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MET 3502/5561 & 3502/5561(L): Synoptic Meteorology & Synoptic Meteorology Lab (Dr. Haiyan Jiang), Spring 2023

Course overview

This course focuses on analysis and forecasting of middle-latitude weather systems. We will examine the structure and dynamics of these systems by integrating weather observations with the current state of dynamic theory, numerical weather prediction models, and the physical principles of atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud and precipitation physics. The lab is vital to the course content. Students who complete both the lecture and lab will have a good start toward the essentials of the Forecaster’s Art. We will pay close attention to daily weather during the lectures/labs. The lab assignments include traditional hand-drawing of weather maps and computer-based map analysis using the NCAR IDV software. Graduate students will have the opportunity to work on a research-related literature review and term paper reports to increase their ability to utilize knowledge learned in their research/thesis work.

Class web site: http://faculty.fiu.edu/~hajian/MET3502/MET3502.html

Lecture & Lab schedule: fully online

Location: on Canvas

Instructor: Dr. Haiyan Jiang, Office: AHC5 Rm371. Phone: 305-348-2984. Email:haiyan.jiang@fiu.edu.

Office Hours: by appointment through email

Prerequisites: MET 3003 General Meteorology or Instructor's Permission

Textbook:

Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics - A First Course by Jonathan E. Martin, Wiley, 2006, ISBN 0-470-86465-6.

Reference:

An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, Third Edition by James Holton, Academic Press, 1992, ISBN 0-12-354355-X.

Mid-Latitude Weather Systems, by Toby Carlson, The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-271-05643-2


MET3502/5561 Synoptic Meteorology:

Syllabus: Click here (pdf version)

Lectures:

Module 1:

Lecture 1: Introduction on synoptic meteorology

Lecture 2: Skew-T Review Click here for Skew-T Manual (PDF)

Module 2:

Lecture 3: Surface Weather Elements

Lecture 4: Contour Analysis

Lecture 5: Forecasting Temperatures

Module 3:

Lectures 6: Review of Instrumentation and Data Sources

Lectures 7: Airmasses, Fronts, and Frontal Analysis

Lecture 8: Interpreting Weather Maps

Module 4:

Lecture 9: Math Review: Derivatives and Integrals;

Lecture 10: Math Review: Vectors, Del Operator, and Divergence

Lecture 11: Curl, LaPlacian, Total Derivative, and Coordinate Systems

Module 5:

Lecture 12: Governing Equations

Lecture 13: Balanced Wind; Click here for Supplemental PPT slides;

Lecture 14: Divergence & Vertical Motion

Module 6:

Lecture 15: Circulation & Vorticity

Lecture 16: Vorticity Equation;

Lecture 17: Life Cycle of Mid-Latitude Cyclone

Module 7:

Lecture 18: Potential Vorticity

Lecture 19: Cyclongenesis (QG Vorticy, Height Tendency and Omega Equations)

Lecture 20: Applications of learned tools in evaluating and diagnosing vertical motion, upper-level troughs, and surface cyclones


MET3502L/5561L Synoptic Meteorology Lab

Syllabus: Click here (pdf version)

Lectures and Assignments:

Module 1:

Lecture 1: Skew-T Review

Lecture 2: FIU WxChallenge Overview Slides; FIU WxChallenge Website;

Lab 1: Skew-T Analysis Questions (WORD), Lab 1 attachments: sounding data and blank Skew-T/Log P Diagram ; or Lab 1 full in PDF;

WxChallenge Competition Assignment #1

Module 2:

Lecture 3: Surface Weather Elements

Lab 2: Surface Observations (WORD) ; Lab 2: PDF

Module 3:

Lecture 4: Contour Analysis

Lab 3: Contour Analysis & Attachment 1: Surface Chart 0630Z 21MAR1955

Module 4:

Lecture 5: Weather discussion and internet resources

Lab 4 Assignment:Weather discussion video

Module 5:

Lectures 6: Airmasses, Fronts, and Frontal Analysis

Lab 5: Isotherm and Isodrosotherm Analysis & Attachment 1: Surface Chart 0630Z 21MAR1955

Module 6:

Lectures 7: Airmasses, Fronts, and Frontal Analysis

Lab 6: Surface Frontal Analysis & Attachment 2: Surface Chart 1830Z 21MAR1955

Module 7:

Lecture 8: Interpreting Weather Maps

Lab 7: Upper Air Analysis



Useful Links:

IDV: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/

Weather Prediction Education: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/


For Mid-latitude or General Weather Discussion:

Penn State E-Wall: http://www.meteo.psu.edu/fxg1/ewall.html

University of Wisconsin MM5 model output (current run): http://sol.aos.wisc.edu/current.shtml

NOAA NCEP WPC Surface Analysis: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/sfc2.shtml

NOAA NCEP WPC Hourly Surface Data:

http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/sfc/sfcobs/sfcobs.shtml

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center:

https://www.spc.noaa.gov/

Utah Weather Center: http://weather.utah.edu/

NCAR RAP Real-Time Weather: http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/

UCAR RAP Soundings: http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/upper/

Wyoming Soundings: http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html

Canadian Weather Office Analyses:http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/analysis/index_e.html

Elizabeth Tuttle's Weather Map Site: http://mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/weather/weather.htm

NRL Satellite Imagery Site: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat_products.html GOES Satellite Imagery at NASA/MSFC: http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/

GOES Geostationary Satellite Server (from NOAA): http://www.goes.noaa.gov/

National Radar Mosaic: http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/

NEXRAD Radar (from NOAA): http://www.weather.gov/Radar

NCEP Models:http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/modelinfo/index.html

Decoded METAR Surface Observations (from the University of Washington)

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~stoves/td.cgi


University of Washington weather map, radar & satellite images loops:

Weather Graphics Loops (from the University of Washington)

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/

Virtual Map Room (from the University of Washington)

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/vmaproom/

ONUS radar: last 12hrs at 30m intervals

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?radar_us_full+/12h/30m

CONUS radar: last 2hrs

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?radar_us_full+/2h/

GOES WEST + SFC Analysis: last 48hrs at 3hr intervals

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?fronts_ir+/48h/

GOES EAST + SFC Analysis: last 48hrs at 3hr intervals

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?fronts_ir_east+/48h/

GOES WEST Obs and Pressure Analysis: last 48hrs at 3hr intervals

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?sat_sfc_full+/2d/

GOES EAST Obs and Pressure Analysis: last 48hrs at 3hr intervals

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?sat_east_sfc_full+/2d/

subsitute "sfc" for "850", "500", or "300" for maps at those constant pressure levels

West Coast 1km VIS loop (very large files): latest 6hrs

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?vis1km_west_full+/6h/

East Coast 1km VIS loop (very large files): latest 6hrs

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/wxloop.cgi?vis1km_east_full+/6h/


For Tropical Weather Discussion:

NHC Tropical Weather Discussion: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWDAT.shtml

NRL Tropical Cyclone Site: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

CIMSS PREDICT page: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic2/predict/#

NCAR Tropical Cyclone Guidance Project: http://hurricanes.ral.ucar.edu/realtime/current/

SHIPS Hurricane Intensity Forecasts (go to the bottom file):

http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/research/tropical_cyclones/ships/ or ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/atcf/stext