Tropical Meteorology

Spring 2013 – Tropical Meteorology [11:670:444]

Instructor: Dr. Benjamin R. Lintner

Course Time/Location: MTh 12:35-1:55 pm/ENRS 223

Office Hours/Location: By arrangement/ENRS 250
Email: lintner[ @ ] envsci[ . ]rutgers[ . ]edu

Catalogue Description:

The dynamics and thermodynamics of the tropics, including regional and large-scale tropical circulations and their role in the global general circulation, tropical wave dynamics, convection and convective systems, synoptic, intraseasonal, and seasonal variability; monsoons, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation, tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Prerequisites:

Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere [11:670:323]

Dynamics of the Atmosphere [11:670:324]

Course Text:

There is no formal course text, but the following are useful references:
Comet Program Distance Learning Module, An Overview of Tropical Meteorology

http://www.meted.ucar.edu/dl_courses/tropical_wmo/index.htm [registration required]

Holton, J.R., An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology

Emanuel, K., Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes

Learning Goals: The learning goals for this course are:
(1) Develop a theoretical understanding of the thermodynamics and dynamics of the tropics;
(2) Apply quantitative principles to solve problems in tropical meteorology/climate;
(3) Research and discuss a problem of interest in tropical meteorology/climate.

Grading:

Homework Assignments [4 Total]: 20% [5% each]

Semester Exams [2 Total]: 50% [25% each]
Course Project and Paper: 30%

You will be assigned 4 homework sets, each comprising 5% of the total course grade. You are also asked to research a topic of interest and present an overview of your topic in class. This exercise, accounting for 30% of the course grade, is intended to expose you to problems, concepts, tools, and data products used in the study of tropical meteorology (more details to follow). Two semester exams, each accounting for 25% of the course grade, will be given. Make-up exams are permitted only if the exam is missed for documented serious emergencies or university-sanctioned conflicts. If you know in advance that you will miss an exam, please make arrangements to take the exam early.

Attendance:

While attendance is not mandatory, I strongly recommend that you attend the lectures. Since the course will be based on my lecture notes, rather than any particular text, neglecting to attend will likely result in missing important information.

Office Hours:

By Arrangement

Tentative Schedule:

Week [Dates]	TOPICS	Graded Work
1 [01/24]	No Class
2 [01/28; 01/31]	Course introduction; Observational overview of the Tropics [Lecture 1]; 1D radiative equilibrium [Lecture 2]
3 [02/04; 02/07]	Review of Thermodynamics [Lecture 3]; Review of dynamics [Lectures 4]
4 [02/11; 02/14]	Scale analysis for the Tropics [Lecture 5]; Hadley circulation [Lecture 6]
5 [02/18; 02/21]	Walker circulation and the role of Tropics in atmospheric general circulation [Lecture 7]; Overview of tropical deep convection [Lecture 8]	HW #1 [Th 02/21]
6 [02/25; 02/28]	Convective quasi-equilibrium [Lecture 9]; High-frequency organization of tropical convection [Lecture 10]
7 [03/04; 03/07]	Tropical wave dynamics I [Lecture 11]	Exam #1 [M 03/04] Topic for course project [Th 03/07]
8 [03/11; 03/14]	Tropical wave dynamics II [Lecture 12]	HW #2 [Th 03/14]
9 [03/18; 03/21]	Spring Break
10 [03/25; 03/28]	Monsoons I [Lecture 13]; Monsoon II [Lecture 14]
11 [04/01; 04/04]	El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) [Lecture 15]; ENSO theory and models [Lecture 16]	HW #3 [Th 04/04]
12 [04/08; 04/11]	Tropical cyclone structure and energetics [Lecture 17]	Exam #2 [Th 04/11]
13 [04/15; 04/18]	Dynamics and thermodynamics of tropical cyclones [Lecture 18]; Tropical cyclogenesis [Lecture 19]
14 [04/22; 04/25]	No Class 04/22; Tropical cyclone variability [Lecture 20]	Bibliography for course project [Th 04/25]
15 [04/29; 05/02]	Tropics in Paleoclimate [Lecture 21]; Course Project Presentations	HW #4 [Th 05/02]
16 [05/06]	Course Project Presentations
17		Final papers submitted no later than date of final

Web of Science
Hurricane Sandy Wind Loop
A Brief Summary of Equatorial Waves
Wave Propagation Animation
MJO Overview and Animations
1997-1998 El Niño SSTs

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