METEO 529

Mesoscale Dynamics

METEO 529: Mesoscale Dynamics, Fall 2020

Instructor: Dr. Kelly Lombardo
office: Zoom portal to my house
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: 814-865-3241 (though I won’t receive any calls you make since I’ll be home in my pajamas)

Lecture: MWF, 12:20 pm - 1:10 pm; Zoom

Office Hours: By appointment, but don’t be shy!

Helpful (but not required) Textbook: Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes by P. Markowski and Y. Richardson. Get it online here (Links to an external site.) or at the University Book Store.

Assistance with Textbooks: Penn State honors and values the socioeconomic diversity of our students. If you require assistance with the costs of textbooks for this course, contact the Office of Student Care and Advocacy (120 Boucke Building, 863-4926, http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/studentcare). For additional need related to socioeconomic status please visit http://sites.psu.edu/projectcahir.

Course Objectives and Intents: We will take a deeper dive into the guts of mesoscale dynamics. Therefore, the number of topics will be limited and constructed around a common concept. There will be some lecture component to the course, but heavily supplemented with discussion of seminal and current literature. Our tentative topics will include (1) Mesoscale Convective Systems (2) Gravity Waves (specifically the role of waves in the evolution and maintenance of deep convection) (3) Mountain Meteorology (specifically impact of terrain on the initiation and evolution of deep convection) (4) Numerical Modeling of Organized Deep Convection. We will approach each topic with lecture to cover the fundamental concepts and intersperse the literature for the more interesting stuff. All of the literature will be uploaded to Canvas.

Specific course objectives include:

Critical thinking!
Understand connections between theoretical concepts to real world problems through the literature and numerical labs.
Develop and improve presentation skills.

Specific course outcomes will be:

Students can demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental structure of, and dynamics controlling, MCS evolution.
Students can demonstrate knowledge of how gravity waves modulate idealized MCS concepts and how mountains modulate fundamental storm dynamics.
Students can demonstrate knowledge of the sensitivities of simulated storms to numerical configurations.
Students will feel more comfortable presenting scientific information to an audience of fellow scientists.

Grading: Your final grade will be based on the following:

Leading paper discussions (25%)
Participation in paper discussions (25%)
Numerical modeling labs (50%)

General procedure for paper discussions :

Each student will lead multiple paper discussions during the semester, with the total number dependent on the number of papers we read (which depends on how the course progresses). For each paper, two people can to pair up to develop the presentation, discuss ideas or points that are confusing, etc. One person will present the paper (to keep things streamlined), but your presentation partner can always provide input when needed or desired. This pairing is not required. You can prepare and lead a discussion solo, but you have the option to solicit a peer's assistance (just given them credit at the discussion!).

Guidance for leading paper discussions:

Read the paper in its entirety and come prepared with a presentation on the paper (including figures from the paper) - not a lecture style presentation, but a presentation that inspires discussion! Please reach out if you have any questions.
For the discussion, provide a general overview of the paper before diving into the details (but be careful not to regurgitate the paper). Focus on concepts you find the most interesting and/or confusing.
Be prepared to lead the discussion, which includes prodding the group when it falls silent.
It is perfectly ok for you to not understand all of the paper (though don't use this an excuse to provide a weak presentation). Bring your questions to the discussion.

Expectations for participation in paper discussions:

Read the paper in its entirety.
Come to class with 3 written questions related to the paper that we can discuss (This may include ideas/concepts related to but beyond the paper itself - In fact, I encourage it! It makes for interesting discussions). You will be required to hand in these questions prior to the paper discussion (or receive no credit). I'll create 'Assignments' on Canvas and you can directly upload your questions there. Questions will not be accepted after class since the point of them is to promote thinking more deeply about the paper and promote discussions during class.
Don't be silent! Remember that you'll need to present at some point too!

Academic Integrity:

This course follows the http://www.ems.psu.edu/undergraduate/academic-advising/forms-and-procedures/academic-integrity. Penn State defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner." Academic integrity includes "a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception." In particular, the University defines plagiarism as "the fabrication of information and citations; submitting other's work from professional journals, books, articles, and papers; submission of other student's papers, lab results or project reports and representing the work as one's own." Penalties for violations of academic integrity may include course failure. To learn more, see Penn State's "Plagiarism Tutorial for Students."

This includes but is not limited to copying, plagiarism, self- plagiarism, etc., all of which can result in a 0 on the assignment and/or an F or XF grade in the course.

Course Copyright:

All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.

For example, uploading completed labs, homework, or other assignments to any study site constitutes a violation of this policy.

Webcam Requirements:

This course requires you to have a webcam for class assessments. Classes and assessments may be conducted using Zoom or other technology selected by your instructor which may use your computer’s webcam or other technologies to communicate, monitor, and/or record classes, class activities, and assessments. Assessments may also be conducted using proctoring software, which may listen to you, monitor your computer screen, view you and your surroundings, and record (including visual and audio recordings) all activity during the proctoring process. Please contact your instructor if you are unable to comply or have any questions or concerns.

Attendance:

Regular attendance is critical for building on the skills and knowledge developed throughout the class. Students who participate have a more complete understanding of the material presented and are more likely to succeed in the class. This is true whether your attendance is face-to-face or remote. This course abides by the Penn State Attendance Policy E-11: http://undergrad.psu.edu/aappm/E-11-class-attendance.html, and Conflict Exam Policy 44-35: http://senate.psu.edu/policies-and-rules-for-undergraduate-students/44-00-examinations/#44-35. Please also see Illness Verification Policy: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-wellness/medical-services/policies-patient-resources, and Religious Observance Policy: http://undergrad.psu.edu/aappm/R-4-religious-observances.html. Students who miss class for legitimate reasons will be given a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work, including exams and quizzes. In all cases, you should inform me in advance, when possible. Missing class, even for a legitimate purpose, may mean there is work that cannot be made up, hurting your grade in this class.. In addition to illness, legitimate reasons for missing class include religious observance, military service, family emergencies, regularly scheduled university-approved curricular or extracurricular activities, and post-graduate, career-related interviews when there is no opportunity for students to re-schedule these opportunities (such as employment and graduate school final interviews). Students who encounter serious family, health, or personal situations that result in extended absences should contact the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs (AVPSA) and Student Care and Advocacy for help: http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/studentcare .

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities:

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contact information for every Penn State campus: (http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/disability-coordinator). For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website (http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources).

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Reporting Bias-Motivated Incidents:

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated (https://policy.psu.edu/policies/ad29) and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect:

Penn State is “committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain an environment that fosters respect for others” as stated in Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment and to interact with civility.

For additional information, see:

Counseling and Psychological Services:

Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation. Services include the following:

Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
Counseling and Psychological Services at Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741