Meteorology - Climatology

Posted in Seventh-Semester

School

Natural Sciences

Academic Unit

Geology Department

Level of Studies

Undergraduate

Course Code

GEO_713Ε

Εξάμηνο σπουδών

7^ο

Course Title

Meteorology - Climatology

Independent Teaching Activities

Lectures, tutorial and laboratory work

Weekly Teaching Hours

2 (lect.)/2 (lab.)/ 1(t)

Credits

Course Type

Field of Science and Skills Development

Prerequisite Courses

There are no prerequisite courses. It is however recommended that students should have at least a basic knowledge of Waves, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Optics and Calculus and also basic laboratory skills regarding the measurement of physical quantities and calculation of the uncertainties involved.

Language of Instruction & Examinations

Greek

Is the Course offered to Erasmus Students

Yes (in English

Course Web-Page (URL)

https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/PHY1923/

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course the student should be able to

Identify the basic characteristics of the atmospheric environment and the principal laws that apply to it.
Apply these laws of physics in order to explain common weather and climatic phenomena and up-to-date issues in atmospheric physics, meteorology and climatology.

General Competences

At the end of the course the student will have further developed the following skills/competences:

to know and understand the basic theories and principles that are related with the atmosphere, its components and the phenomena that take place into it
to apply this knowledge for the quantitative and qualitative solutions of problems related with the contents of this course
to acquire the needed knowledge and experience to follow relevant courses that deal in depth with atmospheric physics, meteorology, climatology and atmospheric pollution
to acquire basic experimental skills related to the measurement of basic meteorological parameters (instrumentation – measurement procedures)
to interact with others on atmospheric physics and on inter or multidisciplinary problems

Syllabus

1 Earth’s atmosphere

General notions
Magnitude of the atmosphere
Composition of lower atmosphere
Atmospheric temperature
Vertical temperature profile
Atmospheric pressure
Geopotential
Simple atmospheric models
Water vapor in the atmosphere

2 Atmospheric Thermodynamics

State equation
Laws of thermodynamics
Thermodynamic processes in the atmosphere
Atmospheric Stability
Ctiteria of instability (Vertical temperature gradient, potential temperature, energy)

3 Cloud Physics

Water vapor condensation
Cloud classification
Rain formation theory

4 Atmospheric Dynamics

Forces defining the air motion
Equations of motion
Synoptic scale winds
Air motion in the atmospheric boundary layer
Thermal circulation
General atmospheric circulation
Planetary winds
Troposhperic winds – Ηadley cells
Tropospheric long (Rossby) waves

5 Air Masses

Characteristics of air masses
Fronts – Front types
Permanent fronts
Low pressure centers
High pressure centers

6 Climate Dynamics

Climate Classification
Climate Variability
Climate Equilibria, Sensitivity and Feedbacks
Climate Change

Delivery

Lectures, seminars and laboratory work face to face

Use of Information & Communication Technology

Lectures using power-point presentations. Problem-solving seminars for the instructive solution of synthetic problems. Solving of critical questions by the students during the lecture time. Laboratory experiments. Digital content in the eclass platform.

Teaching Methods

Activity	Semester workload
Lectures	2 x 13=26
Laboratory work	2 x 13=26
Tutorials	1 x 13=13
Group paper-report	20
Autonomous study	40
Total number of hours for the Course	125

Student Performance Evaluation

Language: Greek (English for Erasmus)
Written examination on the theoretical part (100% of the final mark). The weekly short-answer tests of 10 questions reconcile the final grade by up to 20%.

Attached Bibliography

Courses of Meteorology and Climatology, Α. Α. Flocas, Ziti Editions, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1994.
Courses in General Meteorology, Τ. Ι. Makrogiannis, C. S. Sahsamanoglou, Charis Editions, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2004.
General Meteorology, C. S. Sahsamanoglou, Τ. Ι. Makrogiannis, Ziti Editions, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1998.
Introduction to Atmospheric Physics and Climate Change, P. Katsafados, E. Mavromatidis, Kallipos Editions, 2015.
Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey, J.M. Wallace, P.V. Hobbs, Academic Press, London, 2006.
Meteorology for Scientists and Engineers, R. Stull, University of British Columbia, 2011.