ATMO 200 – Atmospheric Processes and Phenomena
Professor: Gary M. Barnes, HIG 335, gbarnes@hawaii.edu, (808) 956-2565
Office Hours: anytime except when other classes occur (W 3:15 to 4:30; T, TH 10:30 – 11:45)
ATMO200 is the new version of MET 200 which is the introductory course for Atmospheric Science
majors and a required course for the Global Environmental Science majors. Pre-requisites are MATH
241 and PHYS 170. With permission of the professor other situations may be granted.
The class is designed to introduce the student to fundamental concepts that govern the atmosphere
and the basic features seen on a wide range of length scales. Weather maps are regularly shown and
some forecasting techniques are discussed. The text is Meteorology Today by C. D. Ahrens. This
hardback book serves as a reference for many of the topics we shall discuss in the lectures, but the
lectures will not necessarily be derived from the book. Instead, the lectures are designed to equip the
student with a more sophisticated approach to the fundamentals. Equations will be used regularly and
there will be exercises attached to each topic that highlight important aspects and give the student the
chance to work with the concepts. On several days we will examine the weather maps and apply
concepts that have been introduced.
The grade will be based on two quizzes (each 20%), the exercises (20%), in class participation (10%)
and a final (30%). Topics in their approximate order follow. Note that this is a redesigned class being
taught for the first time and therefore subject to significant changes as we proceed.
L1 constituents in the atmosphere
L2 variables used for weather and climate
L3 energy in the atmosphere
L4 radiation basics
L5 earth-atmosphere’s reaction to the sun’s radiation
L6 temperature – what governs it
L7 hydrostatic equation
L8 introduction to weather maps
L9 moisture in the atmosphere
L10 cloud types
L11 precipitation processes
L12 stability and vertical motion
L13 saturated ascent
L14 pressure gradient
L15 Coriolis
L16 Geostrophic approximation and friction
L17 Gradient balance
L18 Scales of motion
L19 the 3 cell model of a water planet and reality
L20 planetary scales: NECZ, subtropical highs, monsoons, ENSO
L21 Synoptic scales: fronts, midlatitudes cyclones, role of the jet streams
L22 Mesoscale Phenomena: sea-breeze, squall lines, mountain-valley flows, Hawaii
L23 convective clouds: ordinary and supercells, tornadoes, hail, lightning
L24 hurricanes – ingredients for formation, structure
L25 pollution – links to stability
L26 global warming