Synoptic Meteorology

Course Information
TitleΣυνοπτική Μετεωρολογία / Synoptic Meteorology
CodeGMCM202Y
FacultySciences
SchoolGeology
Cycle / Level2nd / Postgraduate
Teaching PeriodSpring
CoordinatorIoannis Pytharoulis
CommonYes
StatusActive
Course ID40001935
Class Information
Academic Year2017 – 2018
Class PeriodSpring
Weekly Hours3
Class ID
600107883
Course Type 2016-2020
  • Scientific Area
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
  • Face to face
Digital Course Content
Language of Instruction
  • Greek (Instruction, Examination)
  • English (Instruction)
Prerequisites
General Prerequisites
Familiarity with the use of computers
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the students will: 1) Understand the various synoptic scale weather systems, their structure and life cycle 2) Be able to draw and analyze weather charts, understanding the prevailing meteorological conditions 3) Be able to make weather prediction using the available forecast data. 4) They can make survey of the international scientific literature on meteorological systems of their interest
General Competences
  • Apply knowledge in practice
  • Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
  • Work in teams
Course Content (Syllabus)
Introduction, air masses, fronts, cyclone, anticyclone, trough, ridge, synthesis and analysis of weather charts (surface and upper air). Streamlines, trajectories, geostrophic wind, gradient wind, divergence/convergence, thermal wind and temperature advection, vorticity and vorticity advection. Vertical wind, quasi-geostrophic Omega equation, Sutcliffe form, vertical wind associated with synoptic systems (cyclones, jet-streams). Barotropic and baroclinic atmosphere, barotropic and baroclinic instability, energy diagram of Lorenz. Potential vorticity, potential vorticity and diabatic processes, isentropic analysis, principles of potential vorticity, distribution of potential vorticity, applications, dynamic tropopause and dynamic anomalies of the tropopause. Cyclogenesis, explosive cyclogenesis, types of cyclogenesis, self-development, cases studies of explosive cyclogenesis. Analysis of international scientific literature on: a) cyclone models (Norwegian model, Shapiro-Keyser model), b) jet-streams (subtropical jet, African Easterly Jet), c) explosive cyclogenesis, d) Mediterranean cyclones with characteristics of tropical cyclones (Medicanes), e) fronogenesis and f) African Easterly Waves.
Keywords
Weather systems, vorticity, convergece, divergence, thermal wind, vertical wind, barotropic/baroclinic instability, potential vorticity
Educational Material Types
  • Notes
  • Slide presentations
  • Weather charts
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
  • Use of ICT in Course Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Description
Lectures using Powerpoint, forecast data and observations from the internet, presentations by the students using powerpoint, contact by email
Course Organization
ActivitiesWorkloadECTSIndividualTeamworkErasmus
Lectures291.0✓✓
Laboratory Work70.2
Reading Assigment30.1✓✓
Total391.3
Student Assessment
Description
Written exams, assignments(at home), presentations (papers from the international literature)
Student Assessment methods
  • Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Formative)
  • Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Formative)
  • Written Exam with Problem Solving (Formative)
  • Presentations
Bibliography
Additional bibliography for study
Bluestein H.B., 1993: Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology in Midlatitudes, Vol. II Observations and theory of weather systems. Oxford University Press Holton J.R., 1992: An introduction to dynamic meteorology. Academic Press Inc. Martin J.E., 2006: Mid-Latitude Atmospheric Dynamics, A first course. Wiley Wallace J.M. and P.V.Hobbs, 1977: Atmospheric science: an introductory survey. Academic Press Inc.
Last Update
19-09-2013