EAS 3420/5420 Atmospheric Dynamics

I have taught the junior-level atmospheric dynamics class at Cornell since spring 2019. The class is meant to encourage our students to see mathematics as a useful tool for understanding the atmosphere, weather, and climate. As such it is relatively formal, usually taught from a blackboard with regular problem sets. The class also has a graduate version (that co-meets with the undergraduate class) that involves more advanced problem sets and higher expectations for the class projects.

The class derives the primitive equations from fundamental physical principles, then discusses dynamical processes at a range of scales. There is a strong emphasis on linear wave modes in the atmosphere, and on the principles of hydrostatic and geostrophic balance. The animation below shows an example of geostrophic adjustment, a concept that we cover about half-way through the semester.