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Meteorology and Weather Forecasting Course Outline 1st Semester- Meteorology Unit 1: An Introduction the Earth’s Atmosphere • Differentiating between Weather and Climate • Atmospheric Hazards- Why it’s important to understand meteorology • The Atmosphere: Part of a larger system • Composition of the Atmosphere • Studying the Atmosphere- methodology • Thermal Structure of the Atmosphere o Labs Using a radiosonde and collecting real time/spatial data Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere (mathematical exercise) Unit 2: Heating Earth’s Surface and Atmosphere • Earth-Sun Relationships • Energy, Heat, and Temperature • Mechanisms of Heat Transfer • Incoming Solar Radiation • Radiation Emitted by Earth • Heat Budgets • Latitudinal Heat Balance o Labs Heat Budget of N. Hemisphere vs. S. Hemisphere Earth-Sun geometry (mathematical exercise) Insolation vs. Reflection using Infrared and color photography. Unit 3: The Relevance of Temperature in Meteorology • Why Temperatures Vary: Controls on Temperature • World Distribution of Temperatures • Cycles of Air Temperature • Measuring Temperature for Research • Applications of Temperature Data/Research o Labs Introduction to contour lines and maps. Making Climatograms (graphing exercise) Constructing temperature scales (C,K,F) Using Max/Min Thermometers and analyzing long-term data Unit 4: Moisture and Atmospheric Stability • The Hydrologic Cycle • Water Chemistry and Latent Heat • Humidity: Water Vapor in the Air • Vapor Pressure and Saturation • Relative Humidity • Dew-Point Temperature • Measuring Humidity: The tools and techniques • Adiabatic Temperature Changes • Processes that Lift Air • Atmospheric Stability • Stability Patterns and Perturbations o Labs Measuring Latent Heat using a calorimeter Measuring wind chill, relative humidity, and other sensible parameters Examining Atmospheric Stability (Adiabatic Lapse Rates) Unit 5: Forms of Condensation and Precipitation • Cloud Formation • Cloud Classification and Implications • Types Fog • Dew and Frost • How Precipitation Forms • Forms of Precipitation (more than just Rain!) • Measuring Precipitation: The tools and techniques • Anthropogenic Weather Events o Labs Cloud Busting- Studying Clouds in true Zen Style Making it rain- building a simple cloud chamber Protecting Crops from freezing Unit 6: Air Pressure and Winds • Understanding and Measuring Air Pressure • Pressure Changes with Altitude • Pressure Changes with Horizontal Variation • Factors Affecting Wind • Winds Aloft and Geostrophic Flow • Curved Flow and Gradient Winds • Surface Winds • Winds and Vertical Air Motion • Measuring Wind: The tools and techniques o Labs Examining the Coriolis Force Constructing 3-Dimensional models of the atmosphere Using Anemometers and barometers to forecast weather Unit 7: Circulation of the Atmosphere • Scales of Atmospheric Motion: Synoptic, Mesoscale, Etc. • Local Winds • Global Circulation Patterns • Observed Distribution of Pressure and Winds • Monsoons • The Westerlies • Global Winds and Ocean Currents • El Nino and La Nina • Global Distribution of Precipitation o Labs Weather Map Construction/Analysis Chart surface and geostrophic winds Unit 8: Air Masses • Air Mass Source Regions • Air-Mass Modifications and Dynamic Weather • North American Air Masses Unit 9: Weather Patterns • Polar Front Theory • Frontal Systems • Midlatitude Cyclones: Their formation, propagation, and ramifications o Labs Investigating a mid-latitude cyclone (start to finish) 2nd Semester- Severe Storms and Weather Forecasting Unit 10: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes • Air-Mass Thunderstorms • Severe Thunderstorms (what makes them severe?) • Lightning and Thunder • The Development and Occurrence of Tornadoes • Tornado Destruction • Forecasting Tornadoes o Lab In-Depth Analysis of Major Tornadoes and Derechos Unit 11: Hurricanes • Hurricane Formation and Decay • Hurricane Destruction/Dissipation • Forecasting and Tracking Hurricanes o Labs In-Depth Analysis of Major Hurricanes and Cyclones Unit 12: An Introduction to Weather Forecasting and Analysis • Data Sources, Formats, and Processing • Synoptic, Numerical, and Statistical Forecasting • An Introduction to Computer Modeling and its Relevance to Forecasting Unit 13: Surface and Upper-Air Charts • Creating Weather Charts • Contouring: Isotherms, Isobars, Isodrosotherms, Isohypses • Useful Features and Patterns on various Charts o Labs Converting raw Radiosonde Data into a forecast Unit 14: Radar • Basic Design and Operational Properties • The Doppler Effect • Radar Products: Modeled Output Charts and Algorithms o Labs Recognizing Specific RADAR signatures and forecasting severe weather Unit 15: Satellite • Basic Design and Operation Properties • Geosynchronous vs. Low Earth Orbiting Satellites • Satellite Products: Visible, Infra-red, and Water Vapor Imagery • Multispectral products and real-time data o Labs Recognizing Specific Satellite signatures and forecasting severe weather Unit 16: Forecasting Simulations • Forecasting Precipitation • What Type of Precipitation Will Occur? • Forecasting Severe Weather • Thunderstorms, Hail, Tornadoes, Hurricanes o FINAL PROJECT Forecasting weather for a specific location.
