Introduction to Atmospheric Processes (ENST and GEOG 53)
Fall Semester 2005
Meeting times and location: 1230– 145 pm TTh; Saunders Hall, Room 204
Home page:
http://www.unc.edu/courses/2005fall/geog/053/001/index.html
Instructor:
Charles E. Konrad
Department of Geography
305 Saunders Hall
tele: 919-962-3873
e-mail: konrad@unc.edu
Office Hours: 1045-1145am TTh
T.A.
Tony Randolph
e-mail: tonyrand@email.unc.edu
GEOG/ ENST 53 provides an
introduction to 1)
the processes that control the structure of the atmosphere; 2) the
atmospheric
patterns that are forced by these processes; and 3) the influences of
these
atmospheric processes on the environment. Radiative,
thermodynamic, and
kinematic processes are explored along with the fluxes of energy and
matter
that circulate through the system. Various energy and mass
budgets are
developed to illustrate the spatial and temporal nature of these
processes and
fluxes. General patterns of weather and climate are tied to
characteristics of these processes and fluxes. Particular
attention is
paid to atmospheric patterns that produce or contribute to
environmental
problems.
Course Learning Objectives
I. Conceptual
1. Understand the radiative, thermodynamic, and dynamic processes operating in the atmosphere and the interactions occurring between them.
2. Tie atmospheric processes to atmospheric patterns across a range of spatial and temporal scales (e.g. global to local scales). This will be accomplished through the development of conceptual models.
3. Develop a feel for the spatial / temporal scales of atmospheric processes / patterns.
4. Relate atmospheric processes to mass, energy, and water cycling / budgets using continuity equations.
5. Connect atmospheric processes to
various
environmental problems including air pollution, land use change, and
anthropogenic greenhouse gas production.
II. Analytical and “Hands On”
1. Develop problem solving skills, in particular, finding appropriate equations, algebraically manipulating them, and converting to appropriate units.
2. Acquire hands-on experience with several basic instruments and the errors associated with them and their placement.
3. Gain introductory knowledge on the development and use of atmospheric budgets and models.
4. Develop a “feel” for atmospheric field uncertainties (i.e. their temporal and spatial variability).
5. Learn how to compose and
communicate
technical information (e.g. present data in technical reports)
Required Texts
Meteorology Today (7th edition) by Donald Ahrens provides an introductory and largely conceptual treatment of the atmosphere and environment. It establishes a context for the lecture material and provides numerous examples of atmospheric phenomena.
Grading
Participation and
Attendance 10%
Exam
I
15 %
Exam
II
20 %
Recitation
Work
30 %
Final
Exam
25 %
_____
Total
100 %
SYLLABUS
Ahrens
1.
Introduction
2. The
Atmosphere
Evolution
and Composition
2-7
Structure
8-14
Thermodynamic
variables
Introduction
to synoptic weather patterns
210-220, 16-18,
Fig. 1.13
3.
Radiation
Radiation
basics
33-43
Radiation
budgets
42,
63-68
Earth-sun
geometry & climate change scenarios 54-62,
513-515
4.
Thermodynamics
Energy
and
its manifestations: An overview
26-33
First
law of
thermodynamics, adiabatic processes 26,
160
Energy
budgets
Boundary
layer thermodynamics
5.
Moisture
Measures
of
moisture
109-121
Moist
Thermodynamics and diabatic processes
Atmospheric
Stability
160-178
Clouds & haze 127-128
Precipitation
181-205
6.
Circulation and Dynamics
Introduction:
Geostrophic winds
221-225
Gradient
&
boundary layer winds
221-234
Mass
continuity equation & katabatic winds
Scales of
circulation
-----
Atmospheric pollutants and dispersion
processes
441-467
7. Weather and Climates of the World
The general
circulation
273-286, 472-479
The
Tropics
482-491
The
Mid-latitudes
491-499, 302-345*
The High
latitudes
499-501
8.
Global climate scenarios and
modelling
Greenhouse
effect and
warming issues
39-41,
511
Black
and white version of
lecture outlines:
Introduction
Evolution and Composition
Thermodynamic variables
Introduction to synoptic weather patterns
Radiation Basics
Radiation budgets
Earth-sun geometry & climate change scenarios
Energy and its manifestations: An overview
First law of thermodynamics, adiabatic processes
Energy budgets
Boundary Layer Thermodynamics
Measures of Moisture
Moist Thermodynamics and diabatic processes
Atmospheric Stability
Introduction: Geostrophic Winds
Gradient and Boundary layer winds
Mass continuity equation & katabatic winds
General Circulation
Greenhouse warming
Recitation Sessions (Topics and times are subject to change)
1. Introduction to
Weather maps
(Sept 7-8)
Develop a feel for synoptic weather
patterns
(i.e. weather changes across time/space)
Interpret National Weather Service
surface and
upper air analyses
2. Atmospheric Field
Measurements and Uncertainties (Sept 14-15)
Learn how to make field
measurements using
a digital thermometer, infrared digital thermometer, and a digital
psychrometer.
Assessment temperature and moisture
variability
across campus
3. Radiation and
Radiation
Budgets (Sept 21-22 and 28-29)
Measure and calculate different types
of
radiation (visible, infrared, incoming, outgoing) over different
surfaces under
a range of atmospheric conditions. This will be carried out on campus
using the
pyranometer and net radiometer.
Use a spreadsheet to calculate and
interpret
various radiative quantities. Calculate radiation for different
latitudes
during different times of the year.
4. Temperature and
Energy budgets
(Parts I and II) (Oct 5-6 and 12-13)
Measure temperatures in different
locations.
Construct radiation budgets from real and archived (e.g. from extreme
situations) data and interpret them. This will be accomplished through
the use
of an Excel spreadsheet. Compare temperatures and energy
budgets
obtained over different surfaces. Additionally, compare these
budgets
with those obtained using archived data collected across the Triangle.
Compute
synoptic scale energy budgets that consider thermal advection and
vertical air
movements.
5. Atmospheric
thermodynamics
and stability (Oct 26-27 and Nov 2-3)
Calculate the changes in the
thermodynamic
properties of ascending and descending air parcels using the Poisson
equation.
Learn how to use thermodynamic charts
(e.g. log
P/skew T diagrams ) to calculate changes in thermodynamic properties of
air
parcels.
Calculate atmospheric stability from
real-time
& archived weather data and thermodynamic charts. Compare
stabilities with those
obtained from extreme weather situations.
6. Air Pollution and
the
Gaussian Dispersion Model (Nov 9-10)
Calculate concentrations of pollutants
at
various locations relative to a smoke stack using a spreadsheet model.
7. Air Quality
Climatologies (Nov 16-17)
Extract and manipulate atmospheric
circulation
data.
Relate atmospheric circulation
patterns to air
pollution events
