1. NATS 101 Intro to Weather and Climate Section 06: 12:30PM TTh ILC 150
Dr. E. Robert Kursinski
TA: Nathan Johnson
Please turn off cell phones

2. Who Am I? Professor Department of Atmospheric Science
Joint Faculty Appointment
Dept. of Planetary Sciences
Worked for many years at NASA JPL in So. Cal.
Research Specialty
Remote Sensing, Water cycle, Planetary atmospheres
Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences
M.S. in Electrical Engineering
B.S. in Physics, Minor in Music Theory
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3. Vital Statistics
Office Hours: Dr. Kursinski W 2:00-3:00 pm PAS Bldg, Rm 580 and by Appointment
Mr. Johnson MWF 1:00-2:00 pm PAS Bldg, Rm 526 and by Appointment
Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Picture Link Publisher Download, Save $
Recommended Text: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4rd Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens Link
Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards.
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4. Course Description
Introduction to the science of weather processes and climate change: atmospheric structure and composition, energy balance, clouds and precipitation, wind systems, weather fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting, thunderstorms and lightning, hurricanes, monsoons, ozone hole, air pollution, climate and global warming and optical phenomena.
The new Global Climate Change lecture series website is up:
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5. 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 Science is a branch of Applied Physics
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6. Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory, and will be tallied 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.
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7. 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
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8. 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.
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9. Therefore, no make-up quizzes.
Grading Policy
There will be seven quizzes during the term. Dates for the quizzes are listed on the home page.
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 seven quizzes will be excluded from the course grade.
Therefore, no make-up quizzes.
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10. Grading Policy
If your final exam score exceeds the average of your 6 best 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: If your average is 90% or higher on all 7 quizzes, 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!
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11. Final Examination Section 06 (12:30 am TTh): ILC 150
Thursday Dec. 14, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The final will consist of approximately 60 multiple choice questions and short answer questions.
A number of questions will be taken verbatim from the old quizzes.
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12. Course Grading Course Grading Scale B 80.0-89.99% C 65.0-79.99%
A 90% or higher
B %
C %
D %
E < 55.0%
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13. 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 Definition
Attend class daily, arrive on time, leave when class is dismissed (courtesy to peer students).
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14. Instructor and students all show:
The Golden Rule
Instructor and students all show:
Mutual Respect!
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15. Literacy Requirements
Although the writing requirement for this course is negligible, there is a science literacy requirement:
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.
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16. Announcements Course Homepage…is now functional
Click Students and Courses
Click Course Links
Click NATS101 – Kursinski
User Name: nats101-6 (if established)
Password: fall2006 (if established)
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17. Class Format: Lecture Days
2-4 minutes - Interesting weather discussion
2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up From Prior Lecture, Optional
60-65 minutes - New Material Lecture, Demos, Discussion
2-3 minutes - Wrap-up and Summary
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18. Class Format: Quiz Days
2-3 minutes - Review/Summary/Clean-up From Prior Lecture, Optional
30 minutes - Lecture
10 minutes - Last Minute Questions Passing Out Quiz Materials
30 minutes - Quiz
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19. Class LISTSERV NATS101-06@listserv.arizona.edu
Use for any questions, comments, discussions that are general interest to the class.
is reserved for personal requests not of general interest.
To subscribe go to and click the link “Subscribe to a list”
Follow straightforward instructions
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20. LISTSERV
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 Lastname
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21. 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
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22. Importance of Atmosphere
Point 1- Offers Protection
Consider surface temperatures
Without atmosphere?
0oF global average, large diurnal swings
Similar to the Moon’s Climate
With atmosphere…
60oF global average, moderate diurnal swings
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23. Importance of Atmosphere
Point 2 - Offers Protection
Consider Surface Radiation
Shields against harmful UV radiation
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24. Importance of Atmosphere
Consider Survival Time
Without Food
 few weeks
Without Water
 few days
Without Air
 few minutes
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25. To Understand the Atmosphere
Examine its interfaces
with land/ocean
with space
Earth
Atmosphere
13,000 km
Sun
Is a very thin skin
99% below 50 km (31 miles)
50% below 5.5 km (3.4 miles)
Atmosphere Picture
Space
Energy Flow Solar Input = Output to Space
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26. Note “thinness” of atmosphere in light blue
NASA photo gallery
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27. Example of Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling: El Nino-La Nina
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28. Lecture 1-Nats 101

29. Lecture 1-Nats 101

30. Local Weather and Climate: The North American Monsoon
Tucson gets half of its rainfall during the summer
Sonora, Mexico gets most of its rainfall during the summer
During summer, high pressure sets up to the east/northeast of Arizona which brings moisture in from the south
The monsoon is still going: Thunderstorms yesterday
For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see:
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31. Local: Recent Monsoon Rainfall
Record water flow through the Sabino and Rillito Creeks on July 31
Rillito flow higher than Colorado river!
See
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32. Course Building Blocks
Intro  1st week or so
Energy  ~2 weeks
Moisture  ~2 weeks
Dynamics  ~3 weeks
Above are interdependent
Specific Topics  ~6 weeks
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33. Atmospheric Composition Permanent Gases
N2 and O2 are most abundant gases
Percentages hold constant up to 80 km
Ar, Ne, He, and Xe are chemically inert
N2 and O2 are chemically active, removed & returned
Ahrens, Table 1.1, 4th Ed.
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34. N2 and O2 Balance between input (production) and output (destruction):
Boiling point: 77 °K or -196°C or –320 °F O2
Boiling point: 90 °K or -183 °C or -297 °F
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere by volume but the atmosphere of Mars contains less than 3% nitrogen. The element seemed so inert that Lavoisier named it azote, meaning "without life". However, its compounds are vital components of foods, fertilizers, and explosives. Nitrogen gas is colorless, odorless, and generally inert. As a liquid it is also colorless and odorless.
It was known during the 18th century that air contains at least two gases, one of which supports combustion and life, and the other of which does not. Nitrogen was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772, who called it noxious air, but Scheele, Cavendish, Priestley, and others at about the same time studied "burnt" or "dephlogisticated" air, as air without oxygen was then called.
While about one fifth of the atmosphere is oxygen gas, the atmosphere of Mars contains only about 0.15% oxygen. Oxygen is the third most abundant element found in the sun, and it plays a part in the carbon-nitrogen cycle, one process responsible for stellar energy production. Oxygen in excited states is responsible for the bright red and yellow-green colors of the aurora. About two thirds of the human body, and nine tenths of water, is oxygen. The gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Liquid and solid oxygen are pale blue (see picture above) and strongly paramagnetic (contains unpaired electrons).
Oxygen is very reactive and oxides of most elements are known. It is essential for respiration of all plants and animals and for most types of combustion.
Leonardo da Vinci suggested that air consists of at least two different gases. Before then, air was felt to be an element in its own right. He was also aware that one of these gases supported both flames and life. Oxygen was prepared by several workers before 1772 but these workers did not recognize it as an element. Joseph Priestley is generally credited with its discovery (who made oxygen by heating lead or mercury oxides), but Carl Wilhelm Scheele also reported it independently.
The behavior of oxygen and nitrogen as components of air led to the advancement of the phlogiston theory of combustion, which influenced chemists for a century or so, and which delayed an understanding of the nature of air for many years.
Ozone (O3) is another allotrope of oxygen. It is formed from electrical discharges or ultraviolet light acting on O2. It is an important component of the atmosphere (in total amounting to the equivalent of a layer about 3 mm thick at ordinary pressures and temperatures) which is vital in preventing harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from reaching the earth's surface. Undiluted ozone is bluish in color. Liquid ozone is bluish-black, and solid ozone is violet-black.
Balance between input (production) and output (destruction):
Input:plant/animal decaying
Output: soil bacteria;
oceanic plankton-->nutrients
Input:plant photosynthesis
Output: organic matter decay
chemical combination (oxidation)
breathing
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35. Atmospheric Composition Important Trace Gases
Ahrens, Table 1.1, 3rd ed.
Which of these is now wrong even in the 4th edition of Ahrens?
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36. Carbon Dioxide CO2 Sources vegetative decay volcanic eruptions
animal exhalation
combustion of fossil fuels (CH4 + 2 O2 > 2 H2O + CO2)
Sinks
photosynthesis (oxygen production)
dissolves in water
phytoplankton absorption (limestone formation)
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37. CO2 Trend
“Keeling Curve”
Some gases vary by season and over many years.
The CO2 trend is the cause for concern about global warming.
CO2 increases in northern spring, decreases in northern fall
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See

38. H2O Vapor Variability Precipitable Water (mm)
Some gases can vary spatially and daily
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39. Aerosols 1 cm3 of air can contain as many as 200,000
non-gaseous particles.
dust
dirt (soil)
ocean spray
volcanic ash
water
pollen
pollutants
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40. Aerosols - Volcanic Ash
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Fig. 1-4, p.6

41. Aerosols - Dust Particles
Dust Storm on Interstate 10, between Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.
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42. 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.
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43. Two Important Concepts
Let’s introduce two new concepts...
Density
Pressure
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44. What is Density? Density () = Mass (M) per unit Volume (V)  = M/V
 = Greek letter “rho”
Typical Units: kg/m3, gm/cm3
Mass =
# molecules (mole)  molecular weight (gm/mole)
Avogadro number (6.023x1023 molecules/mole)
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45. Density Change Density () changes by altering either
a) # molecules in a constant volume
b) volume occupied by the same # molecules a b
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46. What is Pressure? Pressure (p) = Force (F) per unit Area (A)
Typical Units: pounds per square inch (psi), millibars (mb), inches Hg
Average pressure at sea-level:
14.7 psi
1013 mb
29.92 in. Hg
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47. (Note that pressure acts in all directions!)
Can be thought of as weight of air above you.
(Note that pressure acts in all directions!)
So as elevation increases, pressure decreases.
Top
Higher elevation
Less air above
Lower pressure
Lower elevation
More air above
Higher pressure
Bottom
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48. Density and Pressure Variation
Key Points
Both decrease rapidly with height
Air is compressible, i.e. its density varies
Ahrens, Fig. 1.5
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49. Why rapid change with height?
Consider a spring with 10 kg bricks on top of it
The spring compresses a little more with each addition of a brick. The spring is compressible.
10 kg
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50. Why rapid change with height?
Now consider several 10 kg springs piled on top of each other.
Topmost spring compresses the least!
Bottom spring compresses the most!
The total mass above you decreases rapidly w/height.
 mass
 mass
 mass
 mass
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51. Why rapid change with height?
Finally, consider piled-up parcels of air, each with the same # molecules.
The bottom parcel is squished the most.
Its density is the highest.
Density decreases most rapidly at bottom.
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52. Why rapid change with height?
Each parcel has the same mass (i.e. same number of molecules), so the height of a parcel represents the same change in pressure p.
Thus, pressure must decrease most rapidly near the bottom. p p p p
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53. A Thinning Atmosphere Top Lower density, Gradual drop Higher density
Bottom
Top
Lower density, Gradual drop
Higher density
Rapid decrease
NASA photo gallery
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54. Pressure Decreases Exponentially with Height
Logarithmic Decrease
For each 16 km increase in altitude, pressure drops by factor of 10.
48 km - 1 mb km - 10 mb km mb km mb
1 mb
48 km
10 mb
32 km
100 mb
16 km
Ahrens, Fig. 1.5
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55. Exponential Variation
Logarithmic Decrease
For each 5.5 km height increase, pressure drops by factor of 2.
16.5 km mb 11 km mb km mb km mb
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56. 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
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