Geography 622.01: Boundary Layer Meteorology

Winter Quarter 2008, 5 credits, call number: 10114-1

M-W-F 1:30-2:48 PM, Derby Hall 1080

Instructor: Dr. Jason Box

Email: box.11 [at] osu.edu

Telephone: 247-6899

Office: 1148 Derby Hall

Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 3-4 PM, or by appointment

Lab (0140) Door Code: see instructor

LAB PC Login: see instructor

Required Textbook: Arya, S. P. S., 2001: Micrometeorology, Academic Press, 2^nd Ed., 307 pp., ISBN 0-12-059354-8

Recommended Textbooks (in order of importance to this course):

Oke, T.R., 1987: Boundary Layer Climates, 2nd Ed., Methuen, London, 435 pp, ISBN 0-415-04319-0

Stull, R. B., 1988: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Kluwer Publishers, 666 pp., ISBN: 9027727686

Garratt, J. R., 1992: The Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Cambridge University Press, 316 pp., ISBN 0521467454

Course Description and Goals: The surface boundary layer is the part of the atmosphere directly or indirectly affected by energetic interactions between the surface, the sub-surface, the overlying atmosphere, the sun, and space. Humans rarely exit the surface boundary layer. Meanwhile, atmospheric particulate matter (including pollutants) are concentrated near the surface and diffuse into the surface boundary layer and upper atmosphere by turbulence. The intensity of turbulent transfer is regulated by daily and seasonal cycles of surface net radiative heating (absorbed solar minus net vertical infrared flux), depending on surface properties, latitude, time of year, and regional to atmospheric motion driven by regional and planetary-scale horizontal pressure gradients, topography, and baroclinicity. Large scale atmospheric motions are largely attributable to surface energy exchanges. Students will gain the conceptual framework necessary for an understanding of surface atmosphere interactions and their effects on weather development and human livelihoods and related economic systems, including agriculture and building heating/cooling.

Course Expectations: Students are expected to meet course prerequisites which include a working knowledge of algebra, calculus (Math 152, i.e., at least Calculus 1) and physics (at least Newtonian. An understanding of electromagnetic radiation is very useful. You are strongly recommended to have already taken atmospheric thermodynamics. If you feel deficient in any of the aforementioned areas, you should consider taking this course after some of the aforementioned studies or study off-line to mitigate deficiencies. Your grade is based on a midterm/final (comprehensive) exams and homework exercises. There will 8 homework exercises. Homework will incorporate computer-based exercises. Assignments may not be handed in late, and exams and assignments may not be made-up without instructor consent. Material covered in the exercises and exams will come from assigned readings and supplemental material introduced only during lecture. Note that it is necessary to keep up on reading. Be on time for class. Coming in late is disruptive and disrespectful to both students and instructor.

Attendance: Certain materials that appear on the midterm and final exams will be covered in lecture only.

Students with disabilities: It is up to the student to inform the instructor at the beginning of the term for any special accommodation to be made associated with learning disabilities. Be prepared to present relevant certification. Please also feel free to contact the Office of Disabilities Services 292-3307 in room 150 of Pomerene Hall.

Cell phones and pagers are to be turned off during class, just like at the movies and on commercial aircraft.

Class Participation Please feel comfortable asking questions or commenting on the course material. Being active in class participation is to your advantage and may improve your final grade if you end up borderline between grades.

Grading: Your final grade will be based on 500 points. Three exams totaling 260 points are worth 80, 80, and 100 points, respectively. 210 points are comprised of 8 exercises that are either in take-home or quiz format. The lowest exercise grade is dropped. A 30 point course participation/professionalism grade includes occasional attendance surveys. The grading scale is as follows: 100-93% A, 92-90% A-, 89-87% B+, 86-83% B, 82-80% B-, 79-77% C+, 76-73% C, 72-70% C-, 69-67% D+, 66-63% D, 62-60% D-, 59% and below E.

Plagiarism In accordance with faculty rule 3335-5-487 all instances of alleged academic misconduct will be reported to the department chairperson and the committee on academic misconduct. Academic misconduct is grounds for failing the course and may be grounds for further sanctions such as dismissal from the university. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to falsifying data, giving or receiving information during an exam, or submitting plagiarized work, for academic requirements.

Extra Credit No extra credit assignments are planned.

Major Relevant Texts

Arya, S. P. S., 1988: Micrometeorology, Academic Press, 307 pp., ISBN 0-12-059354-8

a very accessible advanced undergrad introduction to the subject, mostly focusing on surface layer.

micrometeorology

Brutsaert, W., 1988: Evaporation into the Atmosphere, ISBN 90-277-1247-6

an excellent reference for boundary layer physics related to the processes of surface water vapor exchanges.

micrometeorology

Garratt, J. R., 1992: The Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Cambridge University Press, 316 pp., ISBN 0521467454

Contains a list of other relevant books at the end of the first chapter, including historically important texts.

micrometeorology

Geiger, R., 1965: The Climate Near the Ground, Harvard University Press

Kaimal, J. C. , J. J. Finnigan, 1994: Atmospheric Boundary Layer Flows: Their Structure and Measurement, Oxford University Press, 304 pp., ISBN 0195062396

micrometeorology

Monteith J. L., Unsworth, M.H., 1990: Principles of Environmental Physics, Edward Arnold Publisher, 2^nd Ed., 291 pp., ASIN: 0713129816

Munn, R. E., 1966: Descriptive Micrometeorology, Academic Press, ISBN: 1124119973

Oke, T.R., 1987: Boundary Layer Climates, 2nd Ed., Methuen, London, 435 pp, ISBN 0-415-04319-0

microclimatology

Sorbjan, Z., 1989: Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Prentice-Hall, 317 pp., ISBN: 0138535574

micrometeorology

Stull, R. B., 1988: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Kluwer Publishers, 666 pp., ISBN: 9027727686

idiosyncratic discussion of physics, but nice discussion of the methods, observational and computational tools used in boundary layer meteorology

micrometeorology

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