Introduction to atmospheric physics and dynamics

This unit will provide you with the basic skills and knowledge to analyse various physical and dynamical processes in the atmosphere relevant to weather and climate. You will be introduced to the major processes leading to cloud and precipitation formation in the atmosphere, and you will learn to identify and classify clouds. The unit will further cover the dynamics and prediction of severe storms, including supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes, and you will learn techniques for the forecasting of such storms using real-world data. Finally, the unit will discuss atmospheric dynamics, including atmospheric vortices such as midlatitude low pressure systems and tropical cyclones. At the end of this unit you will have an understanding of the processes that lead to cloud and precipitation formation in the atmosphere, and you will have gained experience in applying techniques for forecasting day-to-day weather.