ATM S 542, Spring Quarter 1999

Synoptic and Mesoscale Dynamics

Instructor: Professor Dale Durran
606 Atmospheric Sciences Bldg., 543-7414
durrand@atmos.washington.edu

Lectures: MWF, 9:30-10:20AM, 610ATG

Textbook: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 3rd Ed., by J. R. Holton.

Purpose of Course:

Examine the dynamical nature of the synoptic and mesoscale circulations most direclty responsible for the generation of "weather."

Course Schedule:

I. Ageostrophic flow in the shallow-water system

II. Three-dimensional quasi-geostrophic flow: Text Chapter 6.

• Derivation of the quasi-geostrophic system

• Prediction via the quasi-geostrophic equations

• The diagnosis of quasi-geostrophic vertical motion

III. Instabilities, Part I: Baroclinic Instability: Text Chapter 8

• The two-layer model

• The Eady Model

• More realistic models

IV. Fronts and Frontogenesis: Text 9.2

• Frontogenesis as a result of deformation in the geostrophic wind

• The importance of ageostrophic motions

• Frontogenesis in relation to cyclogenesis.

V. Instabilities, Part II

• Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability

• Symmetric Instability: Text 9.3

• Barotropic Instability

VI. Mountain waves: Text 9.4

• Trapped waves: the nonhydrostatic two-layer model.

• Wave amplification via the hydrostatic two-layer model

• Nonlinear effects and hydraulic theory

There will be approximately six problem sets, a final and, if there is student demand, a midterm.

Back to Spring Quarter