Course Syllabus
Atmospheric Motions I
(ATM S 441/503, Autumn 2022)
- Class meets: MWF 10:30-11:20 am ATG 310 (*Class schedule*)
- Office hour: M/Tu 1:30-2:20 pm (ATG 608)
- Prerequisites: AMATH 353 or MATH 309; MATH 324 or equivalents.
- Purpose of the course: Develop an understanding of why large-scale midlatitude weather systems behave as they do. As an example we might consider a simple question; why does the wind blow almost parallel to the height contours on a 500-mb map?
- Textbook: Holton, J. R., and G. Hakim, 2013: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology (5th Ed.).
- Content: Course will include lectures, quizes and homeworks. Homeworks will consist of problems similar to those in the text. [NOTE: Graduate students registered for ATM S 503 will attend the 441 but may have additional problem assignments and will be graded separately from the undergraduates registered for 441]
- Course Outline (subject to change at any time)
I. Introduction: Fundamental forces, rotating coordinates, Coriolis force, atmospheric statics.
II. Basic conservation laws: Momentum equation, continuity equation, thermodynamic energy equation, scale analysis.
III. Elementary applications of the basic equations: Isobaric coordinates, geostrophic flow, intertial flow, cyclostrophic flow, gradient wind, thermal wind, vertical motion.
IV. Circulation, vorticity, and potential vorticity: Circulation theorem, vorticity, potential vorticity, barotropic vorticity equation.
V. Atmospheric oscillations: Linear perturbation theory, basic properties of waves, linear waves.
- Grading:
Homework: 25%
Quiz: 25%
Mid-term: 25%
Final: 25%
- Note: No makeup tests will be provided unless the absence is excused in advance.
- Class overview
| Week | Course material | Reading/Reference |
|
1 |
09/28: Course introduction (slides) |
Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology
|
|
2 |
10/03: Fundamental forces (handout) |
Fundamental forces
|
|
3 |
10/10: Hypsometric equation (handout) |
Hypsometric equation
|
|
4 |
10/17: Continuity equation (handout) |
Continuity equation
|
|
5 |
10/24: Thermodynamic energy equation II (handout) 10/26: Basic equations in pressure coordinate (handout) 10/28: Natural coordinate (handout) |
Basic equations in isobaric coordinates
|
|
6 |
10/31: Natural coordinate II, Balanced flow (handout) |
Balanced flow
|
|
7 |
11/07: Thermal wind (handout) |
Thermal wind
Vorticity
|
|
8 |
11/14: Mid-term discussion |
The circulation theorem
Vorticity equation
|
|
9 |
11/21: Potential vorticity (handout) |
Potential vorticity
|
|
10 |
11/28: Shallow water equation (handout) |
Rossby waves
|
|
11 |
12/05: Shallow water gravity waves (handout) 12/07: Quiz IV 12/09: Class review |
Shallow water waves
|
- Communication
Please feel free to reach out with questions or concerns about the course at any point throughout the quarter.
-
- Direct email is preferred through Canvas messaging.
- We will frequently communicate through Canvas announcements. Please ensure that your Canvas settings are updated so that you receive updates and announcements.
- For private concerns: please contact the instructor directly.
- Questions about assignments, exam prep, grading, and course accessibility.
- When will you hear back from us?
- Monday- Friday: I will get back to you within 24 hours of a post or email
- I will monitor email on weekends, but it may take a bit longer to reply.
- Strategies for Success
- Keep up with the class: read the textbook, attend the lectures, and go to office hours.
- The lectures, homework, and lecture exercises indicate the topics the instructor believes are most challenging and important. Material is presented in the lecture that is not in the textbook or readings; you will still be expected to know this material.
- Check in during office hours or email when you need help.
- If the format of our Canvas site is not clear, please get in touch soon! We want you to be able to navigate the course contents easily.
- I want you to succeed in this class!!!!
- Academic Honesty:
- The University, the Atmospheric Sciences department, and I take academic honesty very seriously. If you are uncertain if something constitutes academic misconduct, please ask me.
- Acts of academic misconduct may include but are not limited to:
- Cheating
- unauthorized assistance in person and/or online for assignments, quizzes, tests, or exams
- using another student’s work without permission and instructor authorization
- allowing anyone to take a course, assignment, or exam for you without instructor authorization
- Posting or sharing homework/exercise/exam questions on an online platform
- Falsification: intentional use of falsified data, information, or records
- Plagiarism: representing the work of others as your own without giving appropriate credit to the original author(s)
- Unauthorized collaboration: working with each other on assignments without permission
- Engaging in behavior prohibited by an instructor
- Multiple submissions of the same work in different courses without instructor permission
- Deliberately damaging or destroying student work to gain an advantage
- Unauthorized recording, and/or subsequent dissemination of instructional content
- Cheating
- We expect that you will know and follow university policies on cheating and plagiarism. Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be handled according to university regulations. For more information, see the College of the Environment’s Academic Misconduct Policy and the Community Standards and Student Conduct website.
- Student Conduct:
- All UW students agree to abide by, and familiarize themselves with, the Student Conduct Code when enrolling at the University of Washington. All students in ATM S courses are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code (also known as WAC 478-120). The possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances, firearms, and dangerous weapons will not be tolerated. Physical abuse, sexual harassment, or harassment of any kind (including online), for any reason, will not be tolerated. Violations will be immediately reported to the Community Standards and Student Conduct, and possibly the UW Police Department. The Student Conduct Code can be viewed HERE.
- If you have questions or concerns regarding an alleged violation of the Student Conduct Code please contact your instructor, ATM S Student Services (206-543-4576 or atmosadv@uw.edu), or Community Standards and Student Conduct (206-685-6194 or cssc@uw.edu).
- Religious Accommodations
- Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for the accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form available HERE.
- Disability Resources
- We are committed to the success of each one of the students in this class. Further, it is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. Disability Resources for Students (DRS) offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
- If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (including, but not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical, or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206‐543‐8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or visit the DRS website.
- Statement About Diversity and Inclusion
- I aim to create and maintain an inclusive learning environment in this class. A diversity of perspectives and experiences are recognized as a source of strength for this class and the study of Earth's climate. My goal is that students from all backgrounds will be well-served by this course and that it will be accessible to each of you, regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexuality, or socioeconomic background.
- We welcome your input on ways to improve the effectiveness of this course.
- Safety and Mental Health Resources
- Your physical safety and mental health will significantly impact your academic success.
- Any member of the UW community can call SafeCampus anytime to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. If you need to talk to someone right now:
- UW partners with My SSP (Student Support Program) to give students access to real-time, confidential mental health and crisis intervention. It is available 24/7 and in multiple languages. You can:
- Call from within the US or Canada: 1.866.743.7732
- If calling from outside the US or Canada: 001.416.380.6578
- Chat with a My SSP counselor on the My SSP website
- You can also reach out, 24/7 to call Crisis Connections: 866.427.474 or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Text Line counselor
- For longer-term help, the UW Counseling Center is available for virtual visits. You can call them at 206.543.1240
- Please see UW Wellbeing website for the full list of available mental health and safety resources at UW.
- IT Support
- For technical help, please first try the help page for UW Information Technology--I have found them to be very responsive and helpful. If the issue is not resolved with them, please contact the instructor.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|