1. NATS 101 Intro to Weather and Climate Section 06: 12:30PM TTh ILC 150 Dr. E. Robert Kursinski TA: Nathan Johnson Please turn off cell phones

2. Lecture 1-Nats 1012 Who Am I? Professor Department of Atmospheric Science Joint Faculty Appointment Dept. of Planetary Sciences Worked for many years at NASA JPL in So. Cal. Research Specialty Remote Sensing, Water cycle, Planetary atmospheres Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences M.S. in Electrical Engineering B.S. in Physics, Minor in Music Theory

3. Lecture 1-Nats 1013 Vital Statistics Office Hours: Dr. Kursinski W 2:00-3:00 pm PAS Bldg, Rm 580 and by Appointment Mr. Johnson MWF 1:00-2:00 pm PAS Bldg, Rm 526 and by Appointment Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4 rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Picture Link Publisher Download, Save $Picture LinkPublisher Download, Save $ Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4 rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens LinkLink Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards.

4. Lecture 1-Nats 1014 Course Description Introduction to the science of weather processes and climate change: atmospheric structure and composition, energy balance, clouds and precipitation, wind systems, weather fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting, thunderstorms and lightning, hurricanes, monsoons, ozone hole, air pollution, climate and global warming and optical phenomena. The new Global Climate Change lecture series website is up: http://cos.arizona.edu/climate/

5. Lecture 1-Nats 1015 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

6. Lecture 1-Nats 1016 Attendance Policy Attendance is mandatory, and will be tallied throughout the term. After three unexcused absences prior to week 9, I will 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/2006-07/policies/classatten.htm

7. Lecture 1-Nats 1017 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://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/ppmainpg.html http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/ppmainpg.html Students can submit complaints online at http://web.arizona.edu/~dos/uapolicies/ http://web.arizona.edu/~dos/uapolicies/

8. Lecture 1-Nats 1018 Grading Policy Final grade will be based on scores from closed book/closed notes quizzes 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.

9. Lecture 1-Nats 1019 Grading Policy There will be seven quizzes during the term. Dates for the quizzes are listed 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.

10. Lecture 1-Nats 10110 Grading Policy If your final exam score exceeds the average of your 6 best quizzes, the quizzes will comprise 60% of your term grade and the final 40%. Otherwise, the quizzes will comprise 75% of your term grade and the final 25%. CARROT:CARROT: If your average is 90% or higher on all 7 quizzes, 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!

11. Lecture 1-Nats 10111 Final Examination Section 06 (12:30 am TTh): ILC 150 Thursday Dec. 14, 11:00 am - 1:00 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.

12. Lecture 1-Nats 10112 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%

13. Lecture 1-Nats 10113 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 DefinitionUnit Credit Definition dismissedAttend class daily, arrive on time, leave when class is dismissed (courtesy to peer students).

14. Lecture 1-Nats 10114 The Golden Rule Instructor and students all show: Mutual Respect!

15. Lecture 1-Nats 10115 Literacy Requirements Although the writing requirement for this course is negligible, 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.

16. Lecture 1-Nats 10116 Announcements Course Homepage…is now functional http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/ Click Students and Courses Click Course Links Click NATS101 – Kursinski User Name: nats101-6 (if established) Password: fall2006 (if established)

17. Lecture 1-Nats 10117 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

18. Lecture 1-Nats 10118 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

19. Lecture 1-Nats 10119 Class LISTSERV NATS101-06@listserv.arizona.edu Use for any questions, comments, discussions that are general interest to the class. kursinski@atmo.arizona.edu is reserved for personal requests not of general interest.kursinski@atmo.arizona.edu To subscribe go to http://listserv.arizona.edu/ and click the link “Subscribe to a list”http://listserv.arizona.edu/ http://listserv.arizona.edu/Subscribe.html Follow straightforward instructions

20. Lecture 1-Nats 10120 LISTSERV You can subscribe by sending an email to listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the following as the only line in the body of the message.listserv@listserv.arizona.edu subscribe xxxxxx Firstname Lastname Substitute the list you want to join for xxxxxx, i.e. kursinski@listserv.arizona.edu. Substitute your first name for Firstname Substitute your last name for Lastname@listserv.arizona.edu

21. Lecture 1-Nats 10121 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

22. Lecture 1-Nats 10122 Importance of Atmosphere Point 1- Offers Protection Consider surface temperatures Without atmosphere? 0 o F global average, large diurnal swings Similar to the Moon’s Climate With atmosphere… 60 o F global average, moderate diurnal swings

23. Lecture 1-Nats 10123 Importance of Atmosphere Point 2 - Offers Protection Consider Surface Radiation Shields against harmful UV radiation

24. Lecture 1-Nats 10124 Importance of Atmosphere Consider Survival Time Without Food  few weeks Without Water  few days Without Air  few minutes

25. Lecture 1-Nats 10125 To Understand the Atmosphere Examine its interfaces with land/ocean with space Sun Space Earth Atmosphere 13,000 km 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

26. Lecture 1-Nats 10126 NASA photo gallery Note “thinness” of atmosphere in light blue

27. Lecture 1-Nats 10127 Example of Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling: El Nino-La Nina

28. Lecture 1-Nats 10128 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/ann/ann05.html

29. Lecture 1-Nats 10129

30. Lecture 1-Nats 10130 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 The monsoon is still going: Thunderstorms yesterday For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/products/models/forecasts/forecast.html

31. Lecture 1-Nats 10131 July minus June Rainfall Douglas et al (1993)

32. Lecture 1-Nats 10132 Local: Recent Monsoon Rainfall Record water flow through the Sabino and Rillito Creeks on July 31 Rillito flow higher than Colorado river! See http://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htmhttp://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htm

33. Lecture 1-Nats 10133 Course Building Blocks Intro  1 st week or so Energy  ~2 weeks Moisture  ~2 weeks Dynamics  ~3 weeks Above are interdependent Specific Topics  ~6 weeks

34. Lecture 1-Nats 10134 Atmospheric Composition Permanent Gases N 2 and O 2 are most abundant gases Percentages hold constant up to 80 km Ar, Ne, He, and Xe are chemically inert N 2 and O 2 are chemically active, removed & returned Ahrens, Table 1.1, 4 th Ed.

35. Lecture 1-Nats 10135 N 2 Boiling point: 77 °K or -196°C or –320 °F O 2 Boiling point: 90 °K or -183 °C or -297 °F N 2 and O 2 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

36. Lecture 1-Nats 10136 Atmospheric Composition Important Trace Gases Ahrens, Table 1.1, 3 rd ed. Which of these is now wrong even in the 4th edition of Ahrens?

37. Lecture 1-Nats 10137 Sources vegetative decay volcanic eruptions animal exhalation combustion of fossil fuels (CH 4 + 2 O 2 > 2 H 2 O + CO 2 ) Sinks photosynthesis (oxygen production) dissolves in water phytoplankton absorption (limestone formation) Carbon Dioxide CO 2

38. Lecture 1-Nats 10138 CO 2 Trend “Keeling Curve” Some gases vary by season and over many years. The CO2 trend is the cause for concern about global warming. CO 2 increases in northern spring, decreases in northern fall See http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/globalchange/keeling_curve/01.html

39. Lecture 1-Nats 10139 H 2 O Vapor Variability Precipitable Water (mm) Some gases can vary spatially and daily

40. Lecture 1-Nats 10140 Aerosols 1 cm 3 of air can contain as many as 200,000 non-gaseous particles. –dust –dirt (soil) –ocean spray –volcanic ash –water –pollen –pollutants

41. Lecture 1-Nats 10141 Aerosols - Volcanic Ash Fig. 1-4, p.6

42. Lecture 1-Nats 10142 Aerosols - Dust Particles Dust Storm on Interstate 10, between Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.

43. Lecture 1-Nats 10143 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.

44. Lecture 1-Nats 10144 Two Important Concepts Let’s introduce two new concepts... Density Pressure

45. Lecture 1-Nats 10145 What is Density? Density (  ) = Mass (M) per unit Volume (V)  = M/V  = Greek letter “rho” Typical Units: kg/m 3, gm/cm 3 Mass = # molecules (mole)  molecular weight (gm/mole) Avogadro number (6.023x10 23 molecules/mole)

46. Lecture 1-Nats 10146 Density Change Density (  ) changes by altering either a) # molecules in a constant volume b) volume occupied by the same # molecules a b

47. Lecture 1-Nats 10147 What is Pressure? Pressure (p) = Force (F) per unit Area (A) Typical Units: pounds per square inch (psi), millibars (mb), inches Hg Average pressure at sea-level: 14.7 psi 1013 mb 29.92 in. Hg

48. Lecture 1-Nats 10148 Pressure Can be thought of as weight of air above you. (Note that pressure acts in all directions!) So as elevation increases, pressure decreases. Higher elevation Less air above Lower pressure Lower elevation More air above Higher pressure Bottom Top

49. Lecture 1-Nats 10149 Density and Pressure Variation Key Points 1.Both decrease rapidly with height 2.Air is compressible, i.e. its density varies Ahrens, Fig. 1.5

50. Lecture 1-Nats 10150 Why rapid change with height? Consider a spring with 10 kg bricks on top of it compressible The spring compresses a little more with each addition of a brick. The spring is compressible. 10 kg

51. Lecture 1-Nats 10151 Why rapid change with height? Now consider several 10 kg springs piled on top of each other. Topmost spring compresses the least! Bottom spring compresses the most! The total mass above you decreases rapidly w/height.  mass

52. Lecture 1-Nats 10152 Why rapid change with height? Finally, consider piled-up parcels of air, each with the same # molecules. The bottom parcel is squished the most. Its density is the highest. Density decreases most rapidly at bottom.

53. Lecture 1-Nats 10153 Why rapid change with height? Each parcel has the same mass (i.e. same number of molecules), so the height of a parcel represents the same change in pressure  p. Thus, pressure must decrease most rapidly near the bottom. pppp pppp pppp pppp

54. Lecture 1-Nats 10154 A Thinning Atmosphere Bottom Top Lower density, Gradual drop Higher density Rapid decrease NASA photo gallery

55. Lecture 1-Nats 10155 Pressure Decreases Exponentially with Height Logarithmic Decrease For each 16 km increase in altitude, pressure drops by factor of 10. 48 km - 1 mb 32 km - 10 mb 16 km - 100 mb 0 km - 1000 mb 100 mb 10 mb 1 mb 16 km 32 km 48 km Ahrens, Fig. 1.5

56. Lecture 1-Nats 10156 Exponential Variation Logarithmic Decrease For each 5.5 km height increase, pressure drops by factor of 2. 16.5 km - 125 mb 11 km - 250 mb 5.5 km - 500 mb 0 km - 1000 mb

57. Lecture 1-Nats 10157 Reading Assignment Ahrens Pages 1-22; 425-426-427 (Appendix A: Units etc.), 431-432 (Appendix C: Weather chart symbols) Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.17, 1.18, 1.20 (1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17) Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards