Introduction to dynamic and synoptic meteorology

The course unit offers an introduction to the physical mechanisms governing the atmospheric processes, which are at the basis of meteorological analysis and prediction. The students will become familiar with the main weather phenomena and with the physical variables involved in those phenomena.

At the end of the course unit, students will be able to:
- provide order-of-magnitude estimates to atmospheric variables and balances;
- analyze and interpret weather maps;
- describe the dynamics of weather systems on a synoptic scale;
- make a simple weather forecast by using the circulation pattern in the mid troposphere;
- account for processes influencing the development of high and low pressure systems;
- account for the effect that the Earth's surface has on the atmospheric circulation.