METR 4245 / ESCI 5251 – Advanced Synoptic Meteorology
Review for Exam 1
Test-taking Tips:
1. Use pictures and graphs to help answer questions.
2. Provide appropriate descriptive labels for any diagrams you construct
3. When asked to provide an explanation, describe your reasoning using simple
meteorological language. Use complete sentences.
4. Review your homework problems.
5. Study together. What you may not understand, your classmates may.
Synoptic Meteorology Review
1. Know the primary role of synoptic-scale weather in the global system
2. Know the five (5) primary forces that govern synoptic scale motions, and prepared to
discuss how two or more of the forces can be combined to achieve “balanced” motions
(e.g., hydrostatic balance, geostrophic balance, and gradient balance)
3. Be prepared to describe how pressure surfaces respond to temperature changes
4. Be prepared to discuss the basic characteristics and differences between jet streams and jet
streaks, including the typical divergence/convergence patterns in a jet streak
5. Know the basic definition of a front.
6. Be prepared to discuss the basic characteristics of warm, cold, and occluded fronts
7. Be prepared to discuss the five stages of the Norwegian Cyclone model
8. Know the three (3) basic types of adiabatic processes and how they differ
9. Know the five (5) basic types of thermal stability. Which one is most often observed?
10. Be prepared to isopleth a common meteorological parameter on a given map
11. Be prepared to locate warm, cold, and stationary fronts from surface maps of temperature,
moisture, pressure, and wind
12. Be prepared to find a Lifted Condensation Level (LCL), Level of Free Convection (LFC),
and Equilibrium Level (EL) from a given sounding (already plotted for you)
13. Be prepared to estimate the Lifted Index (LI) and identify the positive and negative areas
for a given sounding (already plotted for you) for an assumed parcel ascent
Dynamic Meteorology Review
1. Be prepared to identify the physical process or force associated with any term in the
primitive equations for large-scale flow in isobaric coordinates (i.e., the momentum,
thermodynamic, and vorticity equations)
2. Know the qualitative physical relationships behind the hypsometric equation, geostrophic
balance, and the thermal wind
3. Be prepared to identify the type of temperature advection (warm or cold) within a layer
based on the change in wind direction through the layer (veering or backing)
4. Be prepared to identify the type of relative vorticity (positive, negative, shear and/or
curvature) given a wind field
Quasi-Geostrophic (QG) Theory
1.
2.
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4.
5.
Be prepared to describe the basic idea and goals of QG theory
Know the two primary assumptions involved in developing the QG equations
Be prepared to list aspects of the full primitive equations neglected in QG theory
Be prepared to discuss the physical interpretation of the terms in each QG equation
Know the six underlying (or limiting) assumptions of QG theory
QG Analysis: Vertical Motion
1. Be prepared to discuss the importance, but challenge, of predicting vertical motions in the
atmosphere (particularly with the QG system of equations)
2. Know whether the basic QG omega equation is diagnostic or prognostic
3. Know the physical interpretation of each term in the basic QG omega equation
4. Know the list of application tips given in lecture for the QG omega equation
5. Be prepared to infer the type of expected vertical based on the signs/magnitudes of the
differential vorticity advection and thermal advection terms given maps of absolute
vorticity, temperature, and geopotential heights on pressure surfaces
6. Be prepared to describe how the differential vorticity advection term can explain the
expected synoptic-scale vertical motion pattern associated with the four quadrants of a
typical upper-level jet streak.
7. Know the two important conceptual points regarding QG application to jet streaks.
8. Know the advantages and disadvantages of using Q-vectors over the QG omega equation.
9. Know the basic method to analyze synoptic-scale vertical motion using Q-vectors.
10. Be prepared to infer regions of upward and downward synoptic-scale vertical motion given
maps of Q-vectors generated from numerical model output.
QG Analysis: System Evolution
11. Know whether the basic QG height-tendency equation is diagnostic or prognostic
12. Know the physical interpretation of each term in the basic QG height-tendency equation
13. Know which term in the QG height-tendency equation most often contributes to system
motion, and which term primarily contributes to change in system strength.
14. Know at which atmospheric levels each term in the QG height-tendency equation most
often contributes to height changes.
15. Know the list of application tips given in lecture for the QG height-tendency equation
16. Be prepared to infer the type of expected height changes based on the signs/magnitudes of
the vorticity advection and differential thermal advection terms given maps of absolute
vorticity, temperature, and geopotential heights on pressure surfaces
QG Analysis: Additional Processes
1. Know the physical interpretations of how diabatic forcing and topographic forcing produce
synoptic-scale vertical motions within the context of the modified QG omega equation and
produce geopotential height changes within the context of the modified QG height
tendency equation.
2. Know the list of application tips given in lecture for diagnosing both vertical motion and
system evolution forced by diabatic processes and topographic flow.
QG Analysis: Low-level Systems
1. Know the physical interpretation of how each term in the modified QG omega equation
contributes to surface pressure changes and low-level system motion.
2. Be prepared to describe (or sketch) the four favorable and two unfavorable combinations
of forcing discussed in lecture for surface (or low-level) system formation/evolution.
3. Know which general direction surface pressure systems move when adjacent to a mountain
range due to topographic effects
4. Know the list of application tips given in lecture for diagnosing low-level system
formation, evolution, and motion using the modified QG omega equation.
5. Be prepared to infer the sign/magnitude of expected surface pressure changes and the
direction of system motion based on the signs/magnitudes of the (a) differential vorticity
advection, (b) thermal advection, (c) diabatic forcing, and (d) topographic forcing terms
given maps of absolute vorticity, temperature, and geopotential heights on pressure
surfaces, as well as topography and relevant radar and satellite imagery.
QG Analysis: Upper-level Systems
1. Know the physical interpretation of how each term in the modified QG height-tendency
equation contributes to upper-level height changes
2. Know the expected height change (system evolution) based on whether the vorticity
maximum is (a) collocated with, (b) upstream of, or (c) downstream of the trough axis
3. Be prepared to infer the sign/magnitude of expected geopotential height changes (and
system formation/evolution) based on the signs/magnitudes of the (a) vorticity advection ,
(b) differential thermal advection, (c) diabatic forcing, and (d) topographic forcing terms
given maps of absolute vorticity, temperature, and geopotential heights on pressure
surfaces, as well as topography and relevant radar and satellite imagery.
4. Know the physical differences between waves that progress and waves that retrograde
(including their characteristic wavelengths)
5. Be prepared to discuss the physical processes associated with why upper-level short waves
move east while upper-level long waves move west
6. Know the role of a short-wave “kicker”
7. Be prepared to infer the direction of expected motion based on the scale of the upper-level
trough/ridge pattern and the sign of the appropriate vorticity advection (relative or
planetary) given maps of vorticity and geopotential height on pressure surfaces
8. Know the list of application tips given in lecture for diagnosing upper-level system
formation, evolution, and motion using the modified QG height-tendency equation.