Official description

This course provides an introduction to the thermodynamics, stability, and dynamics of the terrestrial atmosphere. It represents suitable preparation for research in experimental and theoretical atmospheric physics. It is also relevant for research in oceanography and planetary atmospheres. Topics for this year include hydrostatics, atmospheric vertical structure, dry and moist thermodynamics, stability for small- and large-amplitude displacements, conservation laws, internal gravity waves, geostrophic balance, thermal wind balance, vorticity, circulation, and potential vorticity. Coursework involves analytic and computational exercises, some observational data analysis, and reviews of papers in the Atmospheric Physics literature.

References (not required):

• Atmospheric Science, An Introductory Survey, Second Edition, John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs, Academic Press, 2006.
• Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics, Murry L. Salby, International Geophysics Volume 61, Academic Press, 1996.
• An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, James R. Holton, International Geophysics Volume 88, Academic Press, 2004.
• An Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Benoit Cushman-Roisin and Jean Beckers, International Geophysics Volume 101, Elsevier.

Course format:

This is an in-person course that includes prerecorded video content as well as in-person lectures. Pre-recorded (asynchronous) content and notes will be posted in advance of in-person (synchronous) class meetings. Synchronous class meetings will be livestreamed should students wish to attend online, and recordings from these classes will also be posted

Link to cross listed course: PHY498H1/1498H

Additional information

PHY492/PHY1498 Advanced Undergraduate/Introductory Graduate

Atmospheric Physics

Instructor: Prof. Paul Kushner, Department of Physics, University of Toronto

Schedule/logistics:

• Synchronous lectures: Tuesday 3-4 and Thursday 12-1. Starting Tuesday, September 15,

2022.

• Tutorial: Tuesday 4-5
• Location: McLennan Physics (MP) 134.
• Material will include prerecorded videos to view before class.
• Synchronous lectures and tutorials will be recorded for asynchronous viewing.

Most students of Physics have neither heard of Atmospheric Physics nor been encouraged to be curious about the Physics of Earth’s atmosphere – the gaseous environment in which we live and breathe. Remedy studying the principles of Atmospheric Physics here at the University of Toronto, one of the world’s premiere locales for Atmospheric Physics research. All you need is a solid background in physical sciences and a willingness to learn. We will seek an understanding of the terrestrial atmosphere’s structure, circulation and dynamics, starting from physical first principles. The course will involve analytic and computational exercises, some observational data analysis, and reviews of papers in the Atmospheric Physics literature.