UBC ATSC 303 - Methods in Atmospheric Science

Course Content

Week
Theme
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
1
Introduction
Lecture: Instrument systems overview
Lecture: Circuits
Lecture on Short Circuits & Proper use of Multimeters
& Lab: Circuits
2
Temperature
Lecture: Thermometry
Lecture & Demo: Thermometers
Lecture & Lab: Build and use Thermocouples
3
Data Acquisition
Lecture: Data Acquisition
Lecture & Demo: Data Loggers
Lecture & Lab: Program CR1000 data logger
4
Instrument Response
Lecture: Static Response
Lecture: Dynamic Response
Demo & Lab: Calibration.  Response time.
5
Pressure
Lecture: Barometry
Midterm Exam #1
Demo & Lab: barometers
6
Humidity
Lecture: Hygrometry
Demo: Humidity
Lab: hygrometers & psychrometers

   Spring Break
Spring Break
Spring Break
7
Precipitation
Lecture: Precipitation
Lecture & Demo: Rain gauges
Lecture & Lab: precipitation
8
Wind Speed & Direction
Lecture: Anemometry
Lecture & Demo: Anemometers
Field trip to UBC wind tunnel
Lab: wind measurement
9
Radiation
Lecture: Solar & terrestrial radiation
Midterm Exam #2
Lecture: Pollutant sensors - Part 1
Lab: radiometers
10
Visibility, Clouds, Pollutants, Upper-Air
Lecture: Visibility and cloud height/ceiling- Part 1
Pollutant sensors - Part 2
Guest Lecture by Davi Monticelli
Lecture Upper-air sounding principles.
Lab: Field trip to UBC lawn for windsond launches.
11 Visibility, Clouds & Microcontrollers
Guest Lecture by Claude Labine: Running Field Programs
Lecture : Visibility & clouds -part 2.
• Demo: drones

Demo: Using microcontrollers as data loggers for pollutants and wind.
Lab: programming the Arduino microcontroller.

12
Eddy-correlation, Fluxes, and TKE
Lecture: Fast-response sensors to measure turbulence. Turbulence kinetic energy (TKE).
Lecture: Fluxes, Eddy-correlation method, and Bowen-ratio method
Good Friday Holiday
13
Field-program Planning
Easter Holiday How to plan a field program. Guest speakers: Chris Rodell & Dr. Rosie Howard.
(last class day)
.

(final exam will be scheduled by UBC)


For a detailed calendar of lectures, demos, labs, and tours, go to the Learning Goals under the Home tab.