RUC Model Output
Course Objectives
1. to understand the principles governing atmospheric
motions and to apply these
principles to a variety of atmospheric phenomena,
2. to understand the implications of hydrostatic and
geostrophic balance on the structures and evolution
of synoptic-scale systems,
3. to understand the role of atmospheric motions in the
global energy and momentum budgets.
Course Outline
I. MATHEMATICAL TOOLS
a. Taylor series
b. vector calculus
II. FUNDAMENTALS
a. real forces
b. pseudo forces
c. total differentiation
d. mass continuity
e. first law of thermodynamics
f. hydrostatic balance
III. KINEMATICS
a. velocity fields
b. stream lines and trajectories
IV. BALANCED FLOWS
a. Le Chatelier's principle
b. geostrophic flow
c. gradient flow
d. thermal wind equation
V. UNBALANCED FLOWS
a. inertial oscillations
b. buoyancy oscillations
c. ageostrophic flow
d. zonally-symmetric circulations
VI. CIRCULATION & VORTICITY
a. kinematics of circulation & vorticity
b. circulation theorems
c. vorticity theorem
VII. POTENTIAL VORTICITY
a. Ertel's potential vorticity
b. quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity
c. applications
TEXT
Holton, J.R.: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, Third Edition. Academic Press
GRADES
Two quizzes and a final will be given. The dates are:
quiz # 1 February 9
quiz # 2 March 23
final May 1 (10:10-noon)
In the quizzes and final you will be allowed to bring one 8.5x11 sheet upon which you can write anything. The final grade will be assigned according to the following rule:
Quiz # 1 20%,
Quiz # 2 20%,
Final 40%,
Problems 20%.
HOMEWORK PROBLEMS
Set1
Set2
Set3
Set4
Set5a
Set5b
Set6
Set7
Set8
Set9
Set10
Set11
EXAMINATIONS
Exam1
Last updated 6 April 2001
clark@ems.psu.edu
