Dynamic Meteorology
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- Languages: English
- Completion Time: Varies
- Topics:
Other
Description
This course presents topics on meteorological motions that relate to the concepts of fluid dynamics. Topics supported review foundational aspects and equations needed before addressing QG theory and vorticity. Further topics covered include: the planetary boundary layers and important features such as turbulence, waves such as Rossby waves and the Froude number, and wind including geostrophic wind and the thermal wind.
Goals and Objectives
Overview
Course Outline
Additional Resources
Course Outline
Foundational Concepts
Gravity for Geodesy I: Foundations Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2017-03-22
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Geospatial
(395 ratings)- Description & Location:
Section 2 ,"Properities of Gravitation and Gravity" focuses on the basics of Newtonian gravitation and gravity and explores how density, altitude, and latitude affect gravity.
Instrumentation and Measurement of Atmospheric Pressure Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2018-06-26
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Other
(123 ratings)- Description & Location:
The lesson reviews the key physical laws governing atmospheric pressure, including Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures and the hydrostatic equation.
Skew-T Mastery Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2006-10-04
Last Updated On: 2020-04-15
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Convective Weather, Mesoscale Meteorology, Other
(1235 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson explores thermodynamic properties that form a basis for many dynamics considerations.
The Tephigram Mastery lesson contains the same content using tephigram diagrams.
Frontogenetical Circulations and Stability Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2007-10-24
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Mesoscale Meteorology
(43 ratings)- Description & Location:
The first section of this lesson focuses on an overview of different stability types underlying many dynamics concepts, including convective, potential, inertial, conditional and symmetric, the concept of frontogenesis and associated circulations.
NWP Essentials: Structure and Dynamics Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2015-04-08
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(106 ratings)- Description & Location:
"Hydrostatic vs Non-hydrostatic Models" contains the hydrostatic equation, non-hydrostatic equation, and continuity equation.
Impact of Model Structure and Dynamics - version 2 Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2009-11-24
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(121 ratings)- Description & Location:
The "Model Type" section contains the primative equations.
Topics also include how meteorological variables are represented in grid point and spectral models, differences between hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic models, horizontal resolution, vertical coordinate systems and vertical resolution, and lower, upper, and lateral boundary conditions.
CESM Distance Learning Course Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2019-06-12
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Climate, Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(0 ratings)- Description & Location:
Talk 2, "Intro and Dynamics", from this learning course focuses on various equations and how NWP models are created using them. While there is some programming discussed, the talk can help give context for those interested in this way of application.
Topics in Polar Low Forecasting Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2004-04-02
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Winter Weather
(28 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson presents an overview of the climatology, formation, evolution, detection, and forecasting of polar lows. The "Disturbances in Cold Air Masses" discusses the baroclinic and barotropic atmospheric concepts.
Introduction to Tropical Meteorology, 2nd Edition: Chapter 6 Vertical Transport Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2015-09-15
Last Updated On: 2016-03-04
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Convective Weather, Mesoscale Meteorology, Numerical Modeling (NWP), Tropical/Hurricanes
(73 ratings)- Description & Location:
This online book can serve to supplement material and content in the dynamics classroom. While chapters 1 and 6 may be of most use for this class, the other chapters provide additional supporting material so look at the table of contents for a summary of that chapter.
EUMeTrain's Synoptic Textbook Optional
This content is not hosted on MetEd.
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2014-02-27
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Other, Satellite Meteorology
(0 ratings)- Description & Location:
This 190-page text, which is based on a series of university lectures, provides comprehensive information on synoptic meteorology and can serve as a supplemental text to a dynamics course. There's a general introduction to synoptics followed by chapters on tropospheric circulation, air masses, boundary layer and weather, wind fields, jet streams, vertical motions, high and low pressure, convective systems, numerical parameters in vertical cross sections, mid-latitude cyclones, the tropopause, and fronts. A number of the examples in the textbook are from Northern Europe. This resource is made available courtesy of EUMeTrain and is not produced, owned or hosted by UCAR/COMET.
Kinematics and Flow Balances
Instrumentation and Measurement of Wind Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2019-03-27
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Other
(154 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson summarizes the science and techniques used to measure atmospheric wind. The introduction section contains wind fundamentals.
Topics in Dynamic Meteorology: Pressure Gradient Force Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2013-03-12
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Other
(32 ratings)- Description & Location:
This is an interactive lesson on a foundational aspect of dynamic meteorology, the pressure gradient force.
Topics in Dynamic Meteorology: Thermal Wind Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2012-03-20
Last Updated On: 2016-06-17
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Other
(327 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson explores the dynamic links between temperature, pressure, and wind in the atmosphere. The qualitative description of the relationships is augmented with "Math Sidebars" that provide a quantitative treatment.
Jet Streak Circulations Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2005-04-25
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Convective Weather, Mesoscale Meteorology, Other, Winter Weather
(212 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson reviews many aspects of kinematics with respect to jet streak dynamics, including convergence/divergence, ageostrophic winds, propagation, and coupling.
S-290 Unit 7: Wind Systems Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2009-11-24
Skill Level: 0
Topics:
Fire Weather
(6927 ratings)- Description & Location:
The lesson outlines general winds, topography induced winds, local winds, and their processes.
Gap Winds Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2003-03-20
Last Updated On: 2016-10-05
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Mountain Meteorology
(319 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson provides a basic understanding of why gap winds occur, their typical structures, and how gap wind strength and extent are controlled by larger-scale dynamics.
Low-Level Coastal Jets Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2004-08-16
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(195 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson describes the features of coastal jets and explores the dynamic conditions under which they form.
Vorticity, Quasi-Geostrophy and PV thinking
Recognition and Impact of Vorticity Maxima and Minima in Satellite Imagery Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2009-12-22
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Satellite Meteorology
(97 ratings)- Description & Location:
In this lesson, students will identify and predict vorticity maxima in order to predict areas of positive vorticity advection, identify and predict vorticity minima in order to predict areas of negative vorticity advection, and identify the related axes of maximum winds, shear zones, deformation zones, and air masses.
Deformation Zone Analysis Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2007-03-22
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Aviation Weather, Satellite Meteorology
(157 ratings)- Description & Location:
The lesson provides an overview of system-relative atmospheric circulations. This lesson covers analysis of air masses, vorticity centers, maximum wind, and wind maxima as they relate to deformation.
Deformation Zone Diagnosis Optional
Languages: English, French
Publish Date: 2007-11-05
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Satellite Meteorology
(41 ratings)- Description & Location:
The lesson provides an overview of system-relative atmospheric circulations. This lesson allows for analysis of air masses, vorticity centers, maximum wind, and wind maxima as they relate to deformation.
The Balancing Act of Geostrophic Adjustment
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2002-11-25
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Mesoscale Meteorology, Numerical Modeling (NWP), Other
(43 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson is a primer on geostrophic adjustment concepts. It has sections that focus on the Rossby radius and vorticity. It discusses their application for understanding and forecasting real weather features, interpreting model forecasts, and recognizing the type and duration of impact that observations exert on the model forecast.
Optimizing the Use of Model Data Products Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2011-08-11
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(46 ratings)- Description & Location:
Part 2 addresses extracting and distilling the large-scale signature from complex and noisy-looking forecast fields using quasigeostrophic diagnostics and takes a quick overview of QG Theory.
Quasi Geostrophic Vorticity Equation Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2014-09-30
Last Updated On: 2014-09-03
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Other
(1 rating)- Description & Location:
This learning object/widget is designed for upper-level undergraduates who want to apply their knowledge of the Quasi-geostrophic Vorticity Equation to forecast situations. The interactivity helps users see how each variable interacts within the equation and shows data for different phase shifts.
Quasi Geostrophic Omega Equation Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2014-06-30
Last Updated On: 2014-06-29
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Other
(3 ratings)- Description & Location:
This learning object/widget is designed for upper-level undergraduates who want to apply their knowledge of the Quasi-geostrophic Omega Equation to forecast situations. The interactivity helps users see how each variable interacts within the equation and shows data for different phase shifts.
Satellite Feature Identification: Inferring Three Dimensions from Water Vapour Imagery Optional
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Publish Date: 2013-06-25
Last Updated On: 2013-05-22
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Satellite Meteorology
(171 ratings)- Description & Location:
The learner will use WV imagery to identify the presence of vorticity centres, conveyor belts, and deformation zones, determine the relative height of those features within a system, and create a three-dimensional mental model of the atmosphere depicted in the imagery.
Forecasting Sensible Weather from Water Vapour Imagery Optional
Languages: English, French
Publish Date: 2016-03-29
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Mesoscale Meteorology, Other, Satellite Meteorology
(69 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson is to improve your skills in water vapour and surface analyses to evaluate the three-dimensionality of the atmosphere and thus forecast sensible weather better. Developing a 3D image of the atmosphere is stressed with images included to aid in the mental model development. Vorticity advection is also discussed.
Introduction to PV Optional
Languages: English, French
Publish Date: 2019-03-22
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(11 ratings)- Description & Location:
The lesson defines the PV equation, focuses on the 1.5 PVU height field to look for contributions of the height value including conveyor belts and vorticity centers.
Adjusting NWP: Direct Comparison Optional
Languages: English, French
Publish Date: 2019-03-22
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(11 ratings)- Description & Location:
The lesson takes an approach to assess PV with satellite.
Assessing NWP with Water Vapour Imagery Optional
Languages: English, French
Publish Date: 2015-03-31
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP), Satellite Meteorology
(19 ratings)- Description & Location:
Classify water vapour/numerical weather prediction (model) comparisons based on their match/mismatch in certain areas between water vapour imagery, potential vorticity surface, and synthetic water vapour imagery. Learn to work on a PVU surface.
PV Modification Optional
Languages: English, French
Publish Date: 2019-03-22
Skill Level: 3
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(2 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson discusses how to modify the PV surface to match water vapour imagery and how those adjustments affect the surface sensible weather. Cross sections are also used.
Slantwise Convection: An Operational Approach Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2002-06-17
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Mesoscale Meteorology, Winter Weather
(27 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson focuses on assessing the release of conditional symmetric instability as slantwise convection. It provides an overview of the characteristics and theory of CSI, including the geostrophic momentum equation, and assesses CSI and slantwise- induced precipitation in complex terrain, as well as operational challenges to assessing CSI.
Heavy Banded Snow Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2003-09-23
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Winter Weather
(83 ratings)- Description & Location:
The definition of the TROWAL and its role in heavy snow production is discussed. The various conveyor belts associated with mature winter cyclones are emphasized. The roles of mid-level frontogenesis and conditional symmetric instability in these systems are discussed in the context of heavy snow development.
Planetary Boundary Layer
Influence of Model Physics on NWP Forecasts - version 2 Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2009-11-17
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(103 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson describes model parameterizations of surface, PBL, and free atmospheric processes, such as surface snow processes, soil thermal and moisture processes, surface vegetation effects such as evapotranspiration, radiative processes involving clouds and trace gases, and turbulent processes in the PBL and free atmosphere. It specifically addresses how models treat these processes, how such processes can potentially interact with each other, and how they can influence forecasts of sensible weather elements.
NWP Essentials: Model Physics Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2015-04-08
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Numerical Modeling (NWP)
(111 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson describes model parameterizations of surface, PBL, and free atmospheric processes. It specifically addresses how models treat these processes, how such processes can potentially interact with each other, and how they can influence forecasts of sensible weather elements. Topics covered include: soil moisture processes, radiative processes involving clouds, and turbulent processes in the PBL and free atmosphere.
PBL in Complex Terrain - Part 1 Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2007-03-22
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Fire Weather, Mountain Meteorology
(340 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson presents conceptual and practical information regarding winds in the planetary boundary layer in complex terrain. Part 1 topics include diurnal wind systems, mountain-plain wind systems, and slope wind systems.
This lesson also fits in with the wind topic.
PBL in Complex Terrain - Part 2 Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2007-04-06
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Fire Weather, Mountain Meteorology
(251 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson presents conceptual and practical information regarding winds in the planetary boundary layer in complex terrain. Part 2 topics include valley wind systems, cross-valley wind systems, diurnal mountain-wind systems, and plateau-basin wind systems.
This lesson also fits in with the wind topic.
Dynamically Forced Fog Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Aviation Weather, Coastal Weather, Fog and Low Stratus, Mesoscale Meteorology, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(196 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson examines dynamically forced fog in the coastal and marine environment, focusing on advection fog, steam fog, and west coast type fog. The focus of the lesson is on the boundary layer evolution of air parcels as they traverse trajectories over land and water. The lesson also examines mesoscale effects that impact the distribution of fog and low-level stratus over short distances.
Winds in the Marine Boundary Layer: A Forecaster's Guide, 2018 Update Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Last Updated On: 2018-11-28
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(153 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson highlights the differences between marine boundary layer and terrestrial boundary layer winds. Three major topics that influence marine boundary layer winds are discussed: stability within the boundary layer, isallobaric influence, and the effects of convection and tropical cyclones.
This lesson also fits in with the wind topic.
Forecasting Dust Storms - Version 2 Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2010-12-22
Last Updated On: 2020-09-15
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Aviation Weather, Numerical Modeling (NWP), Other, Satellite Meteorology
(209 ratings)- Description & Location:
The first part of the lesson describes dust source regions, the life cycle of a dust storm, and the major types of dust storms, particularly those found in the Middle East. This section includes the topic of wind shear and turbulence.
Fog: Its Processes and Impacts to Aviation and Aviation Forecasting Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2010-10-12
Last Updated On: 2012-04-17
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Aviation Weather, Fog and Low Stratus
(338 ratings)- Description & Location:
The main content of the lesson explains the physical processes and life cycle of radiation and advection fog, including their preconditioning environment, initiation, growth, and dissipation. The boundary-layer processes covered in the lesson include radiation (both solar and longwave), soil-atmosphere thermal interactions, turbulent mixing, the roles of condensation nuclei, and droplet settling.
Introduction to Ocean Currents Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2007-10-04
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(1585 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson discusses the origin of ocean currents in both the open ocean and in coastal areas. Section 2 focuses on the wind driven elements in the current as well as the Ekman Spiral.
Waves and the Atmosphere
MJO, Equatorial Waves, and Tropical Cyclogenesis Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2012-11-13
Last Updated On: 2014-07-02
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Convective Weather, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami, Tropical/Hurricanes
(85 ratings)- Description & Location:
This case study focuses on monitoring of the MJO and equatorial waves and their role in tropical cyclogenesis. Learners will use conceptual models to understand the structure of the MJO and equatorial waves such as 850-hPa synoptic analysis to track equatorial Rossby and mixed Rossby-gravity waves.
Mountain Waves and Downslope Winds Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2004-01-07
Last Updated On: 2016-07-13
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Mountain Meteorology
(424 ratings)- Description & Location:
This foundation lesson describes the features of mountain waves and explores the conditions under which they form.
Forecasting Mountain Wave Turbulence for Aviation Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2016-12-21
Last Updated On: 2020-02-28
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Aviation Weather, Mountain Meteorology
(224 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson focuses on forecasting mountain wave turbulence. Its methodology relies on the spatial and temporal distribution of winds, stability, and clouds to forecast and verify mountain wave turbulence.
This lesson can also provide support for the wind topic.
Coastally Trapped Wind Reversals Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2002-08-06
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(211 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson starts with a forecast scenario that occurs along the California coast. The lesson then proceeds to describe the structure and climatology of these disturbances, as well as their synoptic and mesoscale evolution. The lesson concludes with a section on forecasting coastally trapped wind reversals.
Flow Interaction with Topography Optional
Languages: English, Spanish
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Mountain Meteorology
(589 ratings)- Description & Location:
Topics covered in the lesson include an overview of factors that control whether air will go up and over a mountain or be forced around it, the role of potential and kinetic energy, the Froude number and what it tells you, and air flow blocked by topography.
Landfalling Fronts and Cyclones Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2006-05-24
Skill Level: 2
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Mesoscale Meteorology
(133 ratings)- Description & Location:
Landfalling cyclones and their attendant fronts significantly impact the structure of mesoscale wind and precipitation fields along the west coast of North America. This lesson focuses on the complex interaction of the wind field with topography and the resulting effects on nearshore winds and precipitation.
Radio Wave Propagation Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2018-05-21
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Other, Space Weather
(350 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson examines the factors that control long-distance radio communications, with an emphasis on refraction in the ionosphere, frequency selection, and the effects of solar radiation.
Wave Types and Characteristics Optional
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Publish Date: 2003-07-31
Last Updated On: 2012-05-22
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Coastal Weather, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(1179 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson is an introduction to waves and their associated characteristics. Several types of waves are presented, from the common wind wave to the rare tsunami wave. The basic physical, mathematical, and statistical traits of waves are discussed, along with how they change once waves become swell.
Introduction to Ocean Acoustics Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2010-05-18
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Geospatial, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(928 ratings)- Description & Location:
This lesson explores ocean acoustics, focusing on the propagation and detection of sound in the marine environment. Sound propagation strongly depends on refraction caused by variations in sound speed, and reflection off the seafloor and sea surface. This lesson is useful who use ocean waves similar to atmospheric waves.
Tsunamis Optional
Languages: English
Publish Date: 2010-11-16
Last Updated On: 2017-12-07
Skill Level: 1
Topics:
Emergency Management, Oceanography/Marine/Tsunami
(1680 ratings)- Description & Location:
Section 4 discusses waves if treating ocean waves similar to atmospheric waves.
