Lecture Syllabus
ATM 317: Dynamic Meteorology II

Prerequisite: ATM 316

Course Description:
An application of the governing equations to describe and understand synoptic to planetary scale phenomena, including vertical motion, jet streaks, and the frontal cyclone; introduction to the concepts of vorticity and potential vorticity.

Texts:
An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, Fifth Edition by J. R. Holton (Recommended)
Mid-latitude Atmospheric Dynamics by J. E. Martin (Required)

Course Topics (Tentative):

  1. Review
  2. Thickness and Thermal Wind
  3. Circulation
  4. Vorticity
  5. Potential vorticity
  6. Vorticity equation
  7. Structure of extratropical circulations
  8. Quasi-geostrophic approximations and the ageostrophic wind
  9. Quasi-geostrophic omega equation
  10. Ageostrophic circulations
  11. The Q-vector
  12. Quasi-geostrophic height tendency - time permitting

Grading: A-E

Accessibility: If you have a documented disability and may require some accommodation or modification in procedures, class activity, instruction, etc., please see me early in the semester. If you need forms or information, please visit the Disability Resource Center.

Academic Integrity: It is every student's responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic integrity at the University. Claims of ignorance, of unintentional error, or of academic or personal pressures are not sufficient reasons for violations of academic integrity. Please see the current Undergraduate Bulletin or University Libraries for more information on academic integrity.

Please turn off your cell phone before you get to class. All electronic devices, including cell phones, must be put away before class begins and in no way will they be tolerated during exams. You will be asked to leave the classroom for distracting use of electronic devices.

I know you have a life outside of class, therefore I give everyone one free late day to be used on one assignment. Once you have used your late day, a late assignment will incur a 10% deduction per day. If solutions have been discussed in class, you can no longer turn in your late assignment.

I will come to class prepared to lecture but I encourage you to start a conversation and ask questions in class if you do not understand something. If you have a question, chances are someone else has the same question, go ahead and speak up. The classroom should be an open and inviting environment so that everyone feels free to participate and discuss the material. Everyone is responsible for creating this type of environment; I ask you to leave your distractions at the door.