NATS 101
Intro to Weather and Climate
Section 05: 2:00PM TTh ILC 150
Dr. E. Robert Kursinski
TAs: Mike Stovern & April Chiriboga
Please turn off cell phones
Who Am I?
• Asscoiate Professor Department of Atmospheric
Science
• Joint Faculty in Dept. of Planetary Sciences
• Worked for many years at NASA JPL in So. Cal.
• Research Specialties
Remote Sensing, Water Cycle, Numerical
Weather Prediction (NWP), Climate, 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
M. Stovern TBD PAS Bldg, Rm 526 and by Appointment
– Possible times:
A. Chiriboga TBD PAS Bldg, Rm TBD and by Appointment
– Possible times:
• Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 5th Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Picture Link
• Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology,
4th Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Link
• Required Material: Interwrite PRSRF clicker.
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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 via the clickers.
After three unexcused absences prior to week 9,
I reserve the right to 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/2009-10/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://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity
Academic integrity video
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Grading Policy
Final grade will be based on scores from closed
book/closed notes quizzes, a lab 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 - Lab
• Each student will do one lab.
• There will be two labs to choose from,
1. Determine the % of oxygen in the atmosphere
2. Determine the latent heat of melting of ice
• At any one time, approximately 15% of the students will
be doing Lab 1 and another 15% will be doing Lab 2.
• You will be
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given the lab equipment for approximately 2 weeks,
make your measurements,
return the equipment,
receive material on how to analyze your results,
write up your results and turn them in.
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Grading Policy
• Your lab will be 20% of your grade
• If your final exam score exceeds the average of
your 6 best quizzes, the quizzes will comprise
50% of your term grade and the final 30%.
Otherwise, the quizzes will comprise 60% of your
term grade and the final 20%.
• CARROT: If your average on the 7 quizzes and
your lab is 90% or higher, 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 05 (2:00 pm TTh): ILC 120
Thursday Dec. 17, 2:00 pm - 4:00 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
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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
The writing requirement for this course is
primarily the lab
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 COURSES
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
• 60-65 minutes - New Material
Lecture, Demos, Discussion
• 2-3 minutes - Wrap-up and Summary
• Maybe quick pop quiz
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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
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nats101s05fall09@listserv.arizona.edu
Use for announcements, comments, answering
general questions of 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
subscribe by sending an email to
listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the
following as the only line in the body of the
message.
subscribe nats101s5fall09 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?
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0 F global average, large diurnal swings
Similar to the Moon’s Climate
With atmosphere…
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60 F global average, moderate diurnal (day to
night) 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/2008/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
• 2009 monsoon has been poor with below avg rainfall
• For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php
11:15 daily monsoon discussions
http://madweather.blogspot.com/
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Monsoon moisture
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Local: 2006 Monsoon Rainfall
• Record water flow
through the Sabino
and Rillito Creeks
on July 31, 2006
• Rillito flow higher
than Colorado river!
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See http://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htm
July 2009 set temperature records
in Tucson
• http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/report
s.php
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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.
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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; 435-437 (Appendix A: Units etc.),
441-442 (Appendix C: Weather chart symbols)
Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.18, 1.19, 1.21,
1.22
(1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17)
Don’t Forget your clickers
National Hurricane Center
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