ATP3262 Dynamic Meteorology

The following are the main parts of the course.

• Thermodynamics: first law of thermodynamics for an air parcel, theory of thermodynamic diagrams and processes;
• Atmospheric moisture: humidity mixing ratio, dew point temperature, relative humidity;
• Dynamics: Forces acting on air parcels, pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, drag, forces in balance: hydrostatic, geostrophic and gradient wind;
• Analysis of atmospheric state using a tephigram including dry and saturated adiabats, lifting condensation level, atmospheric stability;
• Radiation laws and simple models;
• Temperature gradient effects: Thermal wind balance and thermal advection;
• Weather system analysis: mass conservation, divergence, vorticity, ageostrophic flow, vertical motion, jets, contribution of vertical motion to development of extratropical weather systems, frontogenesis.