EAS 485 Student-Led Map Discussions

Updated: March 17, 2010 2:54 PM

Discussions will be graded on the following:

1. Central Theme:
   1. Pick a central idea to focus on.
   2. While each portion of the discussion can stray from this idea at times, most of the time should be spent on this basic feature of interest.
   3. All items noted in the discussion will bring the audience back to the basic weather system/idea that is the central theme.
2. Application of Dynamic Principles:
   1. This discussion is geared towards fellow senior undergraduates. Thus, there should be plenty of application of dynamic processes to the discussion.
   2. A discussion focused on the surface and absent of these processes will not produce a good grade.
   3. Examples of problems: All discussion focuses only on polar front theory at the surface.
3. This is science!
   1. You must prove any statement that you choose to make with the proper analysis. You can't talk about things that you don't show.
   2. If you don't have time to show the proof, then you're doing too much and need to drop something.
   3. Use of strictly model analysis is possible if you document model performance in this weather pattern or previous similar ones. The audience will not accept a discussion based on the assumption that the model analyses are interchangeable with the actual data without proof.
4. Hemispheric Discussion
   1. A discussion of the long waves and short wave pattern from the Pacific through the Atlantic (depending on pattern) that affect past, current, and future weather of the city in question.
   2. A wave analysis, as performed in class, is a useful tool.
5. Continental Discussion
   1. Tracking general systems and processes in the North American Continent which have and/or will affect the city's weather.
   2. Make sure to highlight systems mentioned elsewhere in the presentation.
   3. Dynamic processes and instabilities should be highlighted.
6. Features of Interest
   1. Do a close-up analysis of the key feature of focus.
   2. Use analyses that can properly assess the processes or instabilities directly related to this feature.
7. Forecast
   1. Should tie in with the basic theme of the discussion, so it should be for the feature that is the central theme.
   2. Some attention to model performance on this feature should be given. The audience does not accept model output without question.
8. Miscellaneous
   1. Two of your discussions should focus on St. Cloud and two should focus on Tuscon.
      1. There will be one presentation per day.
   2. The discussions will take place on Class Days during the second hour of the class (see schedule below) .
   3. Email your pick for each round (you must alternate cities).
   4. Each discussion can be no longer than 20 minutes; time limit - strictly enforced
9. Student led discussions begin Friday, February 27

1. Grading Rubric	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
   Hemispheric Scale (25 pts) Continental Scale (25 pts) Local Scale (25 pts)	Each figure presented without any correct reference to processes going on; No valid discussion of dynamics or thermodynamics discussed. No discussion on this scale. (0-12 pts)	All interpretation done with reference to surface only. Some dynamics correctly identified but major errors made in interpretation. Interpretation done through "rules of thumb" rather than dynamic and thermodynamic processes. Processes cited but not shown. No link of any scale to processes on other scale. No logical progression of discussion in time. Focus on processes which have little or no effect on city in question. (13-17 pts)	Identifies key processes which did and/or will have an effect found on the weather of the given city. (18-22 pts)	Dynamic and thermodynamic processes clearly linked at all scales and time periods. (23-25 pts)
   Oral Presentation (25 pts)	Unable to hear or understand presenter; Cannot see plots; Cannot follow presentation (0-12 pts)	Presentation wanders from map to map without unifying ideas or points. No link of different time and space scales; Awkward pauses; Hard to hear or see portions of presentation. (13-17 pts)	Presentation clear, understandable and easy to follow by class members. (18-22 pts)	Presentation organized around key points, making these points understandable by class members. (23-25 pts)

    

Useful links

Continental Scale:

SUNY-Albany

• 500 mb Heights and Anomalies from the GFS model analysis (past 15 days)
• 500 mb Height and Anomalies Forecast from the current GFS model run
• Potential Temperature on the Dynamic Tropopause from the GFS model analysis (past 15 days)

• Other SUNY-Albany Products

• Other Eta Model Diagnostics (Q-vectors, ageostrophic winds, etc.)

Other Sources

• Surface Maps back several Days from HPC
• Surface Maps back two Days from University of Wyoming
• University of Wyoming Model Graphics
• Upper Air Charts from University of Wyoming (goes back a month)
• Storm Machine from Northern Illinois University
• Global GFS Analyses and Archives from Ryan Maue - Florida State
• NCEP Model Comparison Graphics for Current and Past Model Runs
• NCEP Model Graphics for Today's Model Runs
• San Jose State University GFS Forecast Drift
• HYSPLIT Model Trajectory Forecasts
• HPC Current Model Diagnostics
• HPC Surface Analyses
• Other Advanced Links from Forecasting/Synoptic Handbook

Schedule

Email Bob To Sign-up

Return to EAS 485 Home Page. 

Return to EAS 485 Syllabus 

For questions, contact Bob Weisman