Class schedule
Here you can find the subject matter and assigned reading for every class day as well as expected homework dates.
Please check back here frequently as the schedule is subject to change.
The class meets every Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:35 - 11:30 AM in ETEC 482.
The course outline closely follows the chapters in the book A First Course in Atmospheric Thermodynamics by Grant W. Petty, Sundog Publishing, 2008
Note that exact due dates / times are given on Brightspace! The reading assignments are typically due by 11:59 pm the night before we begin covering the material in class.
Date (2024) |
Class No. |
Topic |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
8/26 |
0 |
Course overview |
|
8/28 |
1 |
Math review; Physical Problem Solving |
Appendix C response due |
8/30 |
2 |
Physical Problem Solving; Pressure and hydrostatic balance |
Appendix B response due |
9/2 |
NO CLASS (Labor Day) |
||
9/4 |
3 |
Atmospheric Composition |
Chapter 1 response due; Assignment 1 handed out |
9/6 |
4 |
Temperature and observed temperature profiles |
|
9/9 |
5 |
Thermodynamic systems and variables |
Chapter 2 response due |
9/11 |
6 |
Example problem 2.3, review of integrating separable equations |
Assignment 1 due |
9/13 |
7 |
Equation of state |
Chapter 3 response due; Assignment 2 handed out |
9/16 |
8 |
Equation of state for water vapor |
|
9/18 |
9 |
Equation of state for moist air |
|
9/20 |
10 |
Specific humidity and mixing ratio |
Assignment 2 due; Assignment 3 handed out |
9/23 |
11 |
Virtual temperature and buoyancy |
|
9/25 |
12 |
Ideal gas expansion laboratory demo |
|
9/27 |
13 |
Hydrostatic balance (a more careful look) |
Assignment 3 due |
9/30 |
14 |
Masses of air vs water columns; altitude dependence of g |
|
10/2 |
15 |
Homework review |
|
10/4 |
16 |
MIDTERM EXAM 1 |
|
10/7 |
17 |
Geopotential height, thickness, and the hypsometric equation |
|
10/9 |
18 |
Midterm solutions; applications of the hypsometric equation |
|
10/11 |
19 |
Idealized temperature and pressure profiles |
|
10/14 |
NO CLASS (Fall break) |
||
10/16 |
20 |
Standard Atmosphere and altimeter settings |
|
10/18 |
21 |
Pressure-Volume work |
|
10/21 |
22 |
The First Law of thermodynamics |
|
10/23 |
23 |
Adiabatic processes and potential temperature |
|
10/25 |
24 |
Homework solutions |
|
10/28 |
25 |
Dry adiabatic lapse rate |
|
10/30 |
26 |
Enthalpy, cyclic processes and work on a Skew-T diagram |
|
11/1 |
27 |
Reversibility, entropy and the Second Law |
|
11/4 |
28 |
Water vapor saturation and dewpoints |
|
11/6 |
29 |
Midterm exam review |
|
11/8 |
30 |
MIDTERM EXAM 2 |
|
11/11 |
31 |
Latent heat and example saturation problems |
|
11/13 |
32 |
The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation (introduction) |
|
11/15 |
33 |
The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation (details) |
|
11/18 |
34 |
Vapor lines and Lifting Condensation Level |
|
11/20 |
35 |
The Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate |
|
11/22 |
36 |
Equivalent potential temperature, wet bulb temperature and applications |
|
11/25 |
37 |
Dry Static Stability |
|
11/27 |
NO CLASS (Thanksgiving break) |
||
11/29 |
NO CLASS (Thanksgiving break) |
||
12/2 |
38 |
Brunt-Väisäila frequency |
|
12/4 |
39 |
Conditional and potential instability |
|
12/6 |
40 |
CIN and CAPE |
|
12/9 |
41 |
Pre-exam review Q&A |
LAST DAY OF CLASSES |
FINAL EXAM Tuesday December 17 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (per the University exam calendar