Introduction (Chapter 1)
- synoptic-scale dynamics
- units
- co-ordinate systems
- Cartesian, curvi-linear, spherical, polar, natural, sigma and
eta
- wind components
- total and partial derivatives
- computation with finite differences
- gradient and advection
- analytic models
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Wind Fields and their Kinematics (Chapter 3)
- linear approximation to wind field
- components in various co-ordinate systems: translation,
divergence, vorticity, deformation
- frequently used words: shear, diffluence, confluence
- visualization methods
- trajectories
- streamlines and interpretation of patterns
- hodographs
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Equations Governing the Atmosphere (Chapter 4)
- equation of state
- equation of motion
- Newton's second law in a rotating reference frame
- significant forces in Cartesian co-ordinates
- pressure gradient, gravity and Coriolis forces
- large-scale balanced motion
- hydrostatic (vertical) balance
- geostrophic (horizontal) balance
- horizontal pressure gradient force using other vertical
co-ordinates
- geostrophic wind
- gradient balance
- thermal wind relationship
- warm and cold core structure
- fronts and jet streams; frontal slope
- vertical wind shear and temperature advection
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