University of California, Davis, Fall Quarter 2005

Atmospheric Science 60                                                                        

Professors Shu-Hua Chen

 

ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS AND DYNAMICS

 

Topics                                                                         

 

Introduction:  Concepts and terminology                                           

Atmospheric composition and structure              

Radiation laws                                                                                 

Solar and terrestrial radiation                                                  

Radiation and the atmosphere                                                            

Global radiation balance                                                            

Greenhouse effect and global warming                                        

Gas laws                                                                                  

Hydrostatic equation                                                                                      

First law of thermodynamics                                                       

Atmospheric moisture                                                               

Adiabatic processes                                                                        

Atmospheric stability                                                                

Atmospheric instability                                                                     

 

*************TEST/ Mid-term EXAM**************

                                    

Cloud formation and classification                                                        

Precipitation                                                                                      

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes                                                          

Laws of motion and the atmosphere                                          

Rotation and the Coriolis force                                                    

Geostrophic balance                                                                 

Conservation of angular momentum & Motion                            

Vorticity, Rossby Waves                                                           

Air masses, fronts, and wave cyclones                                       

Local Systems                                                                          

General circulation concepts                                                      

Mid-latitude and tropical regimes                                               

Summary and final exam preview                                                                                   

 

***************FINAL FINAL FINAL*************