1. Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Atmospheric Continuum –Continuous fluid medium –“mass point” = air parcel (or air particle) –Field variables: p, , T and their derivatives (all continuous functions) 1.2 SI Units –SI base units: m, kg, s, K –SI derived units: Hz, N, Pa, J, W –Exception: mb=10 -3 b  1mb = 100 Pa = 1hPa –p SL = 101,325 Pa = 1013.25 mb

2. 1.3 Scale Analysis Estimate the significance of various terms in the governing equations –Magnitude of field variables –Amplitude of their fluctuations –Characteristic length and time duration of fluctuations Examples of horizontal scale sizes: Table 1.4

3. 1.4 Fundamental Forces Laws of conservation of mass, energy, and momentum govern the motions of the atmosphere Fundamental forces –Pressure gradient force –Gravitational force –Viscous force (important only in boundary layer) Apparent forces (due to Earth rotation) –Centrifugal force –Coriolis force

4. Fundamental Forces

5. Fundamental Forces cont’d

6. x-stress ~ z-gradient of u

7. 1.5 Noninertial Reference Frames

8. 1.5.1 Centrifugal Force

9. 1.5.2 Gravity Force

10. 1.5.3 Coriolis Force

11. Cartesian Components of F Co

12. Horizontal Component of F Co Toward the right of U in northern hemisphere F Co U k

13. 1.6 Structure of the Static Atmosphere

14. Hypsometric Equation

15. Geopotential Height Z

16. Generalized Vertical Coordinate

17. Pressure as a Vertical Coordinate