Tropical Stationary Waves: Walker and Hadley Circulation: Monsoons
Unit 7 (Classes 11 and 12) (V. Krishnamurthy)
Tropical transient fluctuations: Kelvin, Rossby, Gravity waves. Theories and observations: Part 1 Part 2
Unit 8 (Class 13) (V. Krishnamurthy)
The Madden-Julian Oscillation. Theories and observations.
Student Presentations (Class 14 – part 1)(students)
Review (Class 14 – part 2) (David Straus and V. Krishnamurthy)
Exams: A Final Exam will be given.
Homework: 5 or 6 Homework Sets will be assigned.
Project: A student project involving written and oral presentations will be assigned.
Grading: Final grade is based on: Homework (40%), Student project (40%) and Final Exam (20%).
Official Fall 2010 GMU Schedule:
Class 1 Tuesday Aug 30
Class 2 Tuesday Sept 6
Class 3 Tuesday Sept 13
Class 4 Tuesday Sept 20
Class 5 Tuesday Sept 27
Class 6 Tuesday Oct 4
NO CLASS Tuesday Oct 11 (No Class as per GMU schedule)
Class 7 Tuesday Oct 18
Class 8 Tuesday Oct 25
Class 9 Tuesday Nov 1
Class 10 Tuesday Nov 8
Class 11 Tuesday Nov 15
Class 12 Tuesday Nov 22
Class 13 Tuesday Nov 29
Class 14 Tuesday Dec 6
Final Tuesday Dec 13
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