Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Outline (LP#1) –Course introduction –Course purpose –Course perspective –Course focus –Course outline –Career challenge

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Introduction –Various attempts at categorizing meteorological scales

The tiny microscale motions... constitute a part of the larger mesoscale motions... which, in turn, are part of the much larger synoptic scale. Notice that as the scale becomes larger, motions observed at the smaller scale are no longer visible. Synoptic I – ATMS 410

Scales of meteorology Horizontal scale is related to time scale (lifespan) near-ground disturbances

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Scales of meteorology Horizontal scale is related to time scale (lifespan) upper-air disturbances

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Introduction –Synoptic = (from the Greek syn- together and opsis appearance) –Course often affords the opportunity of “light bulb” moments The Fall of Icarus

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Purpose –Course gives the “big picture” How do weather analysis (ATMS 205), thermodynamics (ATMS 305), kinematics and dynamics (ATMS 310), and physical meteorology (ATMS 455) help make me a better forecaster?

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Course perspective (along with ATMS 411, spring semester) –Atmosphere tending toward a state of balance Conservation of global properties, geostrophic balance, cyclostrophic balance –Telescoping Global scale  synoptic scale  mesoscale

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Course focus –To explore the physical processes which contribute to synoptic-scale motions –How these processes impact synoptic-scale balances Geostrophic balance Hydrostatic balance

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Course outline –Introduction –General circulation –Atmospheric oscillations –Teleconnections –Kinematics and dynamics –Mid-latitude cyclone development –Three-dimensional structure of mid-latitude cyclones

Synoptic I – ATMS 410 Challenge –You are expensive –Somewhere an accountant is trying to eliminate you –What value will you add to meteorology and to the forecast process?