NATS 101 Intro to Weather and Climate Section 05: 2:00PM TTh ILC 150

1. NATS 101 Intro to Weather and Climate Section 05: 2:00PM TTh ILC 150 Dr. E. Robert Kursinski TAs: Mike Stovern & April Chiriboga Please turn off cell phones

2. Who Am I? • Asscoiate Professor Department of Atmospheric Science • Joint Faculty in Dept. of Planetary Sciences • Worked for many years at NASA JPL in So. Cal. • Research Specialties Remote Sensing, Water Cycle, Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), Climate, Planetary atmospheres • Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences M.S. in Electrical Engineering B.S. in Physics, Minor in Music Theory Lecture 1-Nats 101

3. Vital Statistics • Office Hours: Dr. Kursinski by Appointment PAS Bldg, Rm 580 M. Stovern TBD PAS Bldg, Rm 526 and by Appointment • Possible times: A. Chiriboga TBD PAS Bldg, Rm TBD and by Appointment • Possible times: • Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 5th Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Picture Link • Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4th Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Link • Required Material: Interwrite PRSRF clicker. Lecture 1-Nats 101

4. Course Description Intro to science of processes weather & climate change: • atmospheric structure and composition, • energy balance, • wind systems, • clouds and precipitation, • weather fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting, • thunderstorms and lightning, • hurricanes, monsoons, • climate and global warming, • ozone hole and air pollution Lecture 1-Nats 101

5. Course Description Emphasis will be given to phenomena that have strong impacts on human activities. The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry and mathematics will be noted. Atmospheric Science is a branch of Applied Physics Lecture 1-Nats 101

6. Attendance Policy Attendance is mandatory, and will be tallied throughout the term via the clickers. After three unexcused absences prior to week 9, I reserve the right to submit to the Office of Curriculum and Registration an administrative drop from the course and assign a grade in accordance with UA policy. http://catalog.arizona.edu/2009-10/policies/classatten.htm Lecture 1-Nats 101

7. Student Behavior UA Code of Academic Integrity, Code of Conduct and Student Code of Conduct are enforced in this course. Every student is responsible for learning these codes and abiding by them. http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity Academic integrity video Lecture 1-Nats 101

8. Grading Policy Final grade will be based on scores from closed book/closed notes quizzes, a lab and final exam. Quizzes will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. Quizzes will cover new material presented through the end of the previous lecture day. Extra credit questions given on some quizzes. Extra credit impromptu “pop” quizzes given. Lecture 1-Nats 101

9. Grading Policy • There will be seven quizzes during the term. Dates for the quizzes arelisted on the home page. • Students who arrive late on quiz days will be not allowed to take the quiz after the first student turns in her/his quiz.No Exceptions • The lowest score among the seven quizzes will be excluded from the course grade. Therefore, no make-up quizzes. Lecture 1-Nats 101

10. Grading Policy - Lab • Each student will do one lab. • There will be two labs to choose from, • Determine the % of oxygen in the atmosphere • Determine the latent heat of melting of ice • At any one time, approximately 15% of the students will be doing Lab 1 and another 15% will be doing Lab 2. • You will be • given the lab equipment for approximately 2 weeks, • make your measurements, • return the equipment, • receive material on how to analyze your results, • write up your results and turn them in. Lecture 1-Nats 101

11. Grading Policy • Your lab will be 20% of your grade • If your final exam score exceeds the average of your 6 best quizzes, the quizzes will comprise 50% of your term grade and the final 30%. Otherwise, the quizzes will comprise 60% of your term grade and the final 20%. • CARROT: If your average on the 7 quizzes and your lab is 90% or higher, you will earn an exemption from the final and will receive an "A'' for the course. • No Extra Credit Projects. No Exceptions. So Plan Accordingly! Lecture 1-Nats 101

12. Final Examination Section 05 (2:00 pm TTh): ILC 120 Thursday Dec. 17, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm • The final will consist of approximately 60 multiple choice questions and short answer questions. • A number of questions will be taken verbatim from the old quizzes. Lecture 1-Nats 101

13. Course Grading • Course Grading Scale A 90% or higher B 80.0-89.99% C 65.0-79.99% D 55.0-64.99% E < 55.0% Lecture 1-Nats 101

14. Expectations Every student is expected to: • Complete all of the assigned reading before the lecture (unless you hear otherwise). • Devote a minimum of 2 hours outside of class studying, reading, etc. for every hour of classroom lecture. Unit Credit Definition • Attend class daily, arrive on time, leave when class is dismissed (courtesy to peer students). Lecture 1-Nats 101

15. The Golden Rule Instructor and students all show: Mutual Respect! Lecture 1-Nats 101

16. Literacy Requirements The writing requirement for this course is primarily the lab There is a science literacy requirement: • Use scientific notation for writing numbers (especially rather large or small ones). • Specify units of physical quantities (e.g. meters for elevation, etc.). • Attempt to quantify physical relationships. Lecture 1-Nats 101

17. Announcements Course Homepage…is now functional http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/ Click COURSES Click NATS101 – Kursinski Lecture 1-Nats 101

18. Class Format:Lecture Days • 2-4 minutes - Interesting weather discussion • 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up From Prior Lecture, Optional • 60-65 minutes - New Material Lecture, Demos, Discussion • 2-3 minutes - Wrap-up and Summary • Maybe quick pop quiz Lecture 1-Nats 101

19. Class Format:Quiz Days • 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up From Prior Lecture, Optional • 30 minutes - Lecture • 10 minutes - Last Minute Questions Passing Out Quiz Materials • 30 minutes - Quiz Lecture 1-Nats 101

20. Class LISTSERV • nats101s05fall09@listserv.arizona.edu • Use for announcements, comments, answering general questions of general interest to the class. • kursinski@atmo.arizona.edu is reserved for personal requests not of general interest. • To subscribe go to http://listserv.arizona.edu/ and click the link “Subscribe to a list” http://listserv.arizona.edu/Subscribe.html Follow straightforward instructions Lecture 1-Nats 101

21. LISTSERV subscribe by sending an email to listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the following as the only line in the body of the message. subscribe nats101s5fall09 Firstname Lastname Substitute your first name for FirstnameSubstitute your last name for Lastname Lecture 1-Nats 101

22. Importance of Atmosphere • Necessary for a wide spectrum of features Oceans Clouds, Rain, Fresh Water Erosion by Water and Wind Life, Life on Land Blue Skies, Red Sunsets, Twilight Sound Lecture 1-Nats 101

23. Importance of Atmosphere • Point 1- Offers Protection Consider surface temperatures Without atmosphere? 0oF global average, large diurnal swings Similar to the Moon’s Climate With atmosphere… 60oF global average, moderate diurnal (day to night) swings Lecture 1-Nats 101

24. Importance of Atmosphere • Point 2 - Offers Protection Consider Surface Radiation Shields against harmful UV radiation Lecture 1-Nats 101

25. Importance of Atmosphere • Consider Survival Time Without Food  few weeks Without Water  few days Without Air  few minutes Lecture 1-Nats 101

26. Atmosphere Sun Earth 13,000 km Space To Understand the Atmosphere Examine its interfaces with land/ocean with space Is a very thin skin 99% below 50 km (31 miles) 50% below 5.5 km (3.4 miles) Atmosphere Picture Energy Flow Solar Input = Output to Space Lecture 1-Nats 101

27. Note “thinness” of atmosphere in light blue NASA photo gallery Lecture 1-Nats 101

28. Example of Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling: El Nino-La Nina Lecture 1-Nats 101

29. Lecture 1-Nats 101 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/ann/ann05.html

30. Lecture 1-Nats 101

31. Local Weather and Climate: The North American Monsoon • Tucson gets half of its rainfall during the summer • Sonora, Mexico gets most of its rainfall during the summer • During summer, high pressure sets up to the east/northeast of Arizona which brings moisture in from the south • 2009 monsoon has been poor with below avg rainfall • For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php 11:15 daily monsoon discussions http://madweather.blogspot.com/ Lecture 1-Nats 101

32. Monsoon moisture Lecture 1-Nats 101

33. Local: 2006 Monsoon Rainfall • Record water flow through the Sabino and Rillito Creeks on July 31, 2006 • Rillito flow higher than Colorado river! Lecture 1-Nats 101 See http://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htm

34. July 2009 set temperature records in Tucson • http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/reports.php Lecture 1-Nats 101

35. Course Building Blocks • Intro  1st week or so • Energy  ~2 weeks • Moisture  ~2 weeks • Dynamics  ~3 weeks Above are interdependent • Specific Topics  ~6 weeks Lecture 1-Nats 101

36. Atmospheric CompositionPermanent Gases • N2 and O2 are most abundant gases • Percentages hold constant up to 80 km • Ar, Ne, He, and Xe are chemically inert • N2 and O2 are chemically active, removed & returned Ahrens, Table 1.1, 4th Ed. Lecture 1-Nats 101

37. N2 and O2 N2 Boiling point: 77 °K or -196°C or –320 °F O2 Boiling point: 90 °K or -183 °C or -297 °F Balance between input (production) and output (destruction): Input:plant/animal decaying Output: soil bacteria; oceanic plankton-->nutrients Input:plant photosynthesis Output: organic matter decay chemical combination (oxidation) breathing Lecture 1-Nats 101

38. Atmospheric CompositionImportant Trace Gases Ahrens, Table 1.1, 3rd ed. Which of these is now wrong even in the 5th edition of Ahrens? Lecture 1-Nats 101

39. Carbon Dioxide CO2 • Sources • vegetative decay • volcanic eruptions • animal exhalation • combustion of fossil fuels(CH4 + 2 O2 > 2 H2O + CO2) • Sinks • photosynthesis (oxygen production) • dissolves in water • phytoplankton absorption (limestone formation) Lecture 1-Nats 101

40. CO2 Trend “Keeling Curve” Some gases vary by season and over many years. The CO2 trend is the cause for concern about global warming. CO2 increases in northern spring, decreases in northern fall Lecture 1-Nats 101 See http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/globalchange/keeling_curve/01.html

41. H2O Vapor VariabilityPrecipitable Water (mm) Some gases can vary spatially and daily Lecture 1-Nats 101

42. Aerosols 1 cm3 of air can contain as many as 200,000 non-gaseous particles. • dust • dirt (soil) • ocean spray • volcanic ash • water • pollen • pollutants Lecture 1-Nats 101

43. Aerosols - Volcanic Ash Lecture 1-Nats 101 Fig. 1-4, p.6

44. Aerosols - Dust Particles Dust Storm on Interstate 10, between Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. Lecture 1-Nats 101

45. Aerosols • Provide condensation nuclei for water vapor. • Provide a surface area or catalyst needed for much atmospheric chemistry. • Aerosols can deplete stratospheric ozone. They can also cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back to space. Lecture 1-Nats 101

46. Reading Assignment • Ahrens Pages 1-22; 435-437 (Appendix A: Units etc.), 441-442 (Appendix C: Weather chart symbols) Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.18, 1.19, 1.21, 1.22 (1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17) Don’t Forget your clickers National Hurricane Center Lecture 1-Nats 101