NATS 101
Intro to Weather and Climate
Section 06: 12:30PM TTh ILC 150
Dr. E. Robert Kursinski
TA: Nathan Johnson
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 W 2:00-3:00 pm
PAS Bldg, Rm 580 and by Appointment
Mr. Johnson MWF 1:00-2:00 pm PAS Bldg, Rm
526 and by Appointment
• Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An
Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4rd 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
Introduction to the science of weather processes
and climate change: atmospheric structure
and composition, energy balance, clouds and
precipitation, wind systems, weather fronts,
cyclones, weather forecasting, thunderstorms
and lightning, hurricanes, monsoons, ozone
hole, air pollution, climate and global
warming and optical phenomena.
The new Global Climate Change lecture series website is up:
http://cos.arizona.edu/climate/
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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. No Exceptions.
So Plan Accordingly!
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Final Examination
Section 06 (12:30 am TTh): ILC 150
Thursday Dec. 14, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• 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 Students and Courses
Click Course Links
Click NATS101 – Kursinski
User Name: nats101-6 (if established)
Password: fall2006 (if established)
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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
• 60-65 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
• 30 minutes - Lecture
• 10 minutes - Last Minute Questions
Passing Out Quiz Materials
• 30 minutes - Quiz
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Class LISTSERV
•
•
•
•
NATS101-06@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 xxxxxx Firstname Lastname
Substitute the list you want to join for
xxxxxx, i.e.
kursinski@listserv.arizona.edu .
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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Example of Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling:
El Nino-La Nina
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http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/ann/ann05.html
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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
• 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
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Local: Recent 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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Atmospheric Composition
Permanent Gases
Ahrens, Table 1.1, 4th Ed.
• N2 and O2 are most
abundant gases
• Percentages hold
constant up to 80 km
• Ar, Ne, He, and Xe
are chemically inert
• N2 and O2 are
chemically active,
removed & returned
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N2 and O2
N2
Boiling point: 77 °K or -196°C or –320 °F
O2
Boiling point: 90 °K or -183 °C or -297 °F
Balance between input (production) and output (destruction):
Input:plant/animal decaying
Input:plant photosynthesis
Output: soil bacteria;
Output: organic matter decay
oceanic plankton-->nutrients
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chemical combination (oxidation)
breathing
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Atmospheric Composition
Important Trace Gases
Ahrens, Table 1.1, 3rd ed.
Which of these is now wrong
even
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Carbon Dioxide CO
2
Sources
vegetative decay
volcanic eruptions
animal exhalation
combustion of fossil fuels
(CH4 + 2 O2 > 2 H2O + CO2)
Sinks
photosynthesis (oxygen production)
dissolves in water
phytoplankton absorption (limestone formation)
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CO2 Trend
“Keeling Curve”
Some gases vary by season and
over many years.
The CO2 trend is the cause for
concern about global warming.
CO2 increases
in northern spring,
decreases in northern fall
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See http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/globalchange/keeling_curve/01.html
H2O Vapor Variability
Precipitable Water (mm)
Some gases can vary
spatially and daily
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Aerosols
1 cm3 of air can contain as many as 200,000
non-gaseous particles.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
dust
dirt (soil)
ocean spray
volcanic ash
water
pollen
pollutants
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Aerosols - Volcanic Ash
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Fig. 1-4, p.6
Aerosols - Dust Particles
Dust Storm on Interstate 10, between Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.
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Aerosols
• Provide condensation nuclei for water
vapor.
• Provide a surface area or catalyst needed for
much atmospheric chemistry.
• Aerosols can deplete stratospheric ozone.
They can also cool the planet by reflecting
sunlight back to space.
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Reading Assignment
• Ahrens
Pages 1-22; 425-426-427 (Appendix A:
Units etc.), 431-432 (Appendix C:
Weather chart symbols)
Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.17, 1.18,
1.20
(1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17)
Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards
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