MET 601: Atmospheric Dynamics II

Met 601 is the second part of a two-semester course series (MET 600 and MET 601) on Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics. The objectives of Met 600 and Met 601 are to provide a theoretical background in geophysical fluid dynamics and dynamic meteorology, to develop students' ability to quantitatively analyze atmospheric motion and understand the physics, and discuss current issues in tropical dynamics.

Part I Wave Theory (review)

1. Equations for atmospheric motion and simplifications
2. Poincare wave and Kelvin wave: Effects of side boundary
3. Barotropic Rossby wave packet
4. Energy propagation and reflection of Rossby wave packet
5. Equatorial waves 1: General dispersion relation and equatorial Kelvin wave
6. Equatorial waves 2: Equatorial Rossby, inertial-gravity, and mixed Rossby-gravity waves

Part II Large-Scale Instability Theory

1. The problem of quasi-geostrophic instability
2. Necessary condition for the instability
3. Energetics
4. Baroclinic instability (1): Eady model
5. Baroclinic instability (2): Charney model
6. Barotropic instability
7. Moist baroclinic instability
8. Weakly nonlinear theory

Part III Dynamics in the Tropics

1. Scale analysis
2. Cumulus parameterization
3. Conditionally instability of the second kind
4. Vertically propagating equatorial waves
5. Quasi-biennial Oscillation
6. Steady forced motion

Part IV Some Topics in Climate Dynamics

1. Rossby wave train and teleconnection
2. Theory on Madden-Julian Oscillation
3. Stable and unstable air-sea interaction
4. Theory of ENSO cycle

• Gill, A. E.: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics. Academic Press, 1982.
• Pedlosky, J.: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. Spring-Verlag, 1987.
• Holton, J. R.: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 1979.
• Lindzen, R. S.: Dynamics in Atmospheric Physics, Cambridge University Press, 1990.