ATMS 411 Daily Notes

ATMS 401/601 Atmospheric Physics [main page] [homework] .

Week 1: 24 August

Monday

Outcome: Student introductions, syllabus, homework discussion, and started discussion of Atmospheric Physics. Thanks for the questions 😀

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

**Required and Optional Course Materials**
*Required Textbook: Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey* by Wallace and Hobbs. Companion site. Supplemental Textbook:** A First Course in Atmospheric Thermodynamics by Grant W. Petty. Outstanding article on multiple scattering in the atmosphere that explains the intense brightness of clouds and snow on sunny days. Free online Introductory Textbook for Atmospheric Science and local backup SkewT image for atmospheric thermodynamics we will be used in class. SkewT image with the curves labeled.

Upcoming Homework Assignments
Online Homework 1 is due August 30th. See webcampus. Online Homework 2 is due September 6th. See webcampus. Homework 1 is due September 4th, to be turned in through web campus. For this week: Read chapter 1, introduction to large scale features of the atmosphere.

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.

Chapter 1: Introduction and overview:

The layers of the Earth's atmosphere.

Vertical structure of the atmosphere.

Overview Presentation: Atmospheric Science relies heavily on measurements and models!
Composition of the Earth's atmosphere.

Related Information:

Clouds observed during the semester.