Name _________________________

 

Date __________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meteorology 403

Fall 2006

 

 

 

Lab 1

 

Review of Basic Techniques

 

(Due Beginning of Class, Friday, 8 September)

 

 

 

 

1.  All labs are to be kept in a three hole binder.  Turn in the binder when

     you have finished the Lab.

 

2.  Show all PROCEDURE.  No credit given if only

     answer is provided.

 

3.  Unless otherwise noted, you may work together.  But remember, YOU

     are the one who will be responsible for understanding the material for

     exams and when you are out in the profession.  So STRIVE to

     understand what you are doing.  Don't let someone else do your

     thinking for you.

The basic assumption I make here is that you have REMEMBERED some basic techniques and skills you learned in Metr 200/201/206 and 603 and 698.

 

1.  (a) Define what each report is (e.g., "this is a sounding..." etc.)

     (b) Translate each report into plain English.

 

Report Section 1  (From Metr 200/201, 301 and 698)

 

KHOT 270250Z 25005KT 9SM -SHRA FEW045 SCT090 OVC150 22/21 A3001

RMK BR OVR LK VCNTY STN SE-NW=

 

KSHR 270250Z 19009KT 15SM SCT150 BKN200 25/03 A2992 RMK SLP097

 

KLGB 270250Z 32010KT 30SM SKC 21/14 A2974 RMK SLP072

 

K4BL 270250Z 36008KT 50SM SCT090 BKN120 22/11 RMK DSNT SHRA NW AND NE-E SLP113

 

KSLC 270250Z 16011KT 20SM FEW090 BKN130CB OVC250 28/11 A2990 RMK  CB DSNT S-NW MOV NE VIRGA ALQDS SLP065

 

Report Section 2 (from Metr 301, 698)

 

448

FPUS65 KTUS 271651

 

YDA...THERE WAS MSTR AND TRWS AROUND...BUT NOT ENUF BUOYANCY/CAPE FOR BIG UPDRAFTS IN THE TSTMS...NO ORGANIZATION.  TDA IS SECOND DAY OF GLF SURGE AND SE AZ WETTER THAN YDA.  SFC DEW PTS MID-UPR 60S...PW 1.5...K INDEX 41...MEAN LOW LVL MIXING RATIO 11-12 G/KG.  AMOUNT OF CAPE AND INSTABILITY IS UNCERTAIN.    12Z TUS SNDG HAS A WARM LAYER NR H4 AND BOTH MODELS INCR H5 HGTS THIS AFTN. THIS MAY INCR STABILITY. IF THE MSTR MIXES OUT...AS IT DID YDA...CAPE ONLY AROUND 500-600. IF WE CAN KEEP DEW PTS ABOVE 60 CAPE VALUES ARE CLOSER TO 1000.  HAVE DECIDED TO DO A SPECIAL BALLOON RELEASE AT 18Z TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THE SITUATION. ZFPTUS MAY BE ISSUED A BIT LATE...AS AFOS IS DOWN ATTM.  TUS 343.

 

 

2.  Determine the value of a degree in km at 40oN latitude (trigonometry).

3.  (a)         Give the PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION of each term of

 equation below (from Metr 200/201).


 


  A                           B                       C

 

     (b)         Name each term in equation.

     (c)         Solve the equation for the local tendency.

     (d)         Expand term "C".

     (e)         Assume that DT/Dt = 0 for the chart given and that there is no vertical motion. Determine the local temperature tendency at the station reporting the wind of 225o, 25 knots, shown in the diagram below.  External grid points indicated by crosses are 100 km distant from station, nominally placed at center of implied x-y coordinate cross.  Isotherms are north-south.

 

 


4.  (a)  Physically interpret the terms to the right of the equals sign in

           equation (2) (basic calculus)

 

                                                              (2)

 

 

                                                                            (3a, b)

 

     (b)         Equations (3a,b) are the geostrophic wind components. Put (3a,b)                        into (2) to determine the divegence of the geostrophic wind.  Assume                            g and f are constants.

 

Note:  it does not matter if you do not yet know what divergence is, or what the geostrophic wind is (although Dave tells me he got to that in Metr 402).  The point of this is to have you review mathematical techniques—simple derivative.

5.      Obtain a plot of NAM initialization of 500 mb vertical velocity

(contour interval 1 microbar per sec) at 12UTC 9/6/06 for a region centering on 38N, 120W.  Indicate the string of commands you typed on the command line to obtain this plot. (Metr 206, 301)

 

6.      (a)  Contour the 500 mb chart attached for heights and temperatures.  (Metr 201/301)

 

(Note:  Things You May Not Ask Me or Other Students---  (1)  What color are the contours?  (2)  Which contours are solid and which are dashed?  (3)  What contour interval should I use? ).

 

(b)  Once you have contoured the chart, answer or determine the following:

 

i.  Locate one area (A) of probable divergence in the upper troposphere (in other words, not at this level, but above this levelÉ.with the location projected down to this level);

 

ii.  Locate one area (B) of probable upward vertical velocity at this level;

 

iii.  Locate one probable location (C) of a surface low pressure area (location projected up to this level) given either or both of your answers in i. and ii.

 

7.  Examine the attached sounding. (Metr 200/201/301/401/698)

 

         (a)  The layer bounded by the letters A and B is known as what?

 

         (b)  The layer bounded by the letters B and C is known as what?

 

(c)   Determine the LCL, LFC (if any) and stability for a surface lifted parcel.