University of Oklahoma

Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences

School of Meteorology

METR 2004: Atmospheric Circulations

Fall 2020

 

Instructor: Dr. Cameron Homeyer

Office: NWC 5632
Email: chomeyer@ou.edu

Phone: (405) 325-5303

Office Hours: 1-on-1 in person by appointment or by Zoom M 3-4 PM and W 8-9 AM:
https://oklahoma.zoom.us/j/96929566820?pwd=cVU0S3c3ek1TSnUxSmZvVGRRRTd3QT09

Learning Management System: https://learn.ou.edu (Canvas)

Teaching Assistant: Elisa Murillo

Email: murillem@ou.edu

Office Hours: every TR, 1 – 2 PM via Zoom or by appointment
https://oklahoma.zoom.us/j/98642032135?pwd=Wm9BRzAvVUJheDlwSjQ4K1ZCVHVLUT09

Course Meeting Time and Location:
Lecture: TR 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM

In-person – capacity of 53 people in NWC 1313, with overflow in NWC 1350

Online (synchronous) – via Dr. Homeyer’s Zoom link above

Exam 1: Thursday, October 1^st, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM (Virtual)

Exam 2: Thursday, November 5^th, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM (Virtual)

Final Exam: Friday, December 18^th, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Virtual)

 

COVID-19: It may be necessary to move the class online at any time during the semester. Assignments, including due dates, may be modified if this is the case. I will record lectures and post all material in a timely manner throughout the semester, whether we are in-person or online. Do not come to class if you are sick or may have been exposed. If you cannot come to class while we are in-person, please contact me to let me know. You can choose to participate in lectures through TopHat Virtual Classroom at any time.

 

Masking: As outlined by the University of Oklahoma¹s Chief COVID Officer, until further notice, employees, students, and visitors of the OU community will be mandated to wear masks (1.) when they are inside University facilities and vehicles and (2.) when they are outdoors on campus and social distancing of at least six feet is not possible. For the well-being of the entire university community it is important that everyone demonstrate the appropriate health and safety behaviors outlined in the University Mandatory Masking Policy (https://www.ou.edu/coronavirus/masking-policy). As this mandate includes all campus classrooms, please make sure you are wearing your mask while in class. If you do not have a mask or forgot yours, see the professor for available masks. If you have an exemption from the Mandatory Masking Policy, please see the professor to make accommodations before class begins. If and where possible, please make your professor aware of your exemption and/or accommodation prior to arriving in class. If a student is unable or unwilling to wear a mask and has not made an accommodation request through the ADRC, they will be instructed to exit the classroom.

 

Food & Drink: Per OU’s COVID rules, no open food or drink are allowed in classrooms. This is also true in the NWC Atrium. Please consume food and beverage outside of the NWC before or after class.

Course Prerequisites:          
Grade of C or better in MATH 1914 (or MATH 2423), PHYS 2514, METR 1003, CHEM 1315, and METR 1313 (or CS 1321, 1323, or 1324). Co-requisites: MATH 2924 (or MATH 2433), PHYS 2524.

 

Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the application of mathematical techniques and physical principals to key atmospheric processes and phenomena, with a focus on stability, moisture, synoptic-scale flows, convection, and boundary layer meteorology. The course seeks to create a foundation of critical thinking and problem solving for subsequent classes in meteorology. Required of all meteorology majors during their second year of residence.

 

Course Goals:
The course builds students’ application of mathematical techniques and physical principals in order to advance their knowledge of key atmospheric processes and phenomena. The course will be calculus-based in contrast to the algebra and concept-based METR 1003. This course focuses on introducing and expanding the concepts of stability, moisture, synoptic-scale flows, convection, and boundary layer meteorology. The class will include a writing assignment that stresses the structure and style of scientific writing, the use of references and how to incorporate equations and figures within the text. The discussion section will stress problem solving through the application of equations and incorporate the use of Python.

 

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this course, students should be able to:

1. Employ various coordinate systems for analyzing the atmosphere, including:

• Eulerian and Lagrangian reference frames
• Natural coordinates

Apply the laws of thermodynamics to the atmosphere

Determine the atmospheric stability given environmental characteristics and relate it to the potential for and structure of convective systems

Analyze the dynamics of the atmosphere using key concepts and mathematics, including:

• Newton’s laws of motion
• Geopotential, geopotential height, the gravitational force and effective gravity
• The equations of motion and balanced flows
• Mass conservation
• Kinematics

Define, evaluate, and analyze the physics and dynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer, including:

• Its vertical structure and diurnal cycle
• Surface fluxes of sensible and latent heat
• Its relationship to cloud formation and circulations
• Its association with air pollution

Evaluate the development, structure and evolution of cyclones, including:

• Comparing and contrasting polar, mid-latitude, and tropical cyclones
• The relationship between cyclones and fronts
• The vertical structure of cyclones and fronts

Texts and Materials:

Lecture materials will be developed, sourced, or accompanied by a wide variety of online and offline sources. Copies of lecture materials will be provided through the Canvas learning management system prior to being presented during class. Additional reading material to supplement the lectures will be available from the FREE (to download, share, and copy) online course textbook by Dr. Roland Stull, University of British Columbia, entitled “ Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science” is recommended:
            https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/

 

Online short courses through the UCAR MetEd program may be recommended from time to time and are generally a good resource for all students interested in additional opportunities for learning:

            https://www.meted.ucar.edu

 

In-class polling, attendance (not graded), and quizzes (graded) will be completed using TopHat (https://tophat.com). Please make sure to bring a cell phone, tablet, or laptop computer to class so you can participate in and receive credit for these activities. The cost to use TopHat is much less than you might incur from a required textbook.

 

Learning Activities and Assessment

Lectures will often include group activities, while reading assignments and homework will be completed outside of class. Assessments are listed in the following table and linked to each learning outcome defined above.

		Assessments (each student must do each of the following)
Learning Outcomes	Learning Activities	Quizzes (weekly)	Homework	Writing Assignment	Midterm Exam 1	Midterm Exam 2	Comprehensive Final Exam
1	Lecture, Reading, Group activities	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
2	Lecture, Reading, Group activities	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
3	Lecture, Reading, Group activities	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
4	Lecture, Reading, Group activities	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
5	Lecture, Reading, Group activities	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
6	Lecture, Reading, Group activities	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔
Maximum Percentage Points		10%	20%	10%	15%	20%	25%

 

Final Grade:

Your final cumulative grade in this course will be a weighted average of the following assessments:

• Homework                                          20%
• Quizzes                                               10%
• Writing Assignment                           10%
• Midterm Exam 1                                 15%
• Midterm Exam 2                                 20%
• Comprehensive Final Exam               25%

 

Percentage grades will correspond to letter grades as: A ( ≥90% ), B ( ≥80% and <90% ), C ( ≥70% and <80% ), D ( ≥60% and <70% ), and F ( <60% ). Final grades may be rounded and/or curved to benefit the students at the instructor’s discretion. For example, if there are natural breaks in the grade distribution that do not conform to the percentages listed above, the lower and/or upper bounds of the categories may be reduced, but this should not be expected.

Expectations:
My greatest priority is to increase the knowledge base of every single student enrolled in this course. You pay a large amount of money to take this course at OU and I intend to bring my best effort each day and to make attendance something you look forward to. Your job is to attend lectures prepared to learn and to actively participate in class activities. This relationship requires mutual respect between myself and each of you and between you and your fellow students. Please ask questions as they are often critical to developing a communicable knowledge of the material.

Additional Support for Learning

If you are struggling to understand something, ask the Instructor or TA questions (in person or virtually) and/or discuss the topic with your fellow students.

 

Course Policies

Absences & Make-up Policy

All lectures will be simultaneously broadcast via Zoom, recorded, and made available via Canvas for future reference. Students with excused impediments to involvement in course activities (University/academic commitment, health/family issue, jury duty, etc.), traditionally absences, should ideally contact me in advance of the absence. If an excused absence falls on an exam day or the due date for a homework assignment, please contact me as soon as possible to arrange acceptable accommodations for making up missed work.

 

Late Assignments

Late submission of homework assignments will result in the loss of one letter grade per day unless related to an excused absence. Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are due by the start of class on the provided date. Note that assignments will be considered one day late if turned in following the start of class (i.e., after 9 AM) on the designated date or before 9 AM on the following date, two days late if turned in after 9 AM on the following day or before 9 AM two days after class, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright Statement

Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class, or upload them to any other online environment.

University Policies

Academic Integrity

Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. As a member of the OU community it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. For specific definitions on what constitutes cheating, review the Student’s Guide to Academic Integrity at http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html.

 

To be successful in this class, all work on exams and quizzes must be yours and yours alone.  You may not receive outside help. On examinations and quizzes you will never be permitted to use your notes, textbooks, calculators, or any other study aids. Should you see someone else engaging in this behavior, I encourage you to report it to myself or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity Programs. That student is devaluing not only their degree, but yours, too. Be aware that it is my professional obligation to report academic misconduct, which I will not hesitate to do. Sanctions for academic misconduct can include expulsion from the University and an F in this course, so don’t cheat. It’s simply not worth it.

 

Religious Observance

It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty.

 

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

The University of Oklahoma will reasonably accommodate otherwise qualified individuals with a disability unless such accommodation would pose an undue hardship or would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the service, program, or activity or in undue financial or administrative burdens. The term reasonable accommodation is used in its general sense in this policy to apply to employees, students, and visitors.

 

Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:

(1) Making existing facilities readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities;

(2)  Job restructuring;

(3)  Part-time or modified work schedules;

(4)  Reassignment to a vacant position if qualified;

(5)  Acquisition or modification of equipment or devices;

(6)  Adjustment or modification of examinations, training materials, or policies;

(7)  Providing qualified readers or interpreters; or

(8)  Modifying policies, practices, and procedures.

 

Students who require accommodations in this course are requested to speak with the professor as early in the semester as possible. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center(www.ou.edu/drc) prior to receiving accommodations in this course. The ADRC is located in University Community Center, 730 College Ave, phone 405/325-3852.

 

Title IX Resources and Reporting Requirement

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking, the University offers a variety of resources. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405/325-2215 (8 to 5, M-F) or smo@ou.edu. Incidents can also be reported confidentially to OU Advocates at 405/615-0013 (phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.  Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to: Bobby J. Mason, University Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at 405/325-3546 or bjm@ou.edu. For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/eoo.html.

 

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your professor or the Disability Resource Center at 405/325-3852 as soon as possible. Also, see http://www.ou.edu/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html for answers to commonly asked questions.

 

Final Exam Preparation Period

Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU’s Final Exam Preparation Period policy (https://apps.hr.ou.edu/FacultyHandbook#4.10).

 

Emergency Protocol

During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.

Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather 1.LOOK for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances 2. SEEKrefuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building. 3. GO to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows. 4. GET IN, GET DOWN, COVER UP. 5. WAIT for official notice to resume normal activities.

Link to Severe Weather Refuge Areas , Severe Weather Preparedness - Video

 

Armed Subject/Campus Intruder: If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:

1. GET OUT: If you believe you can get out of the area WITHOUT encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911. 2. HIDE OUT: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room. 3. TAKE OUT: As a last resort fight to defend yourself.

For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/emergencypreparedness.html

Shots Fired on Campus Procedure - Video

 

Fire Alarm/General Emergency: If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates: 1. LEAVE the building. Do not use the elevators. 2. KNOW at least two building exits 3. ASSIST those that may need help 4. PROCEED to the emergency assembly area 5. ONCE safely outside, NOTIFY first responders of anyone that may still be inside building due to mobility issues. 6. WAIT for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.

OU Fire Safety on Campus

 

 

Tentative Schedule

Date(s)	Unit	Learning Outcomes Addressed	Assignments, Exams, or Readings
08/24-08/28	Introduction, Coordinates, Reference Frames, Geopotential Height, and Pressure Gradient Force	1,2,4
08/31-09/04	The Hypsometric Equation, Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces	1,2,4	Homework 1 assigned
09/07-09/11	The Coriolis Force, Friction, and Force Balances	1,2,4,5
09/14-09/18	Force Balances, Mass Continuity	1,2,4,5	Homework 2 assigned
09/21-09/25	Thermal Wind, Natural Coordinates	1,2,4
09/28-10/02	Review	1,2,4	Midterm Exam 1
10/05-10/09	Kinematics and Types of Vorticity; Rossby Waves, Barotropic and Baroclinic Atmospheres	1,2,4	Homework 3 assigned
10/12-10/16	Jet Streams and Jet Streaks; Lapse Rates and Buoyancy	1,2,3,4
10/19-10/23	Lapse Rates and Buoyancy, and Stability; Heats and Potential Temperature	1,2,3,4	Homework 4 assigned
10/26-10/30	Cyclones and Fronts	1,2,3,4,5,6
11/02-11/06	Review	1,2,3,4,5,6	Midterm Exam 2
11/09-11/13	Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) Meteorology	2,3,4,5	Writing Assignment
11/16-11/20	Air Pollution; Convection: Types and Environments	2,3,4,5
11/23-11/27	Convection: Severe and Hazardous Weather	2,3,4,5	Thanksgiving – No Class 11/26
11/30-12/04	Severe Storms and Climate; Review OR Additional Special Topics	1,2,3,4,5,6
12/07-12/11	Review	1,2,3,4,5,6
Finals		1,2,3,4,5,6	Final Exam