Reading List 

Date:      11 November 2002

To:         MSC/COMET Winter Weather Course Attendees

From:     Garry Toth

Subject:  Pre-course reading

Reading List for December 2002 MSC/COMET Winter Weather Course:

• PV Intro - Structure and Evolution of Baroclinic Waves and Fronts: Isentropic Potential Vorticity
• QG Intro - Structure and Evolution of Baroclinic Waves and Fronts: Quasi-Geostrophic Theory and its Practical Applications

This list suggests some Web-based resources for review and introduction to basic topics that will serve as building blocks for many course presentations.

1. Q-G Review:
   The Q-G height tendency and omega equations should be reviewed from your favourite reference for this common topic.
   An introductory reference entitled QGintro.pdf is available. It is from the Canadian initial meteorological training Website. Canadians can access it directly on the internal web at http://qww.qc.ec.gc.ca/domaf/TrainingWeb (choose “Manuals/Documents” – “MOIP Course Documents” – “Topic 6 – Atmospheric Patterns and Processes” – “6.2d – Q-G Theory”)
   The first part of the reference in #5 below also provides an introduction to Q-G theory.
   
2. Isentropic coordinates:
   http://www.eas.slu.edu/People/JTMoore/isen.html and choose “Isentropic basics”
   
3. Jet streak ageostrophic circulations:
   Choose “Jet streaks” from the same URL as in #2 above.
   
4. Microphysics review:
   http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/micrope.html (the second half is more operationally-oriented).
   
5. Isentropic Potential Vorticity:
   An introductory reference is PVintro.pdf is available . It also has been taken from the Canadian initial meteorological training Website. Canadians can access it on the internal web at the same location as specified in the “Q-G review” section above, except choose “section 6.2e – Isentropic PV”.
   Several useful reference articles come from the COMAP (COMET Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction) Course. They are found on the WWW at
   http://www.comet.ucar.edu/class/comap/07_May5_2002/html/week1.htm. You will need the user name “classroom” and the password “eraser”. Please do not circulate the user name and password.
   
6. Q-Vectors:
   From the COMAP page, choose the lectures by Thaler from Tue May 7. They load as a group. Q-vectors are discussed, starting on page 20. The first part of this reference reviews Q-G theory.
   
7. Frontogenesis:
   From the COMAP page, choose “Kinematic Frontogenesis F-Vectors” for an introduction and brief review of the theory of frontogenesis.
   Also, the “Frontal Circulations” lecture from the same page has some information on the circulations associated with frontogenesis and their modulation by stability.
   
8. Conveyer Belts and Fronts:
   From the COMAP page, choose “Anafronts-Katafronts” for a brief review of conveyer belt circulations in the context of anafronts, katafronts, split fronts and upper fronts.
   
9. The TROWAL circulation:
   From the COMAP page, choose “System-relative flow and TROWALs” for an introduction to/review of the TROWAL circulation.
   
10. CSI , Slantwise Convection and Precipitation Banding:
    Go to www.meted.ucar.edu/export/csi/csi_v51.htm for a Webcast by Dr. David Schultz on these topics.
    Go to www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrhq/CSITM/webtm.htm for another approach (text and images, not a Webcast) to these topics, including a case study.
    

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