NATS 101 Intro to Weather and Climate Sect. 56: 8:00 am TR CHVZ111 Lecturer: Prof. Steven L. Mullen TA: Stephen Bieda Guest Lecturers?

Lecture 1-Nats 1012 Who Am I? Professor and Department Head Department of Atmospheric Science Joint Faculty Appointment Dept. of Hydrology and Water Resources Research Specialty Precipitation Forecasting, Computer Modeling 30+ Years as Atmospheric Scientist M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences B.S. in Mathematics, Minor in Physics

Lecture 1-Nats 1013 Vital Statistics Office Hours: Dr. Mullen – WR 2:00-2:50 pm or by Appointment, PAS Mr. Bieda – TBA, PAS 476 Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4 rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Picture Link Publisher Download, Save $Picture LinkPublisher Download, Save $ Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4 rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens LinkLink Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards.

Lecture 1-Nats 1014 Course Description Introduction to the science of weather processes and climate change: atmospheric structure and composition, energy balance, clouds and precipitation, wind systems, fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting, thunderstorms, lightning, hurricanes, ozone hole, air pollution, and global warming.

Lecture 1-Nats 1015 Course Description Emphasis will be given to phenomena that have strong impacts on human activities. The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry and mathematics will be noted. Atmospheric Sciences  Applied Physics

Lecture 1-Nats 1016 Attendance Policy Attendance is mandatory, and I reserve the right to tally it throughout the term. After three unexcused absences prior to week 9, I will submit to the Office of Curriculum and Registration an administrative drop from the course and assign a grade in accordance with UA policy.

Lecture 1-Nats 1017 Student Behavior UA Code of Academic Integrity, Code of Conduct and Student Code of Conduct are enforced in this course. Every student is responsible for learning these codes and abiding by them. Students can submit complaints online at

Lecture 1-Nats 1018 Grading Policy Final grade will be based on scores from closed book/closed notes quizzes and final exam. Quizzes will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. Quizzes will cover new material presented through the end of the previous lecture day. Extra credit questions given on some quizzes. Extra credit impromptu “pop” quizzes given.

Lecture 1-Nats 1019 Grading Policy There will be seven quizzes during the term. Dates for the quizzes are Tuesday Feb 6, Thursday March 1, Tuesday Apr 3, and Thursday Apr 26. No Exceptions Students who arrive late on quiz days will be not allowed to take the quiz after the first student turns in her/his quiz. No Exceptions The lowest score among the four quizzes will be weighted 1/2 of the others for the course grade. Therefore, no make-up quizzes.

Lecture 1-Nats Grading Policy If your final exam score exceeds the average of your adjusted quizzes, the quizzes will comprise 60% of your term grade and the final 40%. Otherwise, the quizzes will comprise 75% of your term grade and the final 25%. CARROT:CARROT: If your average unadjusted quiz score is at least 90%, you will earn an exemption from the final and will receive an "A'' for the course. No Extra Credit Projects. No Exceptions. So Plan Accordingly!

Lecture 1-Nats Final Examination Section 56 (8:00 am TR): CHVZ 111 May 8, 8:00 am - 10:00 pm No Exceptions per UA Policy The final will consist of 60 multiple choice questions and short answer questions. At least 30, but no more than 40 questions, will be taken verbatim from the old quizzes.

Lecture 1-Nats Course Grading Course Grading Scale A 90% or higher B % C % D % E< 55.0%

Lecture 1-Nats Expectations Every student is expected to: Complete all of the assigned reading before the lecture, unless you hear otherwise. Devote a minimum of 2 hours outside of class studying, reading, etc. for every hour of classroom lecture. Unit Credit DefinitionUnit Credit Definition dismissedAttend class daily, arrive on time, leave when class is dismissed (courtesy to peer students).

Lecture 1-Nats The Golden Rule Instructor and students all show: Mutual Respect! What exemplifies respectful behavior? No talking No electronics Arriving on time Remaining seated

Lecture 1-Nats Literacy Requirements Although the writing requirement for this course is negligible, there is a science literacy requirement. This means that we: Use scientific notation for writing numbers (especially rather large or small ones). Specify units of physical quantities (e.g. meters for elevation, etc.). Attempt to quantify physical relationships.

Lecture 1-Nats Announcements Course Homepage…is functional! Click Students and Courses Click Course Links Click NATS101 – Mullen User Name: nats101 (if established) Password: spr2007 (if established)

Lecture 1-Nats Class Format: Lecture Days 5 minutes - Map Discussion and Forecast (If computer Gods are friendly) 2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up From Prior Lecture (Optional) 60 minutes - New Material Lecture, Demos, Discussion 2-3 minutes - Wrap-up and Summary

Lecture 1-Nats Class Format: Quiz Days 10 minutes - Last Minute Questions Passing Out Quiz Materials 60 minutes - Quiz

Lecture 1-Nats LISTSERV Established Use for any questions, comments, discussions that are general interest to the class. is reserved for personal requests not of general To subscribe go to and click the link “Subscribe to a list” Follow straightforward instructions!

Lecture 1-Nats LISTSERV If you DID NOT receive an yesterday, you need to subscribe to the list. You can subscribe by sending an to with the following as the only line in the body of the message. subscribe xxxxxx Firstname Lastname Substitute the list you want to join for xxxxxx, i.e. Substitute your first name for Firstname Substitute your last name for

Lecture 1-Nats & LISTSERV Rules Obtain an “arizona.edu” account I will only respond to s from “arizona.edu” accounts starting next week and Listserv Etiquette No-No’s No Flaming No Profanity No Porn or Other Inappropriate Links No Advertisements No Spamming No “Off-Topic” Subject Matter

Lecture 1-Nats Importance of Atmosphere Necessary for a wide spectrum of features Oceans Clouds, Rain, Fresh Water Erosion by Water and Wind Life, Life on Land Blue Skies, Red Sunsets, Twilight Sound

Lecture 1-Nats Importance of Atmosphere Point 1- Offers Protection Consider surface temperatures Without atmosphere? 0 o F average, large day-night swings Similar to the Moon’s Climate With atmosphere… 60 o F average, moderate diurnal swings

Lecture 1-Nats Importance of Atmosphere Point 2 - Offers Protection Consider Surface Radiation Shields against harmful UV radiation

Lecture 1-Nats Importance of Atmosphere Consider Survival Time Without Food  few weeks Without Water  few days Without Air  few minutes

Lecture 1-Nats To Understand the Atmosphere Examine its interfaces with land/ocean with space Sun Space Earth Atmosphere 13,000 km Is a very thin skin 99% below 50 km (31 miles) 50% below 5.5 km (3.4 miles) Atmosphere Picture Blue Marble Energy Flow Solar Input = Output to Space

Lecture 1-Nats NASA photo gallery Note “thinness” of atmosphere in light blue

Lecture 1-Nats Apollo 17 photo The Blue Marble

Lecture 1-Nats Course Building Blocks Intro  1 st week or so Energy  ~2 weeks Moisture  ~2 weeks Dynamics  ~3 weeks Above are interdependent Specific Topics  ~6 weeks

Lecture 1-Nats Reading Assignment "How to a Professor" Article"How to a Professor" Homepage Link “Reading Assignments” Ahrens Pages 1-22; (Appendix A: Units etc.); (Appendix C: Weather chart symbols) Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.17, 1.18, 1.20 (1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17) Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards

Lecture 1-Nats Reading Assignment Ahrens Pages 1-22; (Appendix A: Units etc.), (Appendix C: Weather chart symbols) Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.17, 1.18, 1.20 (1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17) Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards

Lecture 1-Nats Example of Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling: El Nino-La Nina

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Lecture 1-Nats N 2 Boiling point: 77 °K or -196°C or –320 °F O 2 Boiling point: 90 °K or -183 °C or -297 °F N 2 and O 2 Balance between input (production) and output (destruction): Input: plant/animal decaying Sink: soil bacteria; oceanic plankton-->nutrients Input: plant photosynthesis Sink: organic matter decay chemical combination (oxidation) breathing

Lecture 1-Nats Atmospheric Composition Important Trace Gases Ahrens, Table 1.1, 3 rd ed. Which of these is now wrong even in the 4th edition of Ahrens?

Lecture 1-Nats Sources vegetative decay volcanic eruptions animal exhalation combustion of fossil fuels (CH O 2 > 2 H 2 O + CO 2 ) Sinks photosynthesis (oxygen production) dissolves in water phytoplankton absorption (limestone formation) Carbon Dioxide CO 2

Lecture 1-Nats CO 2 Trend “Keeling Curve” Some gases vary by season and over many years. The CO2 trend is the cause for concern about global warming. CO 2 increases in northern spring, decreases in northern fall

Lecture 1-Nats H 2 O Vapor Variability Precipitable Water (mm) Some gases can vary spatially and daily

Lecture 1-Nats Aerosols 1 cm 3 of air can contain as many as 200,000 non-gaseous particles. –dust –dirt (soil) –salt from ocean spray –volcanic ash –water –pollen –pollutants

Lecture 1-Nats Aerosols - Volcanic Ash Fig. 1-4, p.6

Lecture 1-Nats Aerosols - Dust Particles Dust Storm on Interstate 10, between Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.

Lecture 1-Nats Aerosols Provide condensation nuclei for water vapor. Provide a surface area or catalyst needed for much atmospheric chemistry. Aerosols can deplete stratospheric ozone. They can also cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back to space.