MT37L-Boundary Layer Meteorology

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites: MT26E Surface Energy Exchange or MT26ENU Surface Energy Exchange
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Miguel Teixeira
Email: m.a.teixeira@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of how small-scale processes affect the thermodynamic and kinematic structures of the atmospheric boundary layer.

Aims:

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of how small-scale processes affect the thermodynamic and kinematic structures of the atmospheric boundary layer.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, the student should be able to:

Describe in physical and mathematical terms some important atmospheric flow phenomena on horizontal scales less than about 10 km, and the way in which these are influenced by the Earth's surface and its overlying atmosphere.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

The content covers the conceptual and mathematical modelling of:

• Surface layer fluxes and their measurement;


• Evolution of the boundary layer;


• Turbulence of the Boundary layer;


• Air - sea interaction;


• The boundary layer in NWP and climate models;


• Flow over changing surfaces;


• The boundary layer on other planets.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Theoretical material will be presented in 14 50-minute lectures. 10 tutorial sessions will be used to practise answering questions on that material.