AOS 101
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TA:
Email:
Office:
Office hrs:
Andy Hulme
ahulme@wisc.edu
1425 AOSS, 1225 W. Dayton
Tuesdays 2:00-3:30
Thursdays 3:30-4:45
• Website:
www.aos.wisc.edu/~ahulme/aos101/
Grading
Weekly assignments (10)
50%
Climate change debate/paper
10%
Quizzes (2)
15%
Case Study
15%
Attendance/Participation
10%
TOTAL
100%
Discussion grade is one-quarter (25%) of
total 101 grade (75% = lecture).
Topics
Weather observation
Data Analysis
Moisture and Stability
Severe Weather
Ideal Gas Law
Atmospheric Forces
Energy Transfer
Thickness/Thermal Wind
Satellite and Radar
Horiz. Cyclone Structure
Climate Change Debate
Vertical Cyclone Structure
AOS 101-302/304
Introduction
January 22
Snowstorm
• Madison, WI: 8.8 inches
– Winter: 52.5” (Normal: 26.6”, Last yr: 19.2”)
– Entire season: last year 55.1”, Normal 49.9”
• Why so much?
– Snow/liquid ratio
– Dependant on:
• Temperature
• Wind speed
http://www.ral.ucar.edu/weather/satellite/
AOS = Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• Atmospheric Science: the comprehensive study
of the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the
earth's atmosphere, from the earth's surface to
several hundred kilometers.
• Oceanography: The scientific study of oceans,
the life that inhabits them, and their physical
characteristics, including the depth and extent
of ocean waters, their movement and chemical
makeup, and the topography and composition
of the ocean floors.
Fields
• Meteorology: day-to-day weather, study
of weather systems (snowstorms,
tornadoes, etc.), forecasting
• Climatology: study of long term trends,
large-scale phenomena (El Nino), climate
change
Fields
• Atm. Chemistry: pollution, ozone layer
• Atm. Physics: how clouds/rain forms,
using satellites to observe planet
• Oceanography: ocean currents, carbon
cycle, effect on atmosphere
What does a meteorologist do?
• Government:
– National Weather Service: issues forecasts,
warnings, fire weather, etc.
– Research: develops forecast models, research
hurricanes, tornadoes, climate, develop
satellites, etc.
– Military
What does a meteorologist do?
• Private industry:
– commodity trading (agriculture, oil), energy
companies (oil, wind farms), insurance/risk
management, forecasting firms (transportation,
construction, radio stations, etc.), air quality
• Academic:
– Teaching, research
• Broadcast:
– Television and radio forecasts