MET 100 Met 201 Introduction to Meteorology Weather

MET 100 & Met 201 – Introduction to Meteorology (Weather and Climate) Lecture 1 Introduction to Meteorology Dr. Abdulhaleem Labban alabban@kau. edu. sa

What is Meteorology? ? • Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena including weather and climate. – – Not just TV Weather People Researchers (NASA, NOAA) Private Companies (Accu. Weather, Weather Channel) Academics (Universities, Colleges) 2

Why do we care about weather? 3

Why do we study Meteorology? ? • Daily Weather – affects how we plan our days • Severe Weather – causes damage, loss of life, loss of property (memorable) – Includes, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, floods, thunderstorms… and much more. • Climate Change – How will weather and climate change in the future? – Affects quality of life, water supplies, food supplies 4

Did you know? ? • On average, ~150 people die each year in the US from floods and flash floods—more than any other natural disaster? • Can you name any recent weather related natural disasters in the US or Globally? 2004 – Hurrican Ivan 2005 - Hurricane Katrina 2011 Tornadoes - Midwestern US 2011 Blizzards – East Coast Snow Storms 2012 – Hurricane Sandy 2014 – Hurricane Odile 5

Meteorology is a mathematical science! • BUT… we won’t be doing anything other more complicated than basic addition, subtraction, multiplication or division Once in a while. • Nothing too scary. • I promise. 6

Meteorology every day • Our typical experience with meteorology is through TV, print and online weather forecasts • Great resources: – http: //www. nws. gov/ • National Weather Service – http: //weather. hawaii. ed u/ • OUR UH Resource! 7

What topics will we cover? ? Too many to list on one slide!! Tornadoes Hurricanes Thunderstorms Natural Disasters Global Winds Energy Budget Cloud Types and 8 Formation

Recent Weather Events • Hurricane Sandy – October 2012 – At least 253 people were killed along the path of the storm in seven countries – Cost estimated at $65. 6 billion (2012 USD), which would make it the 2 nd costliest Atlantic Hurricane behind only Katrina. 9

Recent Weather Events • Joplin Tornado – May 22, 2011 – Catastrophic EF 5 multiple-vortex – 158 people were killed by the tornado and over 1, 100 injured. – It was the deadliest tornado in America since 1947. 10

Recent Weather Events • VOG – December 2012 – Trade Winds Weaken – Increased Emergency Room visits: • respiratory complaints, headache, watery eyes, severe sinus infections – sulfur dioxide (SO 2) gas and sulfate (SO 4) aerosol which can cause acid rain/acid particles 11

Recent Weather Events • Great Plains Drought – Throughout 2012 – Worst hit region is the Central Great Plains. – Long and Short term effects – Critical for agriculture! 12

Next Class • Start Chapter 1: – Atmospheric Composition – Thermal Structure – Pressure in the Atmosphere 13