ATMS 401 Homework [Main Page] [Daily Notes] [Final Project]
ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES FOR ALL ARE GIVEN IN WEBCAMPUS.
Skew T lnP Practice. Homework based on the atmosphere and the day and time of your choice in 2026.
We will work on 15 August 2026 at 0Z in class to illustrate the process.
Reno sounding location is 72489 REV (39.56, -119.8). Slidell Louisiana sounding location is 72233 LIX (30.34, -89.83).
Instructions: Place your results from parts 1 through 7 into a Powerpoint Document and submit it to Webcampus. The day for presentations will be announced.
NOTE: SkewT images can be obtained from the University of Wyoming for text values and images;
the College of Dupage for skew T lnP images;
or the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR);
or the Storm Prediction Center (SPC);
or locally (the lifted surface air parcel is included: A screen shot must be used to save data).
Use the blank skewT graph with curves marked, or a blank skewT graph to Microsoft Paint, or your favorite image program.
1. From the Reno sounding text, make a table with the temperature and dewpoint temperature for pressures of mb of 850, 700, 500, 400, and 250 mb. If data is missing at a level, choose the closest value.
2. Put these points on the blank skewT graph using Paint, save your skewT image file.
3. Obtain the sounding as an image, circle the temperature and dewpoint temperature values at the pressures given in part 1.
Compare with your skewT from part 2 with the actual sounding in part 3 to make sure you are understanding these charts.
4. Download the Slidell Louisiana sounding image on the same day and time. Discuss the comparison with the Reno sounding.
5.
Make a Google Earth map using the coordinates for each location to help your discussion of the meteorology you would expect for Reno and Slidell.
Google Earth can be downloaded as an application for your device, or used from the web.
6. What are the local daylight savings and local standard times in Reno and Slidell at the time these soundings?
7. Obtain the afternoon NASA Worldview (MODIS sensor, Aqua satellite) and use it to help interpret the meteorological differences.
Resources
Some skewT lnP applications and measurements.
Skew T lnP MetEd Module that covers nearly everything, starting with the basics.
How to convert to and from UTC.
Upper air soundings and skewT discussion.
This Python script can be used to plot the balloon trajectories in Google Earth, by creating a .kml file that can be read directly into Google Earth.
Use the "Output Data : Comma Separated Values" to get the data from the high resolution sounding page. Not required but useful.
Time zone in Reno.
World time zone map and Greenwich England.
Current time UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
World time converter.
Video describing skewT diagrams.
Example of radiosonde errors that can lead to faulty skewT diagrams.
Deliverables:
ATMS 401 in class presentation and turn in presentation in through WebCampus.
ATMS 601 in class presentation, report, and turn in through WebCampus.
Presentations need to be between 15 to 30 minutes long.
Take photographs and/or use other data for the atmosphere, and/or investigate a specific topic we haven't covered in class, or covered lightly (such as the ionosphere, or lightning) and explain the Atmospheric Physics connection. The project topic is not limited to obtaining cloud pictures and explaining them, but can be within the rather broad umbrella of Atmospheric Physics. Please check with me if you have questions or want to talk about resources for the project. Project topics can be chosen to support your BS, MS or PhD research topic though should not be on research you have already accomplished prior to this course.
For observational projects, as an example, you can use photographs or data sources, and can look at a variety of phenomena.
For example, blue sky, sky polarization, coronas, halos, rainbows, lenticular clouds, gravity waves, lightning, water phase clouds, ice phase clouds,
inferring air motions and winds from cloud structures, contrails, vortices in contrails, sky color during pollution events, sky color near the horizon, sky color at sunset looking to the east.
Photographs of the dendritic nature of ice growing on windshields on cold days, the shape and nature of icicles, dew on a moist mornings are also possible topics.
Photographs of snow flakes and snow crystals, here's a discussion.
If you have special hobbies or work, like paragliding or mountaineering, Atmospheric Physics related
aspects can be included in your project.
You can use soundings, satellite images, weather station data, etc, to also help tell the story.
ATMS 401 students will do a presentation. Presentation hints. 7 secrets of great speakers. Teachable moments.
ATMS 601 students will do a presentation and a report. Report format.
Grading rubric.
Due Dates:
Before Mid Semester: Submit a tentative title and discussion of the topic you would like to work on for this project through WebCampus.
Presentations: Presentations begin on Wednesday the week before prep day. Prep day is on a Wednesday too. Turn in your presentation through webCampus by Tuesday night.
Reports for 601 students: The Sunday after prep day. They can be submitted as a second file through webCampus.
Resources that may help
Gravity wave discussion.
Snow crystal/flake observations.
Cloud identification.
NASA WorldView for satellite imagery. You can add layers for additional information.
National Weather Service balloon soundings, served by the Univ of Wyoming.
Weather station data from the Western Regional Climate Center at DRI. In particular, the UNR weather station.
Clouds in and near Reno, NV.
