CLIM 711: Introduction to Atmospheric Dynamics

Fall 2017

Instructor

Prof. E. K. Schneider (Research I, room 206, 703-993-5364, eschnei1@gmu.edu)

Meetings

12:00-1:15 Tues/Thurs, Research Hall 202

Office Hours

10-11:45 am Thursdays

Text

Holton, James R. and Gregory J. Hakim, 2013: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 5^th edition, REQUIRED.

Note: earlier editions (no second author) can be substituted, but problem numbers do not necessarily correspond.

Course Work Requirements

Lectures, attendance and class participation (10%)

Problem sets (45%)

Midterm exam (20%)

Final exam (25%)

Qualifying Exam (*)

Course Description

The course covers Chapters 1-5 (4^th edition) complete + material from chapters 6-10 of Holton.

The basic conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy for a rotating atmosphere are derived, and a scaling analysis of the equation of motion and the thermodynamic equation is performed. Balanced flows in the atmosphere (e.g., the geostrophic wind and its vertical shear, and the thermal wind relationship) are discussed. Circulation and vorticity are introduced and the quasi-geostrophic approximation is developed. Applications of the equations of motion include the atmospheric boundary layer, 2D and 3D Rossby waves, barotropic and baroclinic instability, the energy cycle, the ideal Hadley circulation, and the general circulation of the atmosphere. A knowledge of vector calculus, and familiarity with ordinary and partial differential equations is required.