Elements of dynamical meteorology 1103-4Geo22

Program:
1. Air as a fluid. Structure of the atmosphere.
2. The equation of motion of rotating fluid. continuity equation and the 1st law of thermodynamics.
3. The atmosphere as a thin layer of fluid on the rotating sphere. Geostrophuic approximmation, hydrostatic equilibrium, potential temperature.
4. Multiscale atmospheric flows. Filtering of governing equations.
5. Predictive equations of motion in natural coordinates. High and low pressure systems
6. The role of the boundary layer in the dynamics of the atmosphere. Surface layer and Ekman layer.
7. Circulation and vorticity. Potential vorticity. Cyclonic and anticyclonic circulations.
8. Quasi-geostrstrophuc approximation, pressure tendency and omega equations. Circulations in the mid-latitudes.
9. Atmospheric waves. Acoustic waves, gravity, inertial-gravity and Rossby waves. Lineat analusis of wave equation.
10. Hydrodynamic instability. Baroclinic instability. Other types of instabilities in atmospheric flows. Mesoscale circulations.
11. Global circulation. Energetics of atmospheric circulation.

Mode

Classroom
Self-reading

Prerequisites (description)

To acquaint students with the basics of geophysics geophysical fluid dynamics, dynamic meteorology and numerical weather prediction.

Learning outcomes

Basic understanding of dynamic meteorology: geostrophic approximation, quasi-geostrophic approximation.
Ability to analyze the scale of the equations of motion in geophysical fluid dynamics. Ability to interpret weather phenomena and processes in terms of geophysical floid dynamics.
Basic knowledge of waves in the atmosphere, linearized equations and stability analysis as applied to atmospheric physics.

Assessment criteria

The final grade is composed of:
- two classroom tests (solving problems)
- homework
- written examination of theoretical knowledge.

Bibliography

J.R. Holton, An Introduction to dynamic meteorology.

M. L. Salby, Fundamentals of Atmospheric Sciences.