METR%202413%20-%20Introduction%20to%20Synoptic%20Meteorology

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METR 2413 - Introduction to Synoptic Meteorology

• Introduction
• Surface Observations
• University of Oklahoma 2004

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Lecture Outline

• Who am I?
• What is this course all about?
• Assessment good news and bad news
• Surface observations

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Who am I?

• Professor David Karoly, room 1366A,
  SEC dkaroly_at_ou.edu ph325 6446 Office
  hours Weds 1130am 130pm

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What is this course all about?

• Synoptic meteorology an overview of current
  weather
• Synoptic scale larger than mesoscale -
  smaller than planetary scale - length scales
  300 - 3000 km - time scales 6 hours 3
  days

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Arrangements

• Monday computing Dr Laufersweiler
• Wednesday lecture Dr Karoly
• Friday lab - Michael James TA
• Web site http//weather.ou.edu/metr2413/
• Prerequisites MATH 2423 Calc II, PHYS 2514
  Phys I, enforced
• Textbooks mainly for reference, do your reading
  assignements

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Assessment Good news and bad news

• No final exam
• Term project due Monday of finals week, 15 of
  final grade
• Each week, computing assignment, homework,
  in-class lab (to finish after lab) (about 40 in
  total)
• Announced and unannounced quizzes
• 85 from linear combination of all these
• Do all work on time, make-up allowances only in
  exceptional circumstances

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Surface observations

• Basic temperature, humidity, pressure, wind
  speed and direction, rainfall (every 3 hours)
• Visual observations weather phenomena,
  visibility, cloud type, base
• ASOS Automated surface observing system
• www.nws.noaa.gov/oso/oso1/oso11/oso112/asos/sensrm
  ap.html
• Replaced manual observing sites in NWS

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ASOS

• Tipping bucket rain gauge
• Hygrothermometer
• Present weather identifier
• Wind speed and direction sensors
• Ceilometer (Cloud height)
• Freezing rain sensor
• Thunderstorm sensor
• Visibility sensor
• Data collection package

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Lecture Summary

• Synoptic meteorology
• An overview of current weather at scales of
  several hundred to several thousand kilmetres.
• Assessment
• No final exam, but a major project
• Lots of homework keep up to date!!
• Surface observations
• Representativeness of surrounding weather?
• ASOS, manual obs