EART39102 Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 6 Geraint Vaughan Unit coordinator Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div> <p>The unit will :</p><p>1. Show how the temperature profile of the atmosphere determines where convection forms, and the fundamental importance of moisture in this process</p><p>2. Explain how winds are related to pressure patterns in the atmosphere, and how vertical motion patterns determine where cyclones and anticyclones form</p><p>3. Provide background knowledge for understanding the processes affecting global climate change</p><p>4. Explain the formation, propagation and dissipation of weather systems</p><p>5. Explain the role of atmospheric aerosol and cloud microphysical processes in severe storm characteristics.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p> <div> <p>The unit will :</p><p>1. Show how the temperature profile of the atmosphere determines where convection forms, and the fundamental importance of moisture in this process</p><p>2. Explain how winds are related to pressure patterns in the atmosphere, and how vertical motion patterns determine where cyclones and anticyclones form</p><p>3. Provide background knowledge for understanding the processes affecting global climate change</p><p>4. Explain the formation, propagation and dissipation of weather systems</p><p>5. Explain the role of atmospheric aerosol and cloud microphysical processes in severe storm characteristics.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p> <div> <p>This unit introduces students to the physics of the atmosphere, starting from basic dynamics and thermodynamics. We show how simple physical concepts can explain the weather we see around us &ndash; the formation of convective clouds and rain, the development of weather systems and the nature and role of fronts. The abundant weather resources on-line are used to illustrate how the concepts described in lectures influence the weather on the day, giving students the ability should they wish to prepare their own weather forecasts.</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:496px;"> <p><em>On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </em></p></td> <td style="width:72px;"> <p><em>Developed</em></p></td> <td style="width:66px;"> <p><em>Assessed</em></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:59px;"> <p>ILO 1</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:59px;"> <p>Use on-line weather resources to interpret the weather on any day, and make simple weather predictions</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:59px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;"> <p>&nbsp;</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> <p>ILO 2</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> <p>Explain the factors that determine whether the atmosphere is convectively unstable</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:76px;"> <p>ILO 3</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:76px;"> <p>Analyse the forces acting in the atmosphere and derive the patterns of motion that result from these</p><p>&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> <p>ILO 4</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> <p>Relate atmospheric motions to weather patterns and the weather we experience</p><p>&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> <p>ILO 5</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> <p>Explain mechanisms of cloud formation with respect to the small scale dynamics and micro-scale processes occurring within them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> <p>ILO 6</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> <p>Compare mechanisms of precipitation formation and discuss the observational evidence for each; derive theoretical relationships to aid</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>1. Atmospheric Thermodynamics &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(4 lectures)</p><p>Potential temperature, Brunt-Vaisala frequency, convective instability, moisture in the atmosphere</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>2. Basic Atmospheric Dynamics&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(4 lectures)</p><p>Meteorological charts, introduction to synoptic scale.</p><p>Coriolis force and geostrophic balance</p><p>Thermal wind balance, pressure coordinates</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>3. Vorticity in the atmosphere&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(2 lectures)</p><p>Parcel stretching and rotation. The vorticity equation. (Rossby) Potential Vorticity</p><p>Convergence, divergence and vertical motion</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>4. Clouds and their properties&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(2 lectures)</p><p>Cloud types, microstructure, adiabatic liquid water content, and particle size distributions, Latham&#39;s geoengineering scheme.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Physics of cloud formation and growth of cloud particles &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(4 lectures)</p><p>CCN, growth of drops, ice nuclei, ice crystal growth, ice crystal habit.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>6. Supersaturation in clouds&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(2 lectures)</p><p>Supersaturation; quasi-steady state supersaturation in liquid only and ice only clouds; mixed-phase clouds</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>7. Growth of cloud and precipitation particles&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>(2 lectures)</p><p>Collision and coalescence, riming, aggregation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div> <p>The course is delivered through 20 lectures. Formative assessment is provided at regular intervals through 4 example sheets. Course materials, model answers to the assessments, web links and on-line text books are provided through Blackboard.</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p> 1 Written exam 100% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:68px;"> <p align="center">Assessment type</p></td> <td style="width:85px;height:68px;"> <p>% Weighting within unit</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:68px;"> <p align="center">Hand out and hand in dates</p></td> <td style="width:95px;height:68px;"> <p align="center">Length</p><p align="center">&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:170px;height:68px;"> <p align="center">How, when and what feedback is provided</p></td> <td style="width:123px;height:68px;"> <p>ILO tested</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;"> <p>Exam</p></td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;"> <p>100</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;"> <p>&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:95px;height:101px;"> <p>1.5 hr</p></td> <td style="width:170px;height:101px;"> <p>Feedback is provided on the formative assessment sheets. School organises feedback session for final exam.</p></td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;"> <p>1-6</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> <p>Pre-requisite units</p></td> <td style="width:437px;"> <p>Completion of first year Physics or equivalent</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> <p>Co-requisite units</p></td> <td style="width:437px;"> <p>none</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Text books and general information available on-line</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/">Stull, Practical Meteorology: Online textbook for meteorology </a></p><p align="center">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/library/publications/factsheets">Met Office factsheets - a plethora of information</a></p><p><em>Through University ebooks:</em></p><p><a href="https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/detail.action?docID=803051">Andrews: Introduction to Atmospheric Physics </a></p><p><a href="https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/detail.action?docID=4043388">Markowski and Richardson: Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes </a></p><p><a href="https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/detail.action?docID=4462549">Seinfeld and Panis: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics </a></p><p><a href="https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/detail.action?docID=542912">Wyngaard: Turbulence in the Atmosphere </a></p><p>&nbsp;</p> 0 0 0 <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:681px;" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:75px;height:14px;"> <p>&nbsp;</p></td> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p><strong>Type</strong></p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p><strong>Example student activity</strong></p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> <p align="center"><strong>Total Hours</strong></p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> <p align="center"><strong>New material</strong></p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> <p align="center"><strong>Consolidation and Practice</strong></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5" style="width:75px;height:14px;"> <p align="center" style="margin-left:5.65pt;">Contact time (students are in front of staff)</p></td> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Lecture (new material)</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Mostly listening &amp; taking notes (mostly new material)</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> <p align="center">20</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> <p align="center">20</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Lecture (revision/examples)</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Mostly listening &amp; taking notes (no new material- revision of course)</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Practical (new material and practice.&nbsp; Typically 25-50% of practical&nbsp; time is spent on new material)</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Tutorial</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Interactive small group work</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:190px;height:22px;"> <p>Seminar/examples class</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:22px;"> <p>Working on and discussing questions</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:22px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:22px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:22px;"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="6" style="width:75px;height:14px;"> <p align="center" style="margin-left:5.65pt;">Independent study time</p></td> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Pre/post lecture work</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> <p align="center">40</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> <p align="center">40</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Pre/post practical work/write up</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> <td style="width:66px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:190px;height:14px;"> <p>Studio/workshop time</p></td> <td style="width:226px;height:14px;"> <p>Individual or group work (student led), discussion, problem solving</p></td> <td style="width:57px;height:14px;"> &nbsp;