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2. Course code

ATM349

Aikaisemmat leikkaavat opintojaksot 53605 Ilmakehän virtausrakenteiden dynamiikka, 8 op

3. Course status: compulsory

-Which degree programme is responsible for the course?
Master's Programme in Atmospheric Sciences

-Which module does the course belong to?
ATM300 Advanced Studies in Atmospheric Sciences (compulsory for Study Track in Meteorology)

-Is the course available to students from other degree programmes?
Yes

4. Course level (first-, second-, third-cycle/EQF levels 6, 7 and 8)

Master’s level, degree programmes in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine = secondcycle
degree/EQF level 7
Doctoral level = third-cycle (doctoral) degree/EQF level 8

-Does the course belong to basic, intermediate or advanced studies (cf. Government Decree
on University Degrees)?
Advanced studies

5. Recommended time/stage of studies for completion

First year of MSc studies, after ATM348 Dynamics of Atmospheric Flow Structures I.

6. Term/teaching period when the course will be offered

Each year in period II.

7. Scope of the course in credits

5 cr

8. Teacher coordinating the course

9. Course learning outcomes

The course gives you a theoretical understanding of baroclinic instability and an overview of the dynamics of the tropical atmosphere.

10. Course completion methods

The course includes weekly lectures and exercises. Attendance is not obligatory but recommended.

To complete the course, you need to get a sufficient total number of points from the exams and exercises.

11. Prerequisites

This course is direct continuation to ATM348 Dynamics of Atmospheric Flow Structures I.

12. Recommended optional studies

A more detailed treatment of tropical dynamics is given in ATM356 Convective weather systems and climate.

13. Course content

Concept of hydrodynamic instability and methods for assessing the instability of an atmospheric flow situation

Conditions for baroclinic instability, as inferred from the quasi-geostrophic two-layer model

Energy cycle of baroclinic waves

Barotropic instability

Consequences of non-linear processes on the energy spectrum of atmospheric waves (Fjørtoft's theorem)

Basic characteristics of the tropical atmosphere and the differences from higher latitudes, as inferred from observations and scale analysis.

The most important flow structures and circulation systems in the tropical atmosphere.

14. Recommended and required literature

Lecture notes

J. R. Holton & G. Hakim, 2012: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 5th edition. Chapters 7 and 11.

Lecture Compendium "Dynamics of Atmospheric Flow Structures: Supplement to the Text Book of Holton and Hakim (2012)"

15. Activities and teaching methods in support of learning

Weekly lectures and exercises (individual work). Total hours 135.

16. Assessment practices and criteria, grading scale

Grading is based on the exam (75%) and exercises (25%). 45% of total maximum points is required for grade 1/5. 85% of total maximum points is required for grade 5/5.

17. Teaching language