Undergraduate Course: Atmospheric Dynamics (METE10001)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Geosciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Meteorology |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
Introduces the fundamentals of atmospheric circulation that govern weather and climate in the tropics and mid-latitudes. This includes large-scale flows and eddies, the General Circulation and mid-latitude storm systems. Meteorological data will be used to illustrate air flow patterns, jetstreams, mid-latitudes cyclones and their intensification. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Mathematics for Physics 4 (PHYS08038)
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
In addition to passing Mathematics for Physics 4 a further 30 credits at level 9/10 from schedule Q or N is also required
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | Atmospheric Dynamics | 1-11 | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | Atmospheric Dynamics | 1-11 | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Monday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: King's Buildings. Lecture - Lecture Theatre A, Peter Wilson Building (SAC) |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
Stationery Requirements |
Comments |
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Atmospheric Dynamics | 2:00 | 12 sides | School's calcs. Use only | | Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | 12 sides | School's calculators allowed only |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course it is intended that the student will have a detailed, integrated knowledge of the fundamentals of atmospheric dynamics that govern weather and climate in the mid-latitudes and tropics. Students will learn how to apply fundamental equations of fluid flow to understand atmospheric circulation, wind patterns, jetstreams, and mid-latitudes cyclone evolution. They will also become familiar as to how different meteorological data can be used to determine mid-latitude cyclone intensification. Specifically, students will also be able to:
-Develop the concept of &«potential temperature&ª and its relevance to the vertical stability of the atmosphere
-Show how to derive the Navier-Stokes equation from Newton&©s first law of motion and the conservation of mass
-Explain how the Navier-Stokes equations are transformed to represent large-scale flow for a rotating Earth
-Understand the relative magnitudes of the forces and accelerations present in synoptic-scale mid-latitude weather patterns
-Use geostrophic and thermal wind approximations to obtain estimates of winds in synoptic-scale systems from pressure and temperature gradients.
-Understand the typical configuration of meridional circulations in the tropics and their relation to the atmospheric General Circulation and the strength of the sub-tropical jet
-Explain the concept of potential vorticity and its usefulness for understanding airflow over a mountain
-Discuss the motivation for and limitations of treatment of atmospheric wave motion as a perturbation from a basic flow (linear theory) in order to explain friction at the Earth&©s surface and planetary waves
-Explain the observed behaviour of mid-latitude planetary-scale waves and mid-latitude cyclone growth by use of linear theory
-Review the latest IPCC 4th assessment of how climate change may affect the mid-latitude storm tracks and system and critically evaluate these with professional-level insights. Students will also inform their knowledge with background reading of relevant, up to date literature.
By the end of this course, students will be skilled in numerical problem solving and critical evaluation as done by professional-level researchers, both at the individual and group level.
|
Assessment Information
| Examination at the end of First Semester in December |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Ruth Doherty
Tel: (0131 6)50 6759
Email: ruth.doherty@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Helen Mckeating
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Helen.McKeating@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh -
31 January 2011 8:01 am
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