MT11DNU-Weather and Climate Fundamentals

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Semesters in which taught: Semester 2 module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Peter Inness
Email: p.m.inness@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

A module combining introductory theory of meteorology, problem solving tutorials and meteorological data analysis.

The Module leadÌýat NUIST is Yueyue Yu (yuyy@nuist.edu.cn).

Aims:

This module aims to develop the student's skills in the application of basic physical principles to middle latitude weather systems.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate and develop skills in scientific problem solving;


• Understand and be able to explain basic physical laws and concepts and their significance to the atmosphere;


• Write down formulae for the forces acting on air parcels and apply these using real data;


• Understand and be able to explain the components of the Surface EnergyBudget;


• Understand and be able to explain the development of important weather systems in terms of basic physics;


• Apply the first law of thermodynamics to air parcels and interpret the state of the atmosphere by analysis of tephigrams.

Additional outcomes:

This module will enhance general problem-solving skills and skills in meteorological data analysis, and will highlight the application of mathematical techniques in Meteorology.

Outline content:

• Theory lectures;


• Thermodynamics: first law of thermodynamics for an air parcel, theory of thermodynamic diagrams and processes;


• Atmospheric moisture: humidity mixing ratio, dew point temperature, relative humidity;


• Dynamics: Forces acting on air parcels, pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, drag, forces in balance: hydrostatic, geostrophic and gradient wind;


• Analysis of atmospheric state using a tephigram including dry and saturated adiabats, lifting condensation level, atmospheric stability;


• Radiation laws and simple models;


• Temperature gradient effects: Thermal wind balance and thermal advection;


• Weather system analysis: mass conservation, divergence, vorticity, ageostrophic flow, vertical motion, jets, contribution of vertical motion to development of extratropical weather systems, frontogenesis

Practicals: Plotting and analysis of tephigrams.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Around 76 45-minute theory lectures, 10 45-minute tutorial sessions with either seminars on application of lecture material or problem sheets, 5 90-minute practical classes comprising of a mixture of chart analysis and scientific problem solving.