INSTRUCTORS:
Bluestein, Howard
George Lynn Cross Research Professor
CONVECTIVE CLOUDS AND STORMS
METR 6223
Fall 2017
Tues., Thurs. 10-11:15 AM NWC 5930
(make-up classes to be scheduled when necessary)
Instructor: Prof. Howard (Howie “Cb”) Bluestein
NWC 5351 (far northwest corner on 5th floor)
Office phone: 325-3006
e-mail address: hblue@ou.edu
Office hours: Mon., Wed., 1:30 – 2:30 PM (tentative)
Office hours may be cancelled if there is a severe-thunderstorm outbreak (or a threat of the aforementioned).
Other times by appointment please!
Text: Severe Convective Storms and Tornadoes: Observations and Dynamics by H. Bluestein, Springer/Praxis, June 2013
Texts (supplemental, but not required): Atmospheric Convection by K. A. Emanuel, Oxford Univ. Press; Cloud Dynamics by R. A. Houze, Jr., Academic Press; Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology in Midlatitudes (Vol. II) by H. Bluestein, Oxford Univ. Press; Tornado Alley: Monster Storms of the Great Plains by H. Bluestein, Oxford Univ. Press
Selected recent journal articles and Powerpoint presentations (supplemental; some to be provided on the web) at http://weather.ou.edu/~hblue/metr6223
Prerequisites:
METR 5113 (Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics I or equivalent).
Course outline:
- Basic dynamics
- Buoyancy
- Boussinesq approximation
- Anelastic approximation
- Vorticity equation, circulation analysis, buoyancy and dynamic pressure contributions
- Local convection (very brief overview)
- Similarity theory
- Plumes
- Thermals
- “Global” convection
- Rayleigh convection
- Rotational effects
- Effects of linear shear (brief overview)
- Precipitating convection: Observation and theory
- Ordinary cells
- Supercells
- Mesoscale convective systems (including squall lines and bow echoes)
- Tornadoes
- Observations
- Dynamics
Grades:
one quiz (50% each) and one term paper (50%)
There will be some problem sets designed to help you learn the material. These problem sets will be graded qualitatively and used to determine borderline grades.
Note: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him/her from fully demonstrating his/her abilities should contact the instructor personally as soon as possible so the instructor can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate the student’s educational opportunity.