Atmospheric Thermodynamics

Catalog description

Introduction to atmospheric thermodynamics for meteorology majors. Topics include the equation of state for mixture of gases; first and second laws of thermodynamics; diabatic and adiabatic processes for dry and moist air; measurement and phase changes of water vapor. Atmospheric statics: static stability of moist air; CAPE and vertical acceleration. Focus will be on applying the rigorous framework of classical thermodynamics to derive and solve quantitatively the governing equations describing these processes.