Atmospheric Dynamics
- Academic year
- 2019/2020 Syllabus of previous years
- Official course title
- Atmospheric Dynamics
- Course code
- PHD032 (AF:317692 AR:170740)
- Modality
- On campus classes
- ECTS credits
- 6
- Degree level
- Corso di Dottorato (D.M.45)
- Educational sector code
- GEO/12
- Period
- 1st Semester
- Course year
- 1
- Where
- VENEZIA
Contribution of the course to the overall degree programme goals
The scope of dynamical meteorology, scales and types of motion in the atmosphere. Forces in geophysical fluids, scale analysis, structure of the atmosphere, coordinates.Conservation laws, basic applications, vorticity, atmospheric oscilations, quasi-geostrophic theory, baroclinic instability. The planetary atmospheric circulation: observed features and example theoretical models (e.g. the Rossby model for stationary eddies). Variability at different time scales.
Pre-requirements
None
Contents
no. 1 INTRODUCTION
The scope of dynamical meteorology, scales and types of motion in the atmosphere.
Forces in geophysical fluids, scale analysis, structure of the atmosphere, coordinates
no. 2 CONSERVATION LAWS
Momentum equation in rotating coordinates, hydrostatic balance, continuity equation,
thermodynamic energy equation. Viscous forces and diabatic processes.
no. 3 BASIC APPLICATIONS
Geostrophic wind and thermal wind balance. Ageostrophic flow and secondary circulation.
Elements of weather analysis (maps). Dry / moist thermodynamics and vertical stability.
Mesoscale thermal circulations.
no. 4 VORTICITY, A UNIFYING CONCEPT
Circulation and vorticity, barotropic vorticity, potential vorticity, Ertel-Rossby PV.
Elementary numerical forecasting in spherical coordinates. MATLAB demonstration.
no. 5 EXAMPLE ATMOSPHERIC OSCILATIONS
Internal gravity waves, geostrophic adjustment, filtering of fast modes.
Rossby waves (β-plane versus on sphere). MATLAB demonstration.
no. 6 QUASI-GEOSTROPHIC THEORY
QG scale analysis and approximations. Towards a prognostic set of equations:
QG tendency and potential vorticity equations. Diagnosing vertical motion:
the omega equation (Q-vectors vs traditional form).
no. 7 BAROCLINIC INSTABILITY
Introducing turbulence on a planetary scale: polar front and stormtracks.
Features of extratropical cyclones. Cyclogenesis theory. MATLAB demonstration.
no. 8 INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL CIRCULATION
The planetary atmospheric circulation: observed features and example theoretical
models (e.g. the Rossby model for stationary eddies). Variability at different time scales.
The scope of dynamical meteorology, scales and types of motion in the atmosphere.
Forces in geophysical fluids, scale analysis, structure of the atmosphere, coordinates
no. 2 CONSERVATION LAWS
Momentum equation in rotating coordinates, hydrostatic balance, continuity equation,
thermodynamic energy equation. Viscous forces and diabatic processes.
no. 3 BASIC APPLICATIONS
Geostrophic wind and thermal wind balance. Ageostrophic flow and secondary circulation.
Elements of weather analysis (maps). Dry / moist thermodynamics and vertical stability.
Mesoscale thermal circulations.
no. 4 VORTICITY, A UNIFYING CONCEPT
Circulation and vorticity, barotropic vorticity, potential vorticity, Ertel-Rossby PV.
Elementary numerical forecasting in spherical coordinates. MATLAB demonstration.
no. 5 EXAMPLE ATMOSPHERIC OSCILATIONS
Internal gravity waves, geostrophic adjustment, filtering of fast modes.
Rossby waves (β-plane versus on sphere). MATLAB demonstration.
no. 6 QUASI-GEOSTROPHIC THEORY
QG scale analysis and approximations. Towards a prognostic set of equations:
QG tendency and potential vorticity equations. Diagnosing vertical motion:
the omega equation (Q-vectors vs traditional form).
no. 7 BAROCLINIC INSTABILITY
Introducing turbulence on a planetary scale: polar front and stormtracks.
Features of extratropical cyclones. Cyclogenesis theory. MATLAB demonstration.
no. 8 INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL CIRCULATION
The planetary atmospheric circulation: observed features and example theoretical
models (e.g. the Rossby model for stationary eddies). Variability at different time scales.
Referral texts
Textbook
Holton, J. R., Introduction to Dynamical Meteorology, Academic Press, 2004, 4th ed.
Suggested reading
- James, I. N., Introduction to Circulating Atmospheres, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- Rossby, C. G. (1940), Planetary flow patterns in the atmosphere. Q. J. Met. Soc., vol. 66.
- Charney, J. G. (1948), On the scale of atmospheric motions. Geof. Publ., vol. XVII-2.
- Eady, Ε. Τ. (1949), Long waves and cyclone waves. Tellus, vol. 1, p.33–52.
- Hoskins, B. J., McIntyre, M. E. and Robertson, A. W. (1985), Q. J. Met. Soc., vol. 111.
On the use and the significance of isentropic potential vorticity maps.
Holton, J. R., Introduction to Dynamical Meteorology, Academic Press, 2004, 4th ed.
Suggested reading
- James, I. N., Introduction to Circulating Atmospheres, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- Rossby, C. G. (1940), Planetary flow patterns in the atmosphere. Q. J. Met. Soc., vol. 66.
- Charney, J. G. (1948), On the scale of atmospheric motions. Geof. Publ., vol. XVII-2.
- Eady, Ε. Τ. (1949), Long waves and cyclone waves. Tellus, vol. 1, p.33–52.
- Hoskins, B. J., McIntyre, M. E. and Robertson, A. W. (1985), Q. J. Met. Soc., vol. 111.
On the use and the significance of isentropic potential vorticity maps.
Assessment methods
Presentation of a short paper and oral exam at the end of the course
Teaching language
English
Further information
The course may be enriched by the participation of some external lecturers (to be confirmed).
Attendance is required. Daily preparation is also required. The assignments are set out in the course syllabus. Academic honesty is an important part of university training. While students may discuss assignments with their classmates and others, they are expected to make sure any written material they submit is their own work. Students are expected to know how to cite the work of others and present a bibliography of the research texts that were used.
Attendance is required. Daily preparation is also required. The assignments are set out in the course syllabus. Academic honesty is an important part of university training. While students may discuss assignments with their classmates and others, they are expected to make sure any written material they submit is their own work. Students are expected to know how to cite the work of others and present a bibliography of the research texts that were used.
Definitive programme.