Course Outline:

Quick Start Mini-Course

Introduction. Temperature and its measurement  
Pressure and its measurement 
Wind and humidity  
Surface weather map 
Fronts and cyclones. Upper air observations
Upper air charts. Weather satellite imagery
Weather radar 
Identifying clouds  

The Basics

Composition and origin of the atmosphere 
Vertical structure of the atmosphere
Gas laws. Adiabatic warming and cooling 
Moisture and its measurement 
Condensation, evaporation, and latent heat 
Dew, frost, and fog
Stability and instability 
Cloud development
Precipitation mechanisms and weather modification
Force and motion. Coriolis and pressure gradient forces 
Geostrophic balance. Effects of friction and topography 
Radiation laws. Solar and terrestrial (infrared) radiation 
Greenhouse effect and global warming 
Optical phenomena 

Storms and Weather Systems

Global wind systems 
Air masses and fronts 
Midlatitude cyclones and their development 
Local winds (sea breezes, mountain/valley winds) 
Thunderstorms  
Tornadoes 
Hurricanes and tropical meteorology

Weather Forecasting

Weather forecasting
Personal weather forecasting; how to find reliable weather data on the net. 

Additional Topics if Time

El Nino/ENSO and it local/global effects
Air pollution and the ozone hole