Overview

The physical variables; the equation of state; the first law of thermodynamics and its application to the atmosphere; meteorological thermodynamic diagrams; adiabatic processes and potential temperatures; moist air process; hydrostatic equilibrium, vertical motion in the atmosphere, stability methods and criteria. Basic radiative transfer including absorption and scattering by atmospheric constituents; solar and terrestrial radiative heating; radiative energy budgets; climate change; radiative effects of clouds and aerosols; optical phenomena.

Prerequisites

• Single variable calculus

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Develop the basic thermodynamic equations used in meteorology.
• Understand the use of thermodynamic variables in describing dry and moist properties of air.
• Understand basic dry and moist thermodynamic energy processes in the atmosphere in terms of fundamental physical principles.
• Understand the use of thermodynamic diagrams in solving both conceptual and practical problems involving specific thermodynamic energy processes.
• Understand the basic concepts of radiative quantities and characteristics of blackbody emission.
• Understand the basic laws of radiation.
• Understand the radiative transfer processes in the atmospheric in the solar and infrared wavelength.
• Understand the basics of scattering and absorption in the atmosphere.
• Understand the energy balance of the earth system and basic radiative equilibrium climate models.