NATS 101
Intro to Weather and Climate
Section 34: 08:00AM MWF ILC 150
Dr. E. Robert Kursinski
TA: Tina Stall
Please turn off cell phones
Who Am I?
• Professor Department of Atmospheric Science
• Joint Faculty Appointment
Dept. of Planetary Sciences
• Worked for many years at NASA JPL in So. Cal.
• Research Specialty
Remote Sensing, Water cycle, Planetary
atmospheres
• Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences
M.S. in Electrical Engineering
B.S. in Physics, Minor in Music Theory
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Vital Statistics
• Office Hours: Dr. Kursinski by Appointment
PAS Bldg, Rm 580
Ms. Stall Monday & Wednesday 11-noon
PAS Bldg, Rm 526 and by Appointment
• Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An
Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4th & 5th Ed. by C.
Donald Ahrens Picture Link Publisher Download,
Save $
• Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of
Meteorology, 4rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Link
• Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards.
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Course Description
Intro to science of processes weather & climate
change:
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atmospheric structure and composition,
energy balance,
wind systems,
clouds and precipitation,
weather fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting,
thunderstorms and lightning,
hurricanes, monsoons,
climate and global warming,
ozone hole and air pollution
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Course Description
Emphasis will be given to phenomena that have
strong impacts on human activities.
The fundamental importance of physics,
chemistry and mathematics will be noted.
Atmospheric Science is a branch of Applied
Physics
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Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory, and will be tallied
throughout the term.
After three unexcused absences prior to week 9,
I will submit to the Office of Curriculum and
Registration an administrative drop from the
course and assign a grade in accordance with
UA policy.
http://catalog.arizona.edu/2006-07/policies/classatten.htm
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Student Behavior
UA Code of Academic Integrity, Code of
Conduct and Student Code of Conduct are
enforced in this course.
Every student is responsible for learning these
codes and abiding by them.
http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/ppmainpg.html
Students can submit complaints online at
http://web.arizona.edu/~dos/uapolicies/
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Grading Policy
Final grade will be based on scores from closed
book/closed notes quizzes and final exam.
Quizzes will consist of multiple choice
questions and short answer questions.
Quizzes will cover new material presented
through the end of the previous lecture day.
Extra credit questions given on some quizzes.
Extra credit impromptu “pop” quizzes given.
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Grading Policy
• There will be seven quizzes during the term.
Dates for the quizzes are listed on the home page.
• Students who arrive late on quiz days will be not
allowed to take the quiz after the first student
turns in her/his quiz. No Exceptions
• The lowest score among the seven quizzes will be
excluded from the course grade.
Therefore, no make-up quizzes.
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Grading Policy
• If your final exam score exceeds the average of
your 6 best quizzes, the quizzes will comprise
60% of your term grade and the final 40%.
Otherwise, the quizzes will comprise 75% of your
term grade and the final 25%.
• CARROT: If your average is 90% or higher on
all 7 quizzes, you will earn an exemption from
the final and will receive an "A'' for the course.
• No Extra Credit Projects.
So Plan Accordingly!
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Final Examination
Section 34 (08:00 am MWF): ILC 150
Wednesday Dec. 12, 08:00 am - 10:00 am
• The final will consist of approximately 60
multiple choice questions and short answer
questions.
• A number of questions will be taken verbatim
from the old quizzes.
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Course Grading
• Course Grading Scale
A
B
C
D
E
90% or higher
80.0-89.99%
65.0-79.99%
55.0-64.99%
< 55.0%
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Expectations
Every student is expected to:
• Complete all of the assigned reading before
the lecture (unless you hear otherwise).
• Devote a minimum of 2 hours outside of class
studying, reading, etc. for every hour of
classroom lecture. Unit Credit Definition
• Attend class daily, arrive on time, leave when
class is dismissed (courtesy to peer students).
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The Golden Rule
Instructor and students all show:
Mutual Respect!
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Literacy Requirements
Although the writing requirement for this
course is negligible, there is a science literacy
requirement:
• Use scientific notation for writing numbers
(especially rather large or small ones).
• Specify units of physical quantities
(e.g. meters for elevation, etc.).
• Attempt to quantify physical relationships.
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Announcements
Course Homepage…is now functional
http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/
Click Course Links
Click NATS101 – Kursinski
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Class Format: Lecture Days
• 2-4 minutes - Interesting weather
discussion
• 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up
From Prior Lecture, Optional
• 40-45 minutes - New Material
Lecture, Demos, Discussion
• 2-3 minutes - Wrap-up and Summary
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Class Format: Quiz Days
• 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up
From Prior Lecture, Optional
• 5-10 minutes - Last Minute Questions
Passing Out Quiz Materials
• 40 minutes - Quiz
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Class LISTSERV
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NATS101-034@listserv.arizona.edu
Use for any questions, comments, discussions
that are general interest to the class.
kursinski@atmo.arizona.edu is reserved for
personal requests not of general interest.
To subscribe go to http://listserv.arizona.edu/
and click the link “Subscribe to a list”
http://listserv.arizona.edu/Subscribe.html
Follow straightforward instructions
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LISTSERV
You can subscribe by sending an email to
listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the
following as the only line in the body of
the message.
subscribe nats101s34 Firstname Lastname
Substitute your first name for Firstname
Substitute your last name for Lastname
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Importance of Atmosphere
• Necessary for a wide spectrum of features
Oceans
Clouds, Rain, Fresh Water
Erosion by Water and Wind
Life, Life on Land
Blue Skies, Red Sunsets, Twilight
Sound
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Importance of Atmosphere
• Point 1- Offers Protection
Consider surface temperatures
Without atmosphere?
o
0 F global average, large diurnal swings
Similar to the Moon’s Climate
With atmosphere…
o
60 F global average, moderate diurnal swings
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Importance of Atmosphere
• Point 2 - Offers Protection
Consider Surface Radiation
Shields against harmful UV radiation
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Importance of Atmosphere
• Consider Survival Time
Without Food
 few weeks
Without Water
 few days
Without Air
 few minutes
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To Understand the Atmosphere
Examine its interfaces
with land/ocean
with space
Atmosphere
Sun
Earth
13,000 km
Space
Is a very thin skin
99% below 50 km (31 miles)
50% below 5.5 km (3.4 miles)
Atmosphere Picture
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Note “thinness” of atmosphere in light blue
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NASA
photo
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Local Weather and Climate:
The North American Monsoon
• Tucson gets half of its rainfall during the summer
• Sonora, Mexico gets most of its rainfall during the
summer
• During summer, high pressure sets up to the
east/northeast of Arizona which brings moisture in
from the south and east
• The monsoon is still going: Thunderstorms yesterday
• For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php
http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/products/models/forecasts/forecast.html
• CONCERN: Our monsoon & rainfall may be changing
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Local: 2005 Monsoon Rainfall
• Record water flow
through the Sabino
and Rillito Creeks
on July 31
• Rillito flow higher
than Colorado river!
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See http://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htm
Course Building Blocks
Intro  1st week or so
Energy  ~2 weeks
Moisture  ~2 weeks
Dynamics  ~3 weeks
Above are interdependent
• Specific Topics  ~6 weeks
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Reading Assignment
• Ahrens
Pages 1-13
Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14
(1.14 means Chapter 1, Question 14)
Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards
Hurricane Dean Update
Hurricane Dean Forecasts
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