Instructors: Professor Cliff Mass
612
Atmospheric Sciences Bldg., 685-0910
cliff@atmos.washington.edu
and
Dr.
Lynn McMurdie
624 Atmospheric Sciences Bldg., 685-9405
mcmurdie@atmos.washington.edu
Lectures: MWF, 1:30 - 2:20PM, TH 1:30 - 3:20, 610 ATG
Textbook: Extratropical Cyclones: The Erik Palmen Memorial Volume, Handouts and Recommended Readings.
Evaluation: Lab work 1/3; Midterm and homework 1/3; Final Exam 1/3.
Equipment: 3 #2 pencils; colored pencils (red, blue, green and purple); good large eraser.
Course Outline:
Lecture Topics:
1. Overview: Evolving ideas regarding cyclone and frontal structure/dynamics
2. Fronts and frontogenesis
a. Basic frontal relationships and dynamics. Zero and first order
fronts.
b. The frontogenetical equation.
c. Secondary
circulations: the Sawyer-Eliassen equation.
d. Observations of fronts
and frontogenesis.
e. Theory and modeling of frontogenesis.
f.
Upper-level fronts.
3. Diagnosis of synoptic systems.
a. Quasi-geostrophic w-equation, Q-vectors, and
Sutcliffe/Pettersen/Trenberth approaches
b. Advanced satellite
interpretation.
c. Jet streak theory and application.
4. Three-dimensional structural evolution of midlatitude cyclones
a. Conceptual models of cyclone structural evolution.
b.
Simulated structures and airflows.
c. Results from recent field
experiments.
d. Modification of cyclone/frontal structures by orography
and coastlines.
5. Cyclogenesis
a. Peterssen A and B development
b. PV view of cyclogenesis
c. Modal and non-modal development
d. Explosive cyclogenesis
6. Subsynoptic Systems
a. Polar lows and comma clouds
b. Symmetric instability and
banded structures.
Laboratory exercises will be an integral part of this course. Interactive software will be used to examine the dynamics and structures of 2-3 events, including the Inauguration Day Storm and the March 1993 "Storm of the Century." Students will become familiar with surface and upper air analysis techniques and advanced staellite /radar interpretation.