Subject information

625-227 Weather and Climate Systems

University Handbook entry

When and where

Lectures: Mondays and Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15 pm (Fritz Loewe theatre)

Practical sessions:
Session 1: Wednesday 3:15pm-5:15pm, (Skeats Lab); also some in the Large Computer Lab (3rd floor)
Session 2: Thursday 10am-12pm

Subject coordinator

Dr Kevin Walsh. Office hourse: Mondays and Tuesdays, 4:15pm-5:15pm.

Contact details of subject coordinator

Office: Rm 346. Phone: 8344 6523
e-mail (kevin.walsh@unimelb.edu.au).

About this subject

Atmospheric science and oceanography are vast topics; this subject gives a broad survey of weather and climate. Meteorological phenomena occur on a wide range of time and space scales, ranging from microscopic turbulence through daily weather to the slow variations of the Earth’s climate over millions of years. In this subject, we learn about the physical mechanisms behind tornadoes, thunderstorms, cold fronts and tropical cyclones. We discuss El Nino and the strong impact it has on the variable Australian climate. We detail the causes of Earth’s current climate, as well as past and future changes in climate. By the end of this subject, you will have a basic knowledge of many topics that concern meteorologists.

What students said about this subject in 2004:

"I think the tutorial sessions needed some (any) structure because while they are a good idea there is no feeling of an appropriate setting or discussion of ideas" Yes, this is a tricky one. The tutorials were meant to encourage students to ask questions about the lecture material. We're having a think about how this will work this year.

"It would be good if the web site was more useful." We will try to do this.

"This subject was well taught and clear in expectations -- however a bit more focus on how all topics linked together would be good e.g. based on a certain weather event" We'll be doing a little more of this in 2005.

Context and Generic skills

The main difference between this subject and first-year meteorology (625-103) is the emphasis in the second year on developing a physical understanding through the use of (some) mathematics and physics. This subject will enable you to understand and interpret meteorological maps and diagrams and their interrelationships in order to make inferences about the reasons for day-to-day changes in the weather. You will also obtain a better comprehension of the physical mechanisms that produce these changes. You will be able to calculate some important meteorological quantities that aid in this understanding. You will develop knowledge of the causes of changes in climate, both of natural variations such as El Nino and the ice ages, and of man-made climate change caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect. You will be able to give coherent, physically-based descriptions of these topics, a number of which are the subject of current public debate.

This subject and its 2nd semester companion (625-228) will give you enough background to pursue further studies in meteorology and oceanography, since by the end of the these two semesters you will have encountered and understood many of the relevant concepts. The subject will also build your ability to present technical work in written form, a skill that is useful (perhaps even essential) in later studies and careers.

Textbooks and other resources

Recommended Text: The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand, A. Sturman and N. Tapper, Oxford Univ. Press, 1st ed., 1996 (2nd ed OK also).

Other useful reading:

1. Fundamentals of Weather and Climate, R. McIlveen, Chapman and Hall, 2nd ed., 1992.
2. The Wonders of the Weather, B. Crowder, AGPS Press, 1st ed., 1995.
3. The Australian Weatherbook, K. Colls and R. Whitaker, Child and Assoc. Publishing, 2nd ed., 1993.
4. The Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society, 2000.

You will want to own a copy of the main text (Sturman and Tapper), as the subject follows it quite closely. You should not purchase the other books, as they will be on reserve in the Earth Sciences library.

Subject outline

Lecture Topic

1 Introduction; general circulation of the atmosphere
2 Synoptic Meteorology
3 Links between meteorological variables
4 Northern Hemisphere synoptic meteorology
5 Weather systems in Australia and New Zealand
6 Mid-latitude weather systems
7 Tropical weather systems 1
8 Tropical weather systems 2
9 Tropical cyclones
10 Weather forecasting
11 Mesoscale circulations and phenomena 1
12 Mesoscale circulations and phenomena 2
13 Mesoscale circulations and phenomena 3
14 Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes
15 Thunderstorms and related phenomena
16 Climate of the past 1
17 Climate of the past 2
18 Recent climate variations
19 El Nino/ Southern Oscillation
20 Climate and climate change
21 Climate modelling 1
22 Climate modelling 2
23 Climate change scenarios and summary

Assessment

The exam is worth 50% of the mark. Practical write-ups (about 10 of these) make up the other 50%. All write-ups should be handed in to the Earth Sciences office with a cover sheet on them, so they can be dated. There will be a penalty of 5% of the mark of an individual write-up for every day that it is late. I strongly suggest that you hand in all of the write-ups, even if you hand them in late, as the penalty for not handing in a write-up is as much as 5% of your final mark. However, this year the write-up for which you receive the lowest mark will not be counted.

Write-ups should be 800 words or less; many will require rather shorter answers than this.

Additional information for this subject