MPO 663 Convective and Mesoscale - Spring 2008

Pre-syllabus (course goals)

Schedule of topics:

First 3 weeks (5 classes, minus MLK day): Introduction, the problem of multiple scales, Fourier analysis.

Page of materials for FFT homework (HW1)

Feb 4 – convection concepts (dry case): layer adjustment vs. plumes vs. parcels

Feb 6 – HW1; Boussinesq eq. set, convection as energy source d(KE)/dt = [w’b’]

Feb 11 – cu vertical development: CuPIDO (incl. radar, moist buoyancy – HW2)

Feb 13 – CuPIDO case study

Feb 18 – CuPIDO – heated mountain flows

Feb 20 – other terrain breezes; role of rotation (latitude 30 resonance)

Feb 25 – precipitation development, fall, evap -> downdrafts, multicell storms

Feb 27 – Guest lecture (Neal Johnson, physics) on complexity

Mar 1 – Supercell convection, vorticity,

Mar 3 – tornadoes

( ---------------------- SPRING BREAK ---------------)

Mar 17 – waves and balanced vortices from Q in a stratified rotating fluid (HW3)

Mar 19 – observed MCVs (and bow echoes)

Mar 24 – MCSs more generally

Mar 26 – squall lines and other prefrontal/ frontal precip

Apr 2 – frontogenesis-driven ascent, Q vectors

Apr 4 – symmetric instability and banded precipitation

Apr 7 – US great plains storm met: dryline, LLJ, wet landscape feedbacks

Apr 9 – mountain precip and convection – Houze guest lecture

Apr 14 – Forecasting the mesoscale

Apr 16 – Forecasting

Apr 21 – student presentations

Apr 23 – student presentations