Tentative* Schedule for ATMO 203 (MW 10:20-11:10, 11:30-12:20 or TR 9:50-10:40)

 

M/W

Tu/Th

Topic

Tutor.

Forecast City

8/25

8/26

Introduction/Syllabus, ice-breakers, computer tutorials

2

 

8/27

8/28

Meteorological observations:  Unit conversions and decoding weather data

4, 5

Contest registration

9/1

9/2

Meteorological observations:  METAR reports and station models

 

 

9/3

9/4

QUIZ 1; Overview of “Weather Challenge” forecasting contest and journals

 

Registration due

9/8

9/9

Temperature forecasting:  Radiation and the diurnal cycle, Clouds and moisture

8, 9

 

9/10

9/11

Temperature forecasting:  Clouds and moisture (cont.)

Finding and interpreting forecast models on the internet

19, 20

 

9/15

9/16

Temperature forecasting:  Wind and mixing, interpreting forecast models

10

 

9/17

9/18

Temperature forecasting:  Air masses, fronts and temperature advection

11

 

9/22

9/23

Temperature forecasting:  Temperature advection (cont.); instructor FD

 

Test forecast

9/24

9/25

QUIZ 2; The forecasting process, last-minute “Weather Challenge” details

15

FD signup

9/29

9/30

Atmospheric pressure and equation of state; instructor FD

13

Jacksonville, FL

10/1

10/2

Pressure gradients and hydrostatic balance

 

Jacksonville, FL

10/6

10/7

Forces and wind; student-led FD

12, 14.1

Jacksonville, FL

10/8

10/9

Forces and wind (cont.), geostrophic wind and introduction to upper-air maps

14.2

Jacksonville, FL

10/13

10/14

Upper-air maps and 500 mb map analysis; student-led FD

Forecast Journal for Jacksonville, FL due

16 (first half)

Casper, WY

Journal Due

10/15

10/16

QUIZ 3; Upper-air maps and 500 mb map analysis (cont.)

 

Casper, WY

10/20

10/21

Upper-air maps and vorticity; student-led FD

16 (rest)

Casper, WY

10/22

10/23

Upper-air maps and vorticity (cont)., midlatitude cyclones 

 

Casper, WY

10/27

10/28

Connecting surface and upper-air features in satellite imagery; student-led FD

Forecast Journal for Casper, WY due

6

Green Bay, WI

Journal Due

10/29

10/30

Precipitation forecasting and sounding diagrams:  Introduction  

17

Green Bay, WI

11/3

11/4

QUIZ 4; Career paper guidelines; student-led FD

 

Green Bay, WI

11/5

11/6

Sounding diagrams:  Clouds and convection

18

Green Bay, WI

11/10

11/11

Sounding diagrams:  Clouds and convection (cont.); student-led FD

Forecast Journal for Green Bay, WI due

 

Quillayute, WA

Journal Due

11/12

11/13

Interpreting sounding diagrams:  Severe storms 

 

Quillayute, WA

11/17

11/18

Interpreting sounding diagrams:  Winter storms and hurricanes; student-led FD

Career Paper Due

 

Quillayute, WA

Career Paper Due

11/19

11/20

Tropical forecasting and hurricanes and/or radar imagery

24, 7

Quillayute, WA

11/24 

11/25

QUIZ 5 (cumulative); LAST DAY FOR ATMO 203; Sources of model error

Forecast Journal for Quillayute, WA due

21

Journal Due

 

 

ALL ASSIGNMENTS DUE BY 3 P.M. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd!!!!!

 

 

*I reserve the right to modify this schedule. If there are major changes during the semester, an updated version of the schedule and/or syllabus will be provided.  Lab assignment due dates are not posted, but they will be due at least one week after they are assigned.