Matthew Brothers
email: mdb5420@psu.edu
Office hours: Thursday 3:45pm – 4:45pm or by appointment
Location: 606B Walker
METEO 003
Section 3
Tips for Problem Sets:
•
Get started early, use the Wednesday class to work on the lab assignment
and ask questions!
•
The mini-lecture on Wednesdays is based on that week’s assignment. Make
sure you come to class.
•
Use the office hours to ask for help! The chapters assigned in the book are
also a good reference so make sure to read what was assigned.
•
Work on the assignment with other people in the class. Just make sure that
what you turn in is your own work!
•
Make sure to attempt all the problems! I cannot give partial credit for
questions left blank.
Assignment 1: Due Sept 5
• Chapter 1
Problem 1a and b – consult google if you are not sure
Problem 4 – pages 8 and 10 in the text are helpful
How to Isopleth
• Isopleth – line of equal value
• Uses of isoplething:
– See patterns in data
– Estimate values where no data is observed
How to Isopleth
• Isopleth – line of equal value
• Uses of isoplething:
– See patterns in data
– Estimate values where no data is observed
• Common isopleths in meteorology:
– Isobar: line of equal pressure
– Isotherm: line of equal temperature
– Isodrosotherm: line of equal dew point
How to Isopleth
1. Pick a value to isopleth first
2. Find a location on the map where this value is
observed
3. Draw a line so locations on one side of your line have
greater value and locations on the other side of the
line have a lesser value
4. Stop drawing once you reach an edge of the data or
the line closes on itself (circle)
5. Label the isopleth
*Analysis should be neat & smooth, not jagged & messy
*Isopleth only the area on the map where data is available
Example
Assignment 1: Due Sept 5
• Chapter 1
Problem 1a and b – consult google is you are not sure
Problem 4 – pages 8 and 10 in the text are helpful
Problem 7a,b,c – tips
1/ Find the multiple of 10, example 30⁰F
2/ Look at the numbers around it, and decide which way to
proceed
3/You want to draw your 30⁰
line so that it is closer to 28⁰
than to 34⁰
Gradients
• Gradient of B = Change in Value of B
Distance
• Isopleths close together = large gradient
• In general, large gradients in weather
variables point toward interesting
meteorological activity
Assignment 1: Due Sept 5
• Chapter 1
Problem 10a, c, d, e
Ex: the green line starts at 1000 ft and goes to 4000 ft, over 30 km
4000𝑓𝑡 − 1000𝑓𝑡 3000𝑓𝑡
=
=
30 𝑘𝑚
30 𝑘𝑚
𝑓𝑡
100
𝑘𝑚
So the gradient for the green
trail is 100 ft/km
Wind Direction
• EAST WIND = Winds are coming from the EAST
and moving WEST
• Easterly Wind = From the East
• Eastward Wind = From the West
Assignment 1: Due Sept 5
• Chapter 2 – Don’t forget to Convert to Kelvin
Problem 1a, b, c and 6 use Stefan-Boltzmann equation
E = σT4
Ex: If sun’s temp is 5538⁰C and your skin is 32⁰C
Sun: E = σ *(5811.15 K)4
Person: E = σ*(305.15 K)4
𝐸
𝐸
4
σ ∗(5811.15 K)
=
4 = 131521
σ ∗(305.15 K)
So the ratio of the energy emitted per unit area by the
sun to the energy emitted per unit area by a person is
131521 to 1
Assignment 1: Due Sept 5
• Chapter 2
Problem 2 – Wein’s Law
Ex: If Mars has a surface Temperature of -60⁰C, then the
wavelength for maximum emission on Mars is:
λ=
2897 μ𝑚 𝐾
𝑇
=
2897 μ𝑚 𝐾
213.15 𝐾
and λ = 13.59 μm
=
Assignment 1: Due Sept 5
• Chapter 1 - 1a,b, 4, 7a,b,c, 10a,c,d,e
• Chapter 2 – 1a,b,c, 2, 6
Useful equations
From pg 10 ⁰F = (9/5)⁰C + 32; ⁰C = 5/9(⁰F - 32); ⁰C = K - 273.15
From pg 57, the Stefan-Boltzmann equation E = σT4
From pg 75, Wein’s Law λ =
2897 μ𝑚 𝐾
𝑇
• Units give numbers meaning, so don’t forget them
• Please don’t forget to convert your temperatures to Kelvin