Introduction to Dynamic and Synoptic Meteorology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course offers an introduction to the physical and dynamical processes, which are the basis for understanding weather across different scales, with particular focus to mid-latitude weather systems. The course topics provide the knowledge to perform meteorological and numerical analyses, to diagnose and understand the past, present and future weather. The students will become familiar with the main weather phenomena at both mesoscale and synoptic scale, and with the physical variables involved in those phenomena.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student acquires a basic understanding of weather systems and their dynamics, and becomes able to: - provide order-of-magnitude estimates to atmospheric variables and balances; - analyse and interpret weather maps; - describe the dynamics of weather systems on the synoptic and meso-scale, and the associated phenomena; - monitor the weather evolution and make a simple forecast especially for high-impact weather events; - account for processes influencing the development of high and low pressure systems; - account for the effect that the Earth's surface has on the atmospheric circulation.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
(1) Review of atmospheric thermodynamics for dry and moist air: properties of dry air and water vapor; Hydrostatic balance, vertical profiles and atmospheric static stability. Thermodynamic diagrams and application to convective weather.
(2) Microphysics of clouds, homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, clouds and precipitation.
(3) Review of atmospheric dynamics, basic principles and conservations laws: Navier-Stokes equations for a rotating reference frame, scale analysis, geostrophic approximation and application to simple atmospheric motions.
(4) Introduction to synoptic and dynamic meteorology: circulation and vorticity, air masses, fronts, QG theory, cyclogenesis, Q-vector, large-scale vertical motion.
(5) Planetary boundary layer, atmospheric turbulence, turbulent kinetic energy.
(6) Mid-Latitude weather systems: overview of conceptual models and of the associated meteorological phenomena; remote sensing monitoring and surface analysis charts; analysis and interpretation of meteorological charts at the ground and at upper levels.
(6) Basic of weather forecasting: numerical weather prediction models, ensemble forecasting, application to severe weather and to weather briefing of ongoing events.
(2) Microphysics of clouds, homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, clouds and precipitation.
(3) Review of atmospheric dynamics, basic principles and conservations laws: Navier-Stokes equations for a rotating reference frame, scale analysis, geostrophic approximation and application to simple atmospheric motions.
(4) Introduction to synoptic and dynamic meteorology: circulation and vorticity, air masses, fronts, QG theory, cyclogenesis, Q-vector, large-scale vertical motion.
(5) Planetary boundary layer, atmospheric turbulence, turbulent kinetic energy.
(6) Mid-Latitude weather systems: overview of conceptual models and of the associated meteorological phenomena; remote sensing monitoring and surface analysis charts; analysis and interpretation of meteorological charts at the ground and at upper levels.
(6) Basic of weather forecasting: numerical weather prediction models, ensemble forecasting, application to severe weather and to weather briefing of ongoing events.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are expected to have a sound background in calculus (including ordinary and partial differential equations), classical physics (in particular mechanics and thermodynamics), and a good background in physics of the atmosphere.
Teaching methods
The course unit is mostly based on class lectures and exercises. During the practical classes, the students will apply the concepts presented during the lessons, by working individually or in small groups, to perform weather analysis and forecasts. The course makes wide use of meteorological information from the web.
Teaching Resources
- Lecture slides and lecture notes uploaded on myAriel
- Wallace J. M. & Hobbs P. V.: Atmospheric Sciences, an introductory survey. Academic Press., 2006
- Holton J. R.: An introduction to dynamic meteorology. Academic Press., 2012
- Martin E. J.: Mid-latitude Atmospheric Dynamics. Wiley.
- Bluestein H.B., Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology in midlatitudes (2 volumes), Oxford University Press, 1992.
- Kalnay E., Atmospheric modeling, data assimilation and predictability, Cambridge University Press, 2003.
- Stull R. B.: Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science. UBC. Online: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/
- Wallace J. M. & Hobbs P. V.: Atmospheric Sciences, an introductory survey. Academic Press., 2006
- Holton J. R.: An introduction to dynamic meteorology. Academic Press., 2012
- Martin E. J.: Mid-latitude Atmospheric Dynamics. Wiley.
- Bluestein H.B., Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology in midlatitudes (2 volumes), Oxford University Press, 1992.
- Kalnay E., Atmospheric modeling, data assimilation and predictability, Cambridge University Press, 2003.
- Stull R. B.: Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science. UBC. Online: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam consists in an oral discussion organized in questions and answers concerning the topics treated during the lectures. A few homework sets will be assigned during the course unit.
The final assessment will be based on the following criteria: knowledge of the topics treated during the lectures; critical reasoning; skill in the use of specialistic lexicon.
The final score will be expressed in thirtieth.
The final assessment will be based on the following criteria: knowledge of the topics treated during the lectures; critical reasoning; skill in the use of specialistic lexicon.
The final score will be expressed in thirtieth.
GEO/12 - OCEANOGRAPHY AND PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE - University credits: 6
Practicals with elements of theory: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Davolio Silvio
Professor(s)