NATS 101 Intro to Weather and Climate

Section 34: 08:00AM MWF ILC 150

Dr. E. Robert Kursinski

TA: Tina Stall

Please turn off cell phones

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Who Am I?• Professor Department of Atmospheric Science• Joint Faculty Appointment

Dept. of Planetary Sciences• Worked for many years at NASA JPL in So. Cal.• Research Specialty

Remote Sensing, Water cycle, Planetary atmospheres

• Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences M.S. in Electrical EngineeringB.S. in Physics, Minor in Music Theory

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Vital Statistics• Office Hours: Dr. Kursinski by Appointment

PAS Bldg, Rm 580Ms. Stall Monday & Wednesday 11-noon PAS Bldg, Rm 526 and by Appointment

• Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4th & 5th Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Picture Link Publisher Download, Save $

• Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Link

• Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards.

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Course Description

Intro to science of processes weather & climate change: – atmospheric structure and composition, – energy balance, – wind systems,– clouds and precipitation, – weather fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting, – thunderstorms and lightning, – hurricanes, monsoons, – climate and global warming, – ozone hole and air pollution

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Course DescriptionEmphasis will be given to phenomena that have

strong impacts on human activities.

The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry and mathematics will be noted.

Atmospheric Science is a branch of Applied Physics

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Attendance PolicyAttendance is mandatory, and will be tallied

throughout the term.

After three unexcused absences prior to week 9, I will submit to the Office of Curriculum and Registration an administrative drop from the course and assign a grade in accordance with UA policy.http://catalog.arizona.edu/2006-07/policies/classatten.htm

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Student BehaviorUA Code of Academic Integrity, Code of

Conduct and Student Code of Conduct are enforced in this course.

Every student is responsible for learning these codes and abiding by them. http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/ppmainpg.html

Students can submit complaints online at http://web.arizona.edu/~dos/uapolicies/

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Grading Policy

Final grade will be based on scores from closed book/closed notes quizzes and final exam.

Quizzes will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions.

Quizzes will cover new material presented through the end of the previous lecture day.

Extra credit questions given on some quizzes.

Extra credit impromptu “pop” quizzes given.

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Grading Policy• There will be seven quizzes during the term.

Dates for the quizzes are listed on the home page. • Students who arrive late on quiz days will be not

allowed to take the quiz after the first student turns in her/his quiz. No Exceptions

• The lowest score among the seven quizzes will be excluded from the course grade.

Therefore, no make-up quizzes.

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Grading Policy• If your final exam score exceeds the average of

your 6 best quizzes, the quizzes will comprise 60% of your term grade and the final 40%.Otherwise, the quizzes will comprise 75% of your term grade and the final 25%.

• CARROT:CARROT: If your average is 90% or higher on all 7 quizzes, you will earn an exemption from the final and will receive an "A'' for the course.

• No Extra Credit Projects.

So Plan Accordingly!So Plan Accordingly!

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Final Examination

Section 34 (08:00 am MWF): ILC 150Wednesday Dec. 12, 08:00 am - 10:00 am

• The final will consist of approximately 60 multiple choice questions and short answer questions.

• A number of questions will be taken verbatim from the old quizzes.

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Course Grading• Course Grading Scale

A 90% or higher

B 80.0-89.99%

C 65.0-79.99%

D 55.0-64.99% E < 55.0%

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ExpectationsEvery student is expected to:

• Complete all of the assigned reading before the lecture (unless you hear otherwise).

• Devote a minimum of 2 hours outside of class studying, reading, etc. for every hour of classroom lecture. Unit Credit Definition

• Attend class daily, arrive on time, leave when class is dismisseddismissed (courtesy to peer students).

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The Golden RuleInstructor and students all show:

Mutual Respect!

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Literacy RequirementsAlthough the writing requirement for this course is negligible, there is a science literacy requirement:

• Use scientific notation for writing numbers(especially rather large or small ones).

• Specify units of physical quantities (e.g. meters for elevation, etc.).

• Attempt to quantify physical relationships.

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Announcements

Course Homepage…is now functional

http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/

Click Course Links

Click NATS101 – Kursinski

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Class Format: Lecture Days

• 2-4 minutes - Interesting weather discussion

• 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-upFrom Prior Lecture, Optional

• 40-45 minutes - New Material Lecture, Demos, Discussion

• 2-3 minutes - Wrap-up and Summary

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Class Format: Quiz Days

• 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-upFrom Prior Lecture, Optional

• 5-10 minutes - Last Minute Questions Passing Out Quiz Materials

• 40 minutes - Quiz

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Class LISTSERV

• NATS101-034@listserv.arizona.edu• Use for any questions, comments, discussions

that are general interest to the class.• kursinski@atmo.arizona.edu is reserved for

personal requests not of general interest.• To subscribe go to http://listserv.arizona.edu/ and

click the link “Subscribe to a list”http://listserv.arizona.edu/Subscribe.htmlFollow straightforward instructions

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LISTSERV

You can subscribe by sending an email to listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the following as the only line in the body of the message.

subscribe nats101s34 Firstname Lastname

Substitute your first name for Firstname Substitute your last name for Lastname

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Importance of Atmosphere

• Necessary for a wide spectrum of features

Oceans

Clouds, Rain, Fresh Water

Erosion by Water and Wind

Life, Life on Land

Blue Skies, Red Sunsets, Twilight

Sound

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Importance of Atmosphere

• Point 1- Offers Protection

Consider surface temperatures

Without atmosphere?

0oF global average, large diurnal swings

Similar to the Moon’s Climate

With atmosphere…

60oF global average, moderate diurnal swings

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Importance of Atmosphere

• Point 2 - Offers Protection

Consider Surface Radiation

Shields against harmful UV radiation

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Importance of Atmosphere

• Consider Survival Time

Without Food

few weeks

Without Water

few days

Without Air

few minutes

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To Understand the Atmosphere

Examine its interfaces

with land/ocean

with space Sun

Space

Earth

Atmosphere

13,000 kmIs a very thin skin99% below 50 km (31 miles)50% below 5.5 km (3.4 miles)Atmosphere Picture

Energy Flow

Solar Input =

Output to Space

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Note “thinness” of atmosphere in light blue

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Local Weather and Climate: The North American Monsoon

• Tucson gets half of its rainfall during the summer• Sonora, Mexico gets most of its rainfall during the

summer• During summer, high pressure sets up to the

east/northeast of Arizona which brings moisture in from the south and east

• The monsoon is still going: Thunderstorms yesterday• For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php

http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/products/models/forecasts/forecast.html

• CONCERN: Our monsoon & rainfall may be changing

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Local: 2005 Monsoon Rainfall

• Record water flow through the Sabino and Rillito Creeks on July 31

• Rillito flow higher than Colorado river!

See http://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htm

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Course Building Blocks

• Intro 1st week or so

• Energy ~2 weeks

• Moisture ~2 weeks

• Dynamics ~3 weeks

Above are interdependent

• Specific Topics ~6 weeks

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Reading Assignment

• Ahrens

Pages 1-13

Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14

(1.14 means Chapter 1, Question 14)

Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards

Hurricane Dean Update

Hurricane Dean Forecasts