Class
TTh, 10:45 am - 12:05 pm
ST E1133

Instructor
Thomas Reichler
office: LSSB W3282 phone: 801-585-0040
email: thomas.reichler (at) utah.edu
office hours: immediately after lecture + by appointment

Prerequisite
Graduate standing, advanced calculus (including partial differential equations), calculus-based physics, or instructor's consent.

Required Text
Holton, J. (1992, 2004, 2013): An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 3rd, 4th, or 5th edition (any edition will be fine). This is the basic text for the course and the standard book in the field. We will follow Holton's book closely so that you can read the material before class. You should get a new or used hard copy of the book for the first day of class.

Errata for 4th Edition (by Dale Durran) [PDF]

Reading
It is expected and important that you study the assigned reading material from the "Reading Schedule" before class. Doing so will enable you to optimally understand the lectures and actively participate in classroom discussions.

Homework
To succeed in this class, it is important to actively engage with the material by studying and solving problems. Therefore, reading, studying, and completing homework are crucial components of the course. Homework assignments will be given weekly and are due exactly one week after they are assigned. You can find the assignments on the "Homework" page of the class website. Late homework submissions will not be accepted unless you have a valid reason. Each student must submit their own written responses to the questions. However, you are encouraged to collaborate in small groups (2-3) when solving the problems, as open discussion and cooperative efforts are effective ways of learning. Since most final answers to the problems are provided in the back of the textbook, it is important to clearly detail how you arrive at the solutions. Remember, your homework is only complete when you fully understand the solutions.

Computer Access
A few homework problems include computer-based exercises, primarily involving the manipulation of pre-existing Matlab scripts from Holton's book. To solve these problems, you will need access to a departmental computer and a basic understanding of UNIX and a plotting program (such as Python, IDL, or Matlab). If you do not have a computer account, please contact your advisor or the U of U Center for High-Performance Computing to request one.

Exams
For the exams, you are allowed to bring one letter-sized sheet of your own handwritten notes and a calculator. Make-up exams will not be given except in very rare cases.

Grading
No minimum grade is required for the credit hours of this class to be applied toward your graduation requirements. However, you must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher as required by the University. Additionally, please note that this is an Atmospheric Sciences core class, and your grade will count towards the grade of your Comprehensive Exam at the end of the 2nd semester (see the Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Student guide). Grades will be based on your performance on the homework assignments and the two exams. The individual weights are as follows:  

Homework: 33.3%
Exam I: 33.3%
Exam II: 33.3%

Web-Site
Please consult this web-site from time to time since I may add content to it.

ADA Accommodations
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability services: http://www.sa.utah.edu/ds. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangement for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

Safety
The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu