Syllabus for ATMO 611, Spring 2005

Atmospheric Dynamics II

 

Instructor: Prof. Fuqing Zhang, 1002B O&M Building, 862-1580, fzhang@tamu.edu

Lecture hours: 8:45-10:00 MW; Office hours: 1:30-2:30 MW

 

Description: This is the second course of a two-course sequence presenting an introduction to central dynamical concepts and models in meteorology. It assumes familiarity with the subject matter of ATMO 601. The present course will focus on the fundamental concepts of various balanced models (geostrophy, quasi-geostrophy, semi-geostrophy and nonlinear balance), waves (internal/inertia gravity waves, Rossby waves, etc.) and instabilities (KH, symmetric, baroclinic and barotropic instabilities).

 

Homework: Problem sets will be assigned roughly every other week. You are expected to work independently to solve the problems though discussions among classmates are allowed. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Late homework will be penalized 20% each day after the due date; it will not be accepted after the 5th day past due.

 

Grading: Homework (20%), two in-class exams (25% each), and a final exam (30%).

 

Textbook: Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology (Holton)

Additional reference:     Atmospheric-Ocean Dynamics (Gill)

 

Course Outline:

1. Preliminaries

            1.1 Review of the governing equations

            1.2 Coordinate systems

            1.2 Scale analysis

           

2. Planetary boundary layer

            2.1 Atmospheric turbulence

            2.2 Turbulent kinetic energy

            2.3 PBL momentum equations

            2.4 Secondary circulations and Ekman pumping

 

3. Quasi-geostrophic analysis and dynamics

3.1 Introduction to balanced motions

3.2 QG approximations

3.3 QG PV and QG prediction

3.4 QG vertical motions

 

4. Atmospheric waves

            4.1 Internal gravity waves

            4.2 Inertia gravity waves

            4.3 Geostrophic adjustment

            4.4 Rossby waves

 

5. Instabilities

            5.1 Baroclinic instability

            5.2 Barotropic instability

            5.3 Other atmospheric instabilities

 

6. Nonlinear topics

            6.1 Atmospheric predictability

            6.2 Wave-wave interaction

            6.3 Solitary waves

           

ADA Policy Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building. The phone number is 845-1637.

 

Plagiarism Policy Statement: As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.  Please refer to the Texas A&M plagiarism website http://library.tamu.edu/aggiehonor for more details on this statement.