7410 (v.4) Weather Forecasting 101

Area:

Department of Applied Physics

Credits:

12.5

Contact Hours:

2.0

Lecture:

2 x 1 Hours Weekly

Syllabus:

Weather measurements. Introduction to the atmosphere; solar radiation and the structure of the atmosphere. Atmospheric stability, evaporation, condensation, inversions. Storm development, thunderstorms and atmospheric electricity. Cloud forms and their recognition (slide set), formation of rain. Motion and the general circulation of the atmosphere. Introduction to the dynamics of the atmosphere; forces, thermal wind, local weather; boundary layer meteorology, air pollution, sea breeze systems. Highs, lows, and fronts. Visit to the Bureau of Meteorology. Further topics to be selected from tropical meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, climate change and global warming, weather satellites, technology and applications, cloud seeding and/or the origins of the ice ages.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able describe the global wind circulation and explain the causes of the circulation pattern. They will be familiar with the meaning of the terms atmospheric stability, inversion, isobars, col, ridge, and trough. They will be able to explain the causes of thunderstorms and the conditions necessary for thunderstorms to occur and interpret the fundamental features of weather maps and identify typical weather patterns in Western Australia. They will beable to explain the causes of sea breezes and land breezes and describe the origin, structure and behaviour of warm and cold fronts.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

No prescribed references

Unit Texts:

Rye, P., 'Weather Forecasting 101', Curtin University Bookshop. 'Manual of Meteorology', Part 1, General Meteorology, Aust Govt Publ Service. Anthes, R. A., 1976, 'Weather Around Us', Merrill Publishing Co., Ohio.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Lecture summaries 25%. Assignment 1 25%. Assignment 2 25%. Project 25%.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 1			Y
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 2	Y		Y