Course Description

In this class, we’ll cover the nuts and bolts of motions in the atmosphere, with a particular focus on synoptic-scale and global-scale motions.  This course provides the fundamental theoretical knowledge necessary to answer the following questions:

• Why do the winds blow from west to east at mid-latitudes?
• Why does air spin counterclockwise around low-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere?
• Because we can’t easily measure vertical motion in the atmosphere, how can we determine where air is going to rise and form clouds and precipitation?
• Why are there ridges and troughs in the jet stream that lead to cold air outbreaks and heat waves at mid-latitudes?
• What processes are responsible for the rapid growth of mid-latitude weather systems?

This course is a foundation for advanced study and research in atmospheric science, meteorology, and atmosphere-related disciplines.

Who Should Take This Class?

• Graduate students specializing in atmospheric science
• Upper-level undergraduate students who are considering graduate school in atmospheric science, meteorology, or a closely-related discipline
• Upper-level undergraduate students who are planning to work in an atmosphere-specific field (forecasting, National Weather Service, etc.)
• Graduate and undergraduate students with a strong quantitative background, who are interested in learning more about the theory for how the atmosphere works

Prerequisites

• Two semesters of calculus (MATH 1310 & 1320, or equivalent) required; multivariable calculus (Calculus III; MATH 2310) recommended
• EVSC 3300 (Atmosphere and Weather), or one semester of physics (PHYS 1425 or equivalent) required