Atmospheric Structure and Circulation

Catalog description

This course is a technical survey of the atmosphere that applies elementary math and physics concepts to the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere. Topics to be covered include planetary, regional and local circulations; weather systems; atmospheric radiation; precipitation physics; and thermodynamics. This course also includes a one-hour weekly lab section during which students will learn basic weather analysis, including meteorological data decoding (METAR and RAOB), thermodynamic diagrams, cloud types and precipitation/visibility obscurations. PHYS 143 Introduction to Meteorology and Climate Change is recommended but not required as a