A ATM 500 Atmospheric Dynamics

Syllabus, Fall 2015

Course number: 10425 (3 credits)

Meets Tuesday, Thursday 10:15 - 11:35 AM in ES 328

Instructor: Brian Rose

Teaching assistant: Hannah Attard

  • Email: hattard@albany.edu
  • Office: ES 325
  • Office hours:
    • Drop-in homework and review sessions, Tuesday 4:15 - 5:15 PM in ES 223
    • Regular office hours, Friday 11 AM - 12 PM in ES 325

Course website:

http://www.atmos.albany.edu/facstaff/brose/classes/ATM500_Fall2015/

From the bulletin: Fundamentals of geophysical fluid dynamics necessary to understand atmospheric motions; conservation laws, fundamental forces, rotational effects, scaling of the equations of motion, concept of balance, circulation, vorticity and divergence.

Grading and course requirements

  • Homework: 40%
  • Midterm exam: 20%
  • Final exam: 40%

This course will consist of classroom lectures (with occasional demonstrations), assigned reading, and regular homework assignments. All three components are necessary for building an understanding of this fascinating but complex subject.

Textbook (required):

Geoffrey K. Vallis (2006): Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics, Cambridge University Press.

We will follow this text closely, and all students will need to follow the regular reading assignments. One copy of the book will be on reserve at the Science Library. The accompanying website has errata and electronic versions of all figures: http://www.vallisbook.org

Other useful books:

  • Holton and Hakim (2013): An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology (5th ed.), Elsevier Academic Press.
  • Benoit Cushman-Roisin (1994): Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Prentice Hall.
  • John Marshall and R. Alan Plumb (2007): Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics: an introductory text, Elsevier Academic Press.
  • Joseph Pedlosky (1987): Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (2nd ed.), Springer.
  • Jonathan E. Martin (2006): Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics: a first course, John Wiley and Sons.

Homework policy

There will be quasi-weekly homework assignments throughout the semester (about 10 total). Homework will be due at the beginning of class on the stated due date, usually 1 week after it is handed out. LATE HOMEWORK will incur a penalty of 15% per day. Exception: each student is granted ONE freebee late day to be used on one assignment of their choice. For these purposes "days" are defined as 24 hour periods after the due date and time, which is 10:15 am. Late assignments will not be accepted after solutions have been discussed in class.

Academic integrity

We strive for an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect. Class discussion in encouraged. Some collaboration and discussion with classmates on homework exercises is permissible, and sometimes even a good idea. However you must always submit your own work and your own thoughts, and give proper credit to others for previous work and ideas. It is every student's responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic integrity at UAlbany. Claims of ignorance, of unintentional error, or of academic or personal pressures are not sufficient reasons for violations of academic integrity. Please review these policies in the Graduate Bulletin at http://www.albany.edu/graduatebulletin/requirements_degree.htm