ATMO 170A1 - Introduction to Weather and
Climate
Fall 2016 - Section 1
Class hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00-9:50 am, Education Rm. 211
Instructor: Prof. Thomas Galarneau, PAS 570, 520-626-7843, tgalarneau@email.arizona.edu, http://tgalarneau.faculty.arizona.edu/
Office hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 10:15-11:15 am, or by appointment
Teaching assistant (office hours): Malori Redman, PAS 526, mredman@email.arizona.edu (Tue/Thu 12:30-1:30 p.m., Wed 12:00-1:00 p.m.)
Course description from UA catalog: An introduction to the science of weather processes and climate, including the genesis of fronts and cyclones, precipitation processes, the wind systems of the world, severe storms, and weather forecasting. Special emphasis will be given to natural phenomena which have strong impacts on human activities including tornadoes, hurricanes, El Nino, global warming, ozone depletion, and air pollution. The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to atmospheric science will be stressed.
This course counts toward the Tier 1 Natural Sciences general education requirement. There are no specific prerequisites for this course.
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Below is a tentative course schedule.
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|
Dates |
Monday |
Wednesday |
Friday |
|
Aug. 22, 24, 26 |
Ch. 1: Introduction Atmospheric composition Reading: p. 3-10 |
Ch. 1: Atmospheric composition Dewpoint
temperature Monsoon Reading: p. 3-10 |
Ch. 1: Mass, weight, density, pressure Vertical structure Reading: p. 10-15 |
|
Aug. 29, 31, Sep. 2 |
Ch. 1: Vertical structure Weather and climate Weather systems and impacts Reading: p. 10-25 |
Ch. 2: Temperature and heat transfer Reading: p. 29-35 |
Ch. 2: Latent heating Radiation and greenhouse effect Reading: p. 35-46 |
|
Sep. 5, 7, 9 |
no class |
Ch. 2: Surface energy balance Seasons Reading: p. 43-54 |
Ch. 3: Air temperature Reading: p. 59-80 |
|
Sep. 12, 14, 16 |
Ch. 1-3 wrap-up Review for Exam #1 |
EXAM #1 |
Ch. 6: Station model plot |
|
Sep. 19, 21, 23 |
Ch. 6: Ideal gas law Surface weather maps Reading: p. 157-165 |
Ch. 6/8: Surface weather maps Cyclones and anticyclones Vertical motion Air masses Reading: p. 174-176, 223-234 |
Ch. 8: Air masses Fronts Reading: p. 223-244 |
|
Sep. 26, 28, 30 |
Ch. 8: Fronts Cyclone
life cycles Reading: p. 235-253 |
Ch. 6: Upper-air maps Newton's Laws of motion Reading: p. 164-174 |
Ch. 6: Balance of forces Reading: p. 166-174 *LAB #2 DUE* |
|
Oct. 3, 5, 7 |
Ch. 6 and 8 wrap-up Review for Exam #2 |
EXAM #2 |
Go over exam #2 |
|
Oct. 10, 12, 14 |
Ch. 4: Moisture and humidity Reading: p. 84-98 |
Ch. 4: Moisture and humidity Reading: p. 84-98 |
Ch. 4: Condensation nuclei and formation of
clouds, dew, and frost Reading: p. 98-105 |
|
Oct. 17, 19, 21 |
Ch. 4: Cloud types Reading: p. 105-114 |
Ch. 4: Satellite imagery Reading: p. 114-118 |
Ch. 5: Precipitation processes and types Reading: p. 134-149 |
|
Oct. 24, 26, 28 |
Ch. 4-5 wrap-up Review for Exam #3 |
EXAM #3 |
Go over exam #3 |
|
Oct. 31, Nov. 2, 4 |
Ch. 10: Thunderstorms Reading: p. 287-300 |
Ch. 10: Thunderstorm hazards Reading: p. 301-311 |
Ch. 10: Lightning Reading: p. 301-311 *EXCHANGE COMPLETED LAB #1 FOR PEER REVIEW* |
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Nov. 7, 9, 11 |
Ch. 10: Tornadoes Reading: p. 311-328 |
Ch. 10: Tornadoes Reading: p. 311-328 |
no class |
|
Nov. 14, 16, 18 |
Storm chasing |
Ch. 10 wrap-up Review for Exam #4 *LAB #1 DUE* |
EXAM #4 |
|
Nov. 21, 23, 25 |
no class |
no class |
no class |
|
Nov. 28, 30, Dec. 2 |
Ch. 11: Hurricanes Reading: p. 333-362 |
Ch. 11: Hurricanes Reading: p. 333-362 |
Ch. 14: Air pollution Reading: p. 431-456 |
|
Dec. 5, 7 |
Ch. 14: Ozone Reading: p. 438-442 |
Ch. 11 and 14 wrap-up |
|
REVIEW SESSIONS:
THURSDAY DEC. 8 AT 1:00-2:50
PM, PHYSICS-ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES RM. 220
MONDAY DEC. 12 AT 1:00-3:00 PM,
PHYSICS-ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES RM. 220
FINAL EXAM: TUESDAY DEC. 13 AT
10:30 AM-12:30 PM, EDUCATION RM. 211