Class Schedule

Date Topic Readings*
Mar 27 - 30 Introduction; Origin of Earth’s Atmosphere; Heat and Temperature; Composition and Changes; Heat Forms and Transport; Radiation; Concepts in EM Radiation; Solar Radiation and the Earth; Greenhouse Effect pg 1-8, 16-48, class notes, Appendix A and B
Apr 3 - 6 Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere; Seasonal Temperature Cycles pg 8-16, 55-63
Apr 10 - 13 Daily Temperature Cycles (cont.); Density and Pressure; Humidity and Water Vapor pg 63-105, Appendix B
Apr 17 - 18 Condensation: Clouds, Dew, Fog; Atmospheric Stability; Cloud Development and Classification; pg 107-162
Wed Apr 19 1st Midterm
Apr 20; 24 - 27 Precipitation Processes; Acid Rain; Atmospheric Optics pg 163-190; readings
May 1 - 4 Forces and Winds; Ideal Gas Law; Local Circulations; Geostrophic Wind; Jet Streams pg 191-254; Appendix B
May 8 - 9 General (Global) Circulation; Air Masses and Fronts pg 255-270, 285-308, Appendix C
May 10 2nd Midterm
May 11, 15 Mid latitude Cyclones pg 309-334
May 16 - 18 Tornadoes; Hurricanes; Thunderstorms pg 367-429
May 22 - 25 Weather Forecasting; Puget Sound Weather pg 335-366, class notes
May 29 Holiday
May 30 - June 1 El Niño or Climate Change/Greenhouse Warming pg 271-278, 431-458
Monday June 5, 8:30-10:20 AM Final Exam

* Readings in Ahrens' Meteorology Today, unless otherwise indicated