INSTRUMENTS METEOROLOGICAL ATMS 320
FALL 2008
PURPOSE Observations provide the backbone for the science of meteorology. Regardless of your intended path in the atmospheric sciences, observations of the atmosphere will surely influence your career. So that you can properly interpret observations in your endeavors, you must understand the physics and limitations of common instrumentation. For example, predicting the weather requires an accurate initial state of the atmosphere and land surface. What good scientist would trust a model forecast without understanding the quality of the observations ingested as initial conditions? Can a climatologist properly assess climate change without understanding the characteristics of historical instrumentation or how instruments and observing sites have changed over time? OBJECTIVE This course is intended to equip meteorology majors with an understanding of the concepts involved in making careful meteorological measurements and to provide you with a fundamental understanding of historical and modern instrumentation. You will learn about the limitations of instruments and how to interpret instrument specifications, and you will identify the major errors associated with measurement output. PROFESSOR Dr. Christopher Godfrey Office: Robinson Hall, room 231 Phone: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Office hours: 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday, or by appointment. If my door is open at any other time, please drop in. CLASS INFORMATION Meeting times: MW 2:45-4:00 p.m. Location: Robinson Hall, room 238 Required text: Brock, F. V., and S. J. Richardson, 2001: Meteorological Measurement Systems. Oxford University Press, 290 pp. (ISBN: 0-19-513451-6) Website: http://facstaff.unca.edu/cgodfrey/courses/atms320/ GETTING QUESTIONS ANSWERED I will be in my office during scheduled office hours, but if at any other time you have a question and my office door is open, you are more than welcome to visit. Otherwise, e-mail is the best way to reach me. You may also schedule an appointment with me. Please don't hesitate to ask questions about class, other coursework, or the stresses of college life whenever the need arises. IMPORTANT DATES Wednesday, 24 September 2008 Monday, 10 November 2008 Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Exam I Exam II Final Exam*
In class In class 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.
*Out of fairness to all, those who are graduating this semester may not take the final exam at a different time.
COURSE OUTLINE This course outline is approximate and subject to modifications. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Introduction to measurement systems and meteorological data collection Major modern measurement systems (Mesonet, ASOS, rawinsondes, etc.) Site selection Basic electronics Signal sampling Static performance characteristics Barometry Thermometry Dynamic performance characteristics Anemometry
With available time, we will cover the following: 11. Precipitation measurement 12. Hygrometry 13. Radiation 14. Soil moisture 15. Electric field and lightning measurements 16. Quality assurance EVALUATION There will be two preliminary exams and a comprehensive final exam to assess your progress through the semester. The preliminary exams will take place during regular class meeting times. Several problem sets will strengthen your skills and reinforce the lecture and reading material. Some classes will also lab include exercises (I'll let you know about these at least one class in advance) so that you can play with some of the neat tools that we're studying. There will be no opportunities for make-up labs or exams. Exams must be taken, and labs completed, on the scheduled date. The only exceptions to this rule are: (1) serious medical condition (illness or injury) of you or an immediate family member; (2) University excused absence; (3) jury duty; or (4) military orders. Only in such instances will an item be dropped or rescheduled depending on your best interests, but only if I am notified at least 24 hours in advance. Except under the circumstances described above, homework is due at 5:00 p.m. on the scheduled due date. This will allow you to run home and get your completed assignment if you forgot it! I will accept homework up to 24 hours late (5:00 p.m. the following day) for a 50% late penalty. Homework more than 24 hours late will not be graded. In the event of an unforeseen circumstance that causes you to miss an exam, lab, or homework due date, you must notify me by phone or e-mail within 24 hours of the event. Appropriate documentation must accompany any excused absence and should be attached to a late homework assignment.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR BABY This fall is special for the Godfrey family because we are expecting a baby girl in late September! Consequently, I am taking a few weeks off after her birth to get to know her. I will do my best to keep the course on track and interesting with guest lecturers, lab exercises, and substitutes as needed. I appreciate your patience and flexibility.
GRADING Preliminary Exams Labs Homework Assignments Final Exam
25% 25% 30% 20%
I reserve the option to curve the final grades upward at my discretion. However, you are guaranteed at least the following based on your final score before applying any curve: A C 92.0% 72.0-77.9% AC90.0-91.9% 70.0-71.9% B+ D+ 88.0-89.9% 68.0-69.9% B D 82.0-87.9% 60.0-67.9% BF <60.0 80.0-81.9% C+ 78.0-79.9% Final gr...