AOSC 431 - Fall 2016
Atmospheric Thermodynamics
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Course Catalog Description
Classical thermodynamics applied to both the dry and the moist atmosphere. Composition; phase changes of water; stability concepts; Properties of aerosols and clouds, cloud nucleation and precipitation processes, atmospheric electricity, cloud and precipitation chemistry.
Course Objectives
Instructor: Prof. Daryl Kleist, CSS 3421, dkleist @ umd.edu
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant: Ms. Kelsey Malloy, CSS 3416/3400, kmalloy @ umd.edu, Office Hours M 6:00-7:00 p.m. or by appointment
Volunteer Teaching Assistant: Mr. David New, CSS 4339
Lectures: Tu/Th 9:30-10:45 a.m., CSS 2416 Office Hours: M/W 1:00-2:00 p.m. or by appointment
Prerequisites:
Math 141 - Calculus II
Phys 161/171 - General Physics (Mechanics and Particle Dynamics/Mechanics and Relativity)
Recommended:
Math 246 - Differential Equations for Scientists and Engineers
Required Text
Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey (2nd Edition), by J.M. Wallace and P. V. Hobbs, Elsevier.
Strongly Recommended Text
A First Course in Atmospheric Thermodynamics, by G.W. Petty, Sundog Publishing (available for purchase at
https://www.sundogpublishing.com/ordering/for-students/ ).
Other Reference Texts (not required)
An Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics, by A. A. Tsonis, Cambridge.
Grading: Homework (30%), Two Mid-Term Exams (20% each), Final Exam (25%), Attendance and Participation (5%)
Letter grades will be assigned using the following breakdown:
A+ (97-100), A (93-97), A- (90-93)
B+ (87-90), B (83-87), B- (80-83)
C+ (77-80), C (73-77), C- (70-73)
D+ (67-70), D (63-67), D- (60-63)
F (<60)
Exams: Two "mid-term" exams and one cumulative final will be given. All exams will be closed book (relevant constants, equations, etc. will be provided).
Honor Code
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students are responsible for educating themselves and following the university honor code (http://www.shc.umd.edu/SHC/default.aspx)
Homework Policy
No late homework will be accepted without arrangements made prior to due dates. Late homework will have reduced value (25% same day, 50% one day late). Students are encouraged to study and work together, but all solutions submitted should be your own in your own writing and using your own words.
Special Needs
If special accommodations are required due to disability, religious observances, or other, please contact the instructor in advance to make arrangements.
Student Rights
Please visit the following page regarding University policies and resources: http://www.ugst.umd.edu/courserelatedpolicies.html
Week 1
Tu., Aug. 30: Introduction, Syllabus (Lecture 1 Slides)
Reading: WH 1.1, Petty 281-314 (Petty Appendix B PDF)
Th., Sep. 1: Structure and Composition. Temperature, Pressure, Density (Lecture 2 Slides)
Reading: WH 1.2-1.3.4; Petty 2-26 (Petty Ch1-2 PDF)
Week 2
Tu., Sep. 6: Dynamics of the Atmosphere: Patterns of wind, pressure, and precipitation (Lecture 3 Slides)
Reading: WH 1.3.5-1.3.6
Homework #1 Distributed (Due 9/13)
Th., Sep. 8: Temperature, Wind Chill, Intro to SkewT-LogP, Air Parcels (Lecture 4 Slides)
Reading: WH 3.4.1, Petty 13-17, 33-35, 44, 49-51
Week 3
Tu., Sep. 13: Physical Properties, Gas laws
Live Balloon Launch at 10:30 a.m.!
Reading: WH 3.1, Petty 61-69
Homework #1 DUE 5 p.m.
Th., Sep. 15: Equation of State for Moist Air, Hydrostatic Equation
Reading: Petty 71-77, 83-86, WH 3.5.1, 3.2
Homework #2 Distributed (DUE FRI. 9/23 5 p.m.)
Week 4
Tu., Sep. 20: Geopotential, Hypsometric Equation, Pressure Profiles, Thickness, Sea Level Correction, Scale Height
Reading: WH 3.2, Petty 83-120
Th., Sep. 22: First Law of Thermodynamics, P-V Work, Specific Heats
Reading: Petty 123-134, WH 3.3
Homework #2 DUE 9/23 at 5 PM
Week 5
Tu., Sep. 27: Poisson's Equation, Potential Temperature, Dry Adiabats, Adiabatic Processes (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 136-140, WH 76-79
Th., Sep. 29: Mid-Term #1
Week 6
Tu., Oct. 4: Adiabatic Processes, Heat Engine, Cyclic Processes, Reversible/Irreversible, Enthalpy (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 142-153, WH 93-95
Th., Oct. 6: Enthalpy, Subsidence Inversions, Diabatic Processes, Energy on a Skew-T, Comments on buoyancy (Lecture Slides)
HW #3 Distributed (Due 10/13/16)
Reading: Petty 153-158
Week 7
Tu., Oct. 11: Second Law of Thermodynamics, Entropy (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 161-167, WH 95-97
Th., Oct. 13: Water Vapor Saturation (Guest Lecture David New)
Reading: Petty 167-176, WH 79-84
HW #3 DUE, HW #4 Distributed
Week 8
Tu., Oct. 18: Clausius-Clapeyron, Saturation Mixing Ratio (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 179-187, WH 97-102
Homework #4 Distributed (Due 10/25/16)
Th., Oct. 20: Moisture Variables on a SkewT, LCL, Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 185-194, WH 84-85
Week 9
Tu., Oct. 25: Guest Lecture (Dr. Manda Adams): Equivalent Potential Temperature, Skew-Ts (Lecture Slides)
Homework #4 DUE
Reading: Petty 201-209, WH 85-88
Th., Oct. 27: Guest Lecture (David New): Mid-Term Review
Reading: Petty 209-232
Week 10
Tu., Nov. 1: Mid-Term #2
Th., Nov. 3: Atmospheric Stability, Dry Static Stability (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 239-245, WH 88-9
Week 11
Tu., Nov. 8: Conditional Instability, Convective Instability (Lecture Slides)
Reading: Petty 246-252
Week 12
Th., Nov. 17: CCN, Growth of cloud droplets, Cloud Water Content (Lecture Slides)
Reading: WH 209-221
HW #5 DUE 5 PM
Week 13
Tu., Nov. 22: No Class (Travel)
Th., Nov. 24: No Class (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Week 14
Tu., Nov. 29: Warm Clouds, Cold Clouds Intro (Lecture Slides)
Reading: WH 221-236
HW #6 Distributed (Due 12/8/16 at 5 PM)
Th., Dec. 1: Cold Clouds, Weather Modification (Lecture Slides)
Reading: WH 236-252
Week 15
Week 16
Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 15, 8:00-10:00 a.m.