ATMS 411/611 Atmospheric Physics [main page] [homework] .


Week 16: 9 Dec

General plan:
Continue with presentations.

Monday and Tuesday :

Project presentations in person. Presentations should be between 5-20 minutes long.

Continue with cloud and aerosol discussion, chapters 5 and 6.

Diffuse radiation and maximal irradiance at the surface on a partly cloudy day. (OneNote)

Light scattering by uniformly sized cloud droplets in an optically thin cloud. (Related information below).
Forward light scattered by diffraction from the droplet edges.

Absorption spectra of common infrared active gases (OneNote).

 

Week 15: 2 Dec

General plan:
Project presentations can start on Tuesday if you're ready, let me know
Otherwise, they will start on Wednesday.

Wednesday and Thursday:

Outcome: Project presentations in person. Presentations should be between 5-20 minutes long.

Tuesday:

Outcome:

Project presentation about Arctic mixed phase clouds.
Started clouds and aerosol discussion, chapters 5 and 6, up to the beginning of chapter 6.

Monday:

Outcome:

1 layer model of the atmosphere for surface and atmosphere temperature with greenhouse gases. Greenhouse, aka, infrared effect to explain the top of atmosphere equivalent temperature versus the surface temperature. (OneNote. Right click on link and download))

Snow albedo using the SNICAR model.

 

Related Information:

Snow albedo (reflectivity) simulations (SNICAR model).

Solar or lunar corona calculation for cloud droplets.
Program for calculating light scattering and absorption by particles.
Use the program to calculate red and blue color scattering for 20 micron diameter cloud droplets. Notice the wavelength dependent refractive index.
Diffraction simulator to help understanding that part of light scattered by cloud droplets.

Use the program to simulate the rainbow:
Rainbow example when the program starts up, after changing to 1000 micron diameter particle for
Reduce the angular range to 120-150 degrees to observe scattering at 138 degrees, the nominal rainbow angle.
Overlay the angular scattering for red and blue related wavelengths.

 

Week 14: 25 Nov

Wednesday:

Outcome:

Radiation reflected and transmitted through a cloud above a reflecting ground. (OneNote notes part1, part2, part3. Right click on link and download).

Example problem. (OneNote notes. Right click on link and download).

.

Related Information:

Mie theory example. Explains what Mie theory is.
Program for calculating light scattering and absorption by particles.

Solar or lunar corona calculation for cloud droplets.
(Red and blue colors for 15 micron diameter cloud droplets. Pay attention to refractive index.)
Rainbow example when the program starts up, after changing to 1000 micron diameter particle.

Snow albedo (reflectivity) simulations (SNICAR model).

 

Tuesday:

Outcome:

Sca, Abs, and Ext Coefs for a cloud of droplets, hydrometeors or an aerosol plume. Direct beam attenuation (OneNote Click on link and download. Open with OneNote.)
Direct and diffuse radiation reflected and transmitted through a cloud above an absorbing ground. (OneNote notes. Click on link and download. Open with OneNote.)

Monday:

Outcome:
Scattering regimes and the asymmetry parameter for scattering. (OneNote notes. Click on link and download. Open with OneNote.)
Mie theory examples of the scattering, absorption, and extinction efficiency factors. (OneNote notes. Click on link and download. Open with OneNote.)

Related Information:

Cloud examples from Nov 2024 at UNR. Note the dark and light cloud regions and the likely location of the sun. Click on images for larger versions



Blue component

Red component

 

 

Week 13: 18 Nov

Thursday:

Outcome:

Scattering, absorption, and extinction cross sections for a single particle.
Single scattering albedo definition, typical values, and climate relevance.
(OneNote notes: Right click and save to disk. Open with OneNote.)

Mie theory example. Explain what Mie theory is.
Program for calculating light scattering and absorption by particles.

 

Wednesday:

Outcome:

Complex refractive index of ice and water and possible application for rainfall measurement.
Electromagnetic penetration depth. (OneNote notes part 1 and part 2. Right click, save, and open with OneNote).
See Related Information below for graphs and data for the refractive indices of ice and water as a function of wavelength.

Mie theory examples of the angular scattering by a homogeneous sphere that is smaller then, similar to, and larger than the wavelength.

Tuesday:

Outcome:
Earth and sun radiation balance notes (OneNote, right click on link and download it. Open with OneNote). Earth/sun distance and albedo by day effect on radiation equivalent temperature dTe/Te.

More details of solar radiation transfer in the atmosphere. (Chapter 4 presentation slides 27-32).

Spectral absorption of short and long wave radiation by gases in the atmosphere. (OneNote, right click on link and download it. Open with OneNote)

Monday:

Alex provided a discussion of an upcoming atmospheric river event.

Discussed problem 4.29, response time of the atmosphere and oceans to sudden changes in radiation, like after strong volcanic emissions to the stratosphere.

Related Information:

Program for calculating light scattering and absorption by particles.

Interesting reading on the Earth's radiative balance.
Dipole radiation pattern related to Rayleigh scattering.

Real and imaginary parts of the refractive index of water (and spreadsheet with values.)
Electromagnetic penetration depth compared with typical hydrometeor diameter.

Global energy balance image.

Radiatively cooling walls by emitting IR in the vertical and reflecting IR from the ground. Concept image.

Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance. Local backup. Energy balance graph from the NWS.

 

Week 12: 11 Nov

Thursday:

Earth-sun top of atmosphere radiation balance, and for other planets.

Talk about problem 4.21 (Problem 1 in HW5), variation in the amount of solar radiation due to the ellipticity of the Earth/Sun orbit,
and the variation of Earth's albedo.

Discuss problem 4.29, response time of the atmosphere and oceans to sudden changes in radiation, like after strong volcanic emissions to the stratosphere.

Spectral absorption of short and long wave radiation by gases in the atmosphere. (OneNote)

More details of solar radiation transfer in the atmosphere. (ppt).

Continue chapter 4, atmospheric radiation, presentation.

Wednesday:

Infrared and solar radiation.
Earth-sun top of atmosphere radiation balance, and for other planets.
Talk about problem 4.21 (Problem 1 in HW5), variation in the amount of solar radiation due to the ellipticity of the Earth/Sun orbit,
and the variation of Earth's albedo.
Discuss problem 4.29, response time of the atmosphere and oceans to sudden changes in radiation, like after strong volcanic emissions to the stratosphere.

Continue chapter 4, atmospheric radiation, presentation.

Tuesday:

Outcome: Notes for polarization, color, and brightness of rainbows, dipole scattering dependence on wavelength, and size parameter.
Also notes on the angular distribution of light scattered by dipoles, and the equations used to model it.

Briefly describe rainbow optics and the Brewster angle that polarizes it.
How to see a really bright rainbow.
Rainbow website.

Acceleration of charge by the electric field in light gives rise to light scattered by molecules in air; dipole moment qx, and the second time derivative.

Introduced the size parameter x, and discussed x<<1 (dipole radiation) and x>>1 (geometrical optics).

Related Information:

Reno inversion and air pollution on Friday, 8 November 2024 at around 10 am LST. Click image to see a larger version.
The reason for the smoke and haze was explained by Dr. Lareau, a prescribed burn in the Truckee area.
The strong inversion didn't help.

Image from the Reno NWS website.

From me.

 

Measurements of the Earth's spherical albedo as by Finnish researchers, from the NOAA Deep Space Climate Observatory. Data portal. Lagrange points and satellite location.

Mieplot program for calculating scattering and absorption by homogeneous and coated spheres as a function of wavelength and complex refractive index.


Week 11: 4 Nov

Thursday:

Begin chapter 4, presentation.
Infrared and solar radiation.
Polarization of sky light; Rayleigh (dipole) scattering, blue sky, related to the homework problem. (Problem 3 in HW 5).
Slinky demo of longitudinal and transverse waves.
Brewster angle discussions: fishing, driving, floor tile refractive index and calibrating the polarizer's direction.
We will go outside and observe polarization of sky light.
Discussion and demonstration from class.

Dipole radiation pattern, moveable.

Dipole radiation:

 

Related Information:

November 7th Talk: Weather stations at high altitude. The complete announcement is here. Click image for a larger version.

Measurements of the Earth's spherical albedo as by Finnish researchers, from the NOAA Deep Space Climate Observatory. Data portal. Lagrange points and satellite location.

UNR weather station data for the last 7 days.

Reno radar viewed from the Alert camera network.

Radar tutorial.

 

Wednesday:

Chapter 3 presentation: additional topics.
Saturated lapse rate equation (slide 128).
Parting words on entropy and isentropes (slide 162).

Begin chapter 4, presentation.

Tuesday:

Chapter 3 presentation: additional topics.
Continue with sound and radar propagation in the atmosphere, a lead in to chapter 4, radiation.
Saturated lapse rate equation (slide 128).
Parting words on entropy and isentropes (slide 162).

Begin chapter 4, presentation.

Monday:

Chapter 3 presentation: additional topics.
Sound propagation in the atmosphere, a lead in to chapter 4, radiation.
Saturated lapse rate equation.
Parting words on entropy.

Begin chapter 4, presentation.

 

Week 10: 28 Oct

Thursday:

Midterm exam posted.
Chapter 3 presentation: additional topics.
Saturated lapse rate equation.
Downslope wind storm diagnosed with potential temperature contours.
Gravity waves and the Brunt-Vaisalla frequency.
Sound propagation in the atmosphere.
Parting words on entropy.

 

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday:

Presentations continue in class.
It's important to be there for both yours and others to learn from each other.
Submit your presentation to WebCampus for presentation.
It's preferred to give your presentation in class; if you need to use Zoom let me know.

Discuss additional topics of chapter 3 as given below.

 

 

Week 9: 21 Oct

Thursday:

Presentations begin in class.
It's important to be there for both yours and others to learn from each other.

Wednesday:

Presentation prep day, bring questions to class.

Discuss additional topics of chapter 3 as given below.

In-person presentations for assignment 4 are preferred. They will extend over more than 1 class meeting.

Related Information:

Short video on El Niño and La Niña.

 

Tuesday:

Further discuss the IR imagery.

Part F of assignment 4: Obtain the radar animation for 2 to 24 hours near the time of your sounding, using the NOAA Climate and Weather Toolkit.

In-person presentations for assignment 4 are preferred. They will extend over more than 1 class meeting.

Chapter 3 presentation: additional topics.
Mixing air masses and effect on condensation.
Saturated lapse rate equation.
Downslope wind storm diagnosed with potential temperature contours.
Gravity waves and the Brunt-Vaisalla frequency.
Sound propagation in the atmosphere.
Parting words on entropy.

Related Information:

Gamma ray bursts give clues to cloud electrification.

Precipitable water vapor and CAPE discussions.

 

Monday:

Get the 500 mb map from reanalysis. Part E of assignment 4. (see homework page).

Obtain the radar image for your sounding location and time, and an animation for several to 24 hours near the time of your sounding, using the NOAA Climate and Weather Toolkit. Part F of assignment 4.

Obtain the 10.3 micron band infrared satellite image at the time of your sounding using the NOAA Climate and Weather Toolkit, and animation. Part G of assignment 4.

Week 8: 14 Oct

Thursday:

The NOAA-NCEI archived radar site is back up, demonstrate its use. Look for example at the Reno August 15, 2020, 0z sounding radar.

Earthwinds can overlay CAPE, example.

Archived surface analysis showing highs and lows and fronts are available (scroll down).
Example
for the same time and date as the Earthwinds.

Talk about the graph of θ(z) and θE(z) for Assignment. Part D of assignment 4. (see homework page).

Get the 500 mb map from reanalysis. Part E of assignment 4. (see homework page).

 

Wednesday:

Discuss Assignment 4: Update on sounding choice.
Hurricane Florence, 9/14/2018 example of using Earthwinds to view archived weather. Trace back to origin. Discussion.

Derechos as another type of weather event to look for.

Archived radar and other meteorological data is available to help choose a sounding from the Univ. of Wyoming site.

Example from the Reno August 15, 2020, 0z sounding. (Look at national and southwest radar for 2 days starting on August 14th).
National archived radar data from the Univ of Iowa is available also.

Markup GIF of sounding, filling in the CAPE area and CIN area with different colors. Mark the LCL, LFC, and EL.
Started making the graph of θ(z) and θE(z)

Chapter 3 presentation: additional topics.
Subsidence inversion.
Well-mixed atmospheric boundary layer.
Convective condensation temperature.
Mixing air masses and effect on condensation.
Saturated lapse rate equation.
Downslope wind storm diagnosed with potential temperature contours.
Gravity waves and the Brunt-Vaisalla frequency.
Sound propagation in the atmosphere.
Parting words on entropy.

Tuesday:

Assignment 4 discussion.

Conditional instability.
Convective instability using equivalent potential temperature, and example sounding.
Convective available potential energy (CAPE) theory and observations. (OneNote and ppt).

Chapter 3 presentation.

Related Information:

Potential temperature used for identifying fronts.
Map of CAPE for the continental US (Pivotal weather).

Valley heat deficit applied to air pollution meteorology.

An earlier and comprehensive manuscript on valley heat deficit for Salt Lake City.
Example sounding with an inversion for Reno.

 

Monday:

Continue with problem 3.48, flow over a mountain.
Follow along on a skew-T diagram.

Stability in the atmosphere.
Unsaturated air parcel and using potential temperature (OneNote and ppt)
Conditional instability
Convective instability using equivalent potential temperature.
Convective available potential energy (CAPE) theory and observations. (OneNote and ppt).

Assignment 4 discussion and in-class work on it.

Chapter 3 presentation.

Related Information:

The intricacies of instabilities.

 

Week 7: 7 Oct

Thursday:

Tampa Bay skew_T sounding to 100 mb, and Stuve sounding to 10 mb.

Bring questions about homework 3 to class, and issues with Endnote.

Review dewpoint and wetbulb temperature (dew on grass) (ppt).
Comparison of dewpoint, wet bulb, and dry bulb temperatures (OneNote).
Saturated adiabatic lapse rate (ppt).
Normand's rule again.

Chapter 3 presentation.

 

Wednesday:

Bring questions about homework 3 to class, and issues with Endnote.

Potential temperature.

Adding water vapor:
Enthalpy of different phases
Latent heat release to the air during condensation and taken from the air during evaporation.
Dewpoint and frost point, and wet bulb temperature.

Chapter 3 presentation.

Related Information:

Example soundings for Reno in summer and winter 2024. Script used for graphs.

WINTER
SUMMER

Tuesday:

Bring questions about homework 3 to class, and issues with Endnote.

First law of thermodynamics.
Specific heat capacity at constant volume and pressure.
Dry adiabatic lapse rate and dry static energy.
Potential temperature.

Related Information:

Hurricane Milton update.

Monday:

Discuss use of EndNote and WebOfScience to manage references within Microsoft Word (download and install the Endnote plugin for Word).
It may be useful to bring your laptop if you typically use it for writing.

Continue working on problem 3, finishing first the discussion of equivalent potential temperature.
Then

Reduction to sea level pressure, and altimeters.
First law of thermodynamics.
Specific heat capacity at constant volume and pressure.
Dry adiabatic lapse rate and dry static energy.
Potential temperature.

Chapter 3 presentation.

Related Information:

Discussion of the equivalent potential temperature.

 

 

Week 6: 30 Sept

Thursday:

Continue the hurricane discussion, and problem 4 in assignment 3.

Demonstration of wet and dry bulb thermometer measurements and problem 3.

Related Information:

Hurricane Helene meteorology and aftermath. More detailed meteorology.

Wednesday:

Hypsometric equation. The geostrophic wind is discussed on pg 281 of the textbook. Hurricane discussion, and problem 4 in assignment 3.

Tuesday:

Geopotential, variation of gravity with distance from the Earth, hypsometric equation and consequences. Continue with Chapter 3.

Monday:

Chapter 3 topics: Saturation water vapor pressure as function of temperature and consequences, virtual temperature.
Water vapor mixing ratio, relative humidity, dewpoint temperature definition, example.
Normand's rule.
Chapter 3 presentation.

Related Information:

NASA Earth Data, including for the atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, etc.

 

Week 5: 23 Sept

Thursday:

Chapter 3 topics: Partial pressure and density and example, virtual temperature,
saturation water vapor pressure as function of temperature and consequences.
Water vapor mixing ratio, relative humidity, dewpoint temperature definition, example.
Normand's rule.
Chapter 3 presentation.

Related Information:

NASA Earth Data, including for the atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, etc.

 

Tuesday and Wednesday:

Bring questions to class on assignment 2.

We will discuss problem 4, and reanalysis data.

Discuss remaining topics of Chapter 1, atmosphere composition, vertical structure, ozone layer, solar radiation, discussion of the greenhouse effect.

Begin Chapter 3 Atmospheric Thermodynamics. Ideal gas 'law' assumptions and many forms.

Monday:

We discussed the use of pressure and scale height to get the average layer virtual temperature, and calculated it from both the slope in Figure 7 of the homework, and directly using the calculated virtual temperature.

We discussed problem 1.20, (also discussed here) as it is related to problem 1.21 in the homework.

 

Related Information:

Make Your Weather Passion a Reality: A Panel Discussion with the Experts
24 September at 1:00 pm ET
webinar

 

 

 

Week 4: 16 Sept

Thursday:

Outcome: OneNotes on solar radiation. (right click and save the link to a file, open it from there)
Obtain yearly solar radiation time series for each site.

Discuss problem 4.

Related Information:

Make Your Weather Passion a Reality: A Panel Discussion with the Experts
24 September at 1:00 pm ET
webinar

Lightning associated with volcanic eruptions.

 

Wednesday:

Outcome: OneNotes on atmospheric rivers (right click and save the link to a file, open it from there).

Work on the Atmospheric River related calculations of integrated water vapor vector and precipitable water vapor calculations,
and the yearly solar radiation time series for each site.

Discuss problem 4 next.

 

Tuesday:

Outcome: OneNote discussion (right click and save the link to a file, open it from there) of the pressure difference as a function of altitude between Barrow and Rochambeau.

First we will correct an error in the virtual temperature calculation. Tv=T(1+0.61*w/1000) where w is grams/kg units and temperatures are in Kelvin.

Then we'll finish the scatter plot for determining the scale height for Roch and Barr,
followed by adding the Barr-Roch pressure difference to the pressure and temperature graph and interpret.
Then we'll work on the Atmospheric River related calculations of integrated water vapor vector and precipitable water vapor calculations,
and the yearly solar radiation time series for each site.

Discuss problem 4 next.

 

Monday:

We will add the water vapor density to the density graph, and the pressure difference to the pressure and temperature graph.
Then we'll work on the scatter plot for determining the scale height for Roch and Barr,
followed by the integrated water vapor vector and precipitable water vapor calculations,
and the yearly solar radiation time series for each site.

Preparation: Make sure you have the data from Rochambeau and Barrow in delimited form, and have the graphs of pressure, temperature, and density versus height in km. Bring questions to class. Everyone needs to be on board. Work on problems 1 and 2, and bring questions to class.

You could install Google Earth (free) and Microsoft Office (Excel, etc, free when you login using your netID) on your home computer to help with this and other assignments. We will continue to use them throughout the semester.

Students can bring a laptop and use it, or use the classroom computers, though have a way to save your results to a USB drive, or Google drive, or email it to yourself, etc.

Related Information:

Clouds and soundings for Sunday, Sept 2024. Click on images for larger versions.

GOES Satellite Movie (GIF format)

500 mb height anomaly

 

 

 

Week 3: 10 Sept

Wednesday and Thursday:

Kathleen will discuss the UNR/DRI Ash Project. Presentation.

Then we will continue with problem 3.

Preparation: Make sure you have the data from Rochambeau in delimited form, and have the graph of pressure versus height in km. Bring questions to class. Everyone needs to be on board. Work on problems 1 and 2, and bring questions to class.

You could install Google Earth (free) and Microsoft Office (Excel, etc, free when you login using your netID) on your home computer to help with this and other assignments. We will continue to use them throughout the semester.

Students can bring a laptop and use it, or use the classroom computers, though have a way to save your results to a USB drive, or Google drive, or email it to yourself, etc.

Related Information:

High resolution rapid refresh (HRRR) smoke forecasts.

Saturation vapor pressure of ice and water (see Eqs. 6 and 7).

 

Tuesday:

Outcome: Discussed Assignment 2, problem 2, and started problem 3.

Preparation: Read over homework assignment 2, especially problems 3 and 4. Work on problems 1 and 2, and bring questions to class.
You could install Google Earth (free) and Microsoft Office (Excel, etc, free when you login using your netID) on your home computer to help with this and other assignments. We will continue to use them throughout the semester.

You can bring a laptop and use it, or the classroom computers, though have a way to save your results to a USB drive, or Google drive, or email it to yourself, etc.

 

Monday:

Outcome: SkewT examples, including the convective condensation level analysis. Hot air balloon analysis.

Finish the hot air balloon analysis.

Place to get soundings from 1904 - present.

Discuss the Davis fire, geostationary satellite imagery from GOES 18.

Discuss assignment 2.

Discuss the structure of the atmosphere, chapter 1 presentation, in relation to assignment 2.

Start summarizing assignment 2.

Related Information:

Earth-sun orbit and solar irradiance simulator.

Davis Fire 9/8/2024 soundings and photos. Click images for larger version.

4 a.m. LST Sounding


4 p.m. LST Sounding

Air quality network for a quick look at aerosol (smoke) PM2.5. (Raw PM2.5, woodsmoke calibration).

AirNow.gov air quality website.

 

Week 2: 3 Sept

Thursday: Outcome: Discussed satellite remote sensing, looked at skewT examples, and started the balloon calculation.

Discuss NASA MODIS images.
(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer instruments on Aqua (afternoon) and Terra (morning) polar orbiting satellites.
Aqua satellite path.
Discuss GOES COD, a geostationary operational environmental satellite data server.
GOES description.

Continue discussion about SkewT diagrams:

View a few more simplified Reno weather soundings in the Related Information: below.
Note especially regions of the soundings likely to have clouds.

Hot air balloons and Atmospheric Physics.

Discuss the structure of the atmosphere, chapter 1 presentation.

 

Wednesday

Outcome: OneNotes for skew T discussion, part 1 and part 2. (right click and save the link to a file, open it from there)

Continue discussion about SkewT diagrams:
Wind barbs summary figure.
Finish lapse rate discussion.
Latitude and longitude of balloon launch location, plot on Google Earth online, or install Google Earth on your device.
Reno Example: Latitude=39.57 degrees north, Longitude = -119.80 degrees.

Placing observations on a skewT-logP diagram:
Blank skewT with definitions.
Blank high resolution skew T.

View some simplified Reno weather soundings in the Related Information: below.
Note especially regions of the soundings likely to have clouds.

We will use the Univ. of Wyoming site for obtaining skewT diagrams and data.

Discuss the structure of the atmosphere, chapter 1 presentation.

 

Tuesday

Outcome: OneNote notes developed during class and with previous day notes. (right click and save the link to a file, open it from there)

Continue discussion about SkewT diagrams and indices:
Meteorological wind speed and direction practice, including meteorological wind angle definition.
Wind barbs.
Precipitable water.
Latitude and longitude of balloon launch location, plot on Google Earth online, or install Google Earth on your device.
Lapse rate discussion.

Continue the discussion of the skewT-logP diagram.
Blank skewT with definitions.
Blank high resolution skew T.

We will often use the Univ. of Wyoming site for obtaining skewT diagrams and data.

Discuss the structure of the atmosphere, chapter 1 presentation.


Related Information:

Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) from NOAA.
Data availability from IGRA.
Video describing locations to obtain radiosonde data.

Reno Weather Data
Simplified Reno example soundings with a simplified skewT-logP diagram for the end of August and early September.
Single sounding. Overlay of a still morning and afternoon sounding, and another example with well-mixed windy day.
UNR weather station data for pressure and windspeed.
Soundings for windy Monday afternoon and calm Tuesday morning (0z and 12z soundings on 9/3/2024) including water vapor mixing ratio curves.
Reno 9/3/24 afternoon and 9/4/24 morning soundings overlaid with the LCL, dry adiabats, and mixing ratio lines.
Reno 9/3/24 afternoon sounding with lifted air parcel, LCL, dry and moist adiabats, and mixng ratio lines.

Reno soundings for:
Rainy day
Dry day

Program for overlaying two soundings.

 

 

 

Week 1: 26 August

Thursday

Obtain properties of the terrestrial planets and Saturn's moon Titan using chatGPT and the online Python interpreter.

Begin the discussion of atmospheric thermodynamic diagrams, specifically the skewT-logP diagram.
Blank skewT with definitions.
Wind barbs.

We'll use the Univ. of Wyoming site for obtaining skewT diagrams and data.

Discuss the structure of the atmosphere, chapter 1 presentation.

 

Wednesday

Mass of the Earth's atmosphere. Calculation using an online python interpreter to demonstrate the tool.

Pressure in liquids: water and mercury barometer.

 

Tuesday

Discuss pressure and density and give examples, mirage.

Pressure definitions, how it's used. Reduction of station pressure to sea level value.

 

Monday

Outcome: Everyone introduced themselves, talked about upcoming homework,
and examples of atmospheric physics.

First Day Agenda
Introductions -- each student introduce themselves.
Syllabus.
Homework.
Webcampus for online homework assignments/reading.

How to monitor smoke conditions, example

Geostationary satellite loop for the western US

Smoke Pollution Measurements at UNR

Purple Air network for smoke and aerosol pollution

Smoke forecast for our area.


Required and Optional Course Materials

Upcoming Homework Assignments

Online Homework 1 is due 3 Sept 2024. See webcampus. This is based on MetEd.

Online Homework 2 is due 10 Sept 2024. See webcampus. This is based on MetEd.

Homework 1 is due 6 Sept 2024, to be turned in through web campus.

Homework 2 is due 21 Sept, to be turned in through web campus.

For this week: Read chapter 1.


Final Project Assignment and Ideas

The final project has been posted.

This class includes:
Lecture/discussion in class.
Active class participation/activity involving atmospheric data from around the world.
Study using online modules for atmospheric science education.

Overview Presentation: Atmospheric Science relies heavily on measurements and models!
Next discuss atmospheric pressure and density (OneNote).
Mass of the atmosphere calculation using an online Python editor.

Vertical structure of the atmosphere image.


Related Information:

Weather at the UNR station from January 1st to August 24th, 2023.

Blue Marble Earth views as seen from space.

Ocean Optics. A more technical discussion.

Albedo discussion.

Thunder and lightning.

Different ways to report pressure.

Summer of floods!

It's hurricane season! Image and animation of the Eastern Pacific. Images from this very useful weather website.
Hurricane track.
Hurricane formation discussion.

It's fire season too! Loyalton fire tornado!
Satellite imagery for 19 August 2020.
Satellite imagery (NASA polar orbiting satellite) and from GOES 16 (NOAA geostationary satellite).

Fire and meteorology feedback: Air pollution in Reno on the 16th of August 2020. Meteorology on the 15th and 16th of August 2020.
Note the difference in stability and boundary layer height.

Hail.

Wind barbs. Click image for larger version.

Reminder of cause for the seasons.


Pittsburgh Spirit Fountain Cloud Physics and coordinate system (click image for larger version.)

The fountain in Pittsburgh PA and its rainbow.

Spectra for PAHs.