뒤로Syllabus Summary: Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics
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Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics
Course Overview
This course provides a quantitative introduction to the physical principles of thermodynamics and dynamics as they apply to the atmosphere. Students will learn to apply basic physical explanations to observed atmospheric phenomena, with topics including atmospheric structure, composition, thermodynamics of dry and moist air, and the physics of atmospheric motions.
Instructor: Dr. Zhaohua Wu, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Gavin White
Class Time: MoWeFr 12:00PM - 12:50PM
Prerequisites: MAC 2311 (Calculus I), CHM 1045 (General Chemistry I)
Co-requisite: PHY 2048 (General Physics I)
Credits: 3
Course Description
The course covers the following main areas:
Atmospheric Structure and Composition: Understanding the layers and constituents of Earth's atmosphere.
Thermodynamics of Dry and Moist Air: Application of thermodynamic laws to atmospheric processes, including phase changes and energy transfer.
Atmospheric Dynamics: Study of motion in the atmosphere, including wind, circulation systems, and the forces that drive them.
Quantitative Physical Principles: Use of mathematical and physical models to describe and predict atmospheric behavior.
Example Application: Explaining weather phenomena such as cloud formation, precipitation, and wind patterns using thermodynamic and dynamic principles.
Textbooks
Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey (2nd Edition), by Wallace and Hobbs, Academic Press.
Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science (version 1.02b), by Stull, Univ. of British Columbia.
Evaluation
Student performance will be assessed as follows:
Component | Percentage |
|---|---|
Attendance | 20% |
Homework | 20% |
Chapter Quiz I | 10% |
Chapter Quiz II | 10% |
Chapter Quiz III | 10% |
Final Exam | 30% |
Grading Scale:
Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
93% and above | A |
90% to less than 93% | A- |
87% to less than 90% | B+ |
83% to less than 87% | B |
80% to less than 83% | B- |
77% to less than 80% | C+ |
73% to less than 77% | C |
70% to less than 73% | C- |
67% to less than 70% | D+ |
63% to less than 67% | D |
60% to less than 63% | D- |
Less than 60% | F |
Attendance Policy
Attendance is required; approximately 20 random checks will be conducted.
Unexcused absences result in a deduction of one point from the final grade per absence.
Excused absences include documented illness, family emergencies, military duty, religious holidays, and official university activities.
Tentative Course Schedule
Week | Content |
|---|---|
Aug 28 - Sep 29 | Course overview, Introduction & Historical Survey |
Sep 4 - Sep 5 | Atmospheric Structure and Composition |
Sep 6 - Sep 12 | Earth's Atmosphere |
Sep 13 - Sep 19 | Earth's Climate System |
Sep 20 - Sep 26 | Basics of Atmospheric Thermodynamics |
Sep 27 - Oct 3 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Oct 4 - Oct 10 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Oct 11 - Oct 17 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Oct 18 - Oct 24 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Oct 25 - Oct 31 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Nov 1 - Nov 7 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Nov 8 - Nov 14 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Nov 15 - Nov 21 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Nov 22 - Nov 28 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Nov 29 - Dec 5 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics (continued) |
Dec 6 - Dec 12 | Final Exam |
Academic Policies and Support
Academic Honor Policy: Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Students with disabilities should register with the Student Disability Resource Center and provide documentation to the instructor.
Free Tutoring: Available for many courses at Florida State University through the Academic Center for Excellence and other resources.
Key Physics Concepts in Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics
First Law of Thermodynamics: Conservation of energy in atmospheric processes. Equation:
Ideal Gas Law: Relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature in the atmosphere. Equation:
Hydrostatic Equation: Describes the balance of forces in the vertical direction in the atmosphere. Equation:
Clausius-Clapeyron Equation: Relates the rate of change of vapor pressure with temperature. Equation:
Example: Using the ideal gas law to calculate the pressure at a given altitude, or applying the hydrostatic equation to determine how pressure changes with height in the atmosphere.
Additional info: The syllabus is intended for students majoring in meteorology or those seeking deeper insight into atmospheric science. The course is highly relevant to college-level physics, especially in the context of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics as applied to atmospheric phenomena.
