Course Identification

In this course we will outline the main dynamical and physical processes governing weather systems, their impact, climatology and prediction.

1. Basic laws - recap: equations of motion, continuity equation, equation of state, thermodynamical relations
2. Scale analysis, hydrostatic approximation, geostrophic approximation, thermal wind
3. Quasi-geostrophic (QG) theory: vorticity, vertical motion
4. QG potential vorticity (PV)
5. Ertel PV, isentropic PV charts
6. Weather systems, PV thinking and extratropical cyclones, Lagrangian and Eulerian perspectives
7. Evaporation, precipitation
8. Coupling of weather systems to the hydrological cycle
9. Diabatic processes and weather extremes
10. Numerical weather prediction and forecast challenges
11. Weather in a changing climate

Upon completion of the course, students will understand:

1. principle theoretical concepts behind observed meteorological patterns

2. outstanding challenges in numerical weather prediction of extratropical weather systems

An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, James R. Holton and Gregory J. Hakim, Fifth Edition 2013: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780123848666/an-introduction-to-dynamic-meteorology

Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics: A First Course, Jonathan E. Martin

Midlatitude Synoptic Meteorology / Dynamics, Analysis, and Forecasting, Gary Lackmann